Central Texas Transportation Group Uses Design-Build Plan For New Toll Road

Using the design/build process that allows construction to begin before design is completed, could allow the $650 million, 183 North toll project to begin construction in 2018 and be completed by May 2022.

Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) officials plan to use the same design/build process previously used for the 183 South toll project for the new 183 North toll project in northwest Austin.

The project is expected to cost $650 million, including the $150 million to pay for direct connector roads to Ranch-to-Market 620. That process allows overlapping the design and construction phases to expedite projects rather than completing the design before construction can begin, according to Justin Word, director of engineering for the CTRMA.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working to improve the process to assess and select the winning proposal to avoid issues and delays faced in the project to build an express lane on MoPac, he added.

To pay for the project, CTRMA plans to use a $120 million grant from TxDOT to build the fourth non-tolled lane, a $175 million loan from the Federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, $7 million from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and $228 million in revenue bonds to be repaid with toll revenues.

Using the design/build process that allows construction to begin before design is completed, could allow the $650 million, 183 North toll project to begin construction in 2018 and be completed by May 2022. $120 million grant from TxDOT to build the fourth non-tolled lane, a $175 million loan from the Federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, $7 million from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and $228 million in revenue bonds to be repaid with toll revenues.

This story was originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.