PennDOT Rapid Bridge Replacement P3 Advisory Services

Location Statewide, Pennsylvania

Owner Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Client CDM Smith

Services
  • Public-Private Partnership (P3) Delivery
  • RFP/RFQ Development/Administration
  • Inter-Agency Coordination
  • Bridge Inspection – Initial (Inventory)
  • Data Collection
  • Feasibility Study
  • Cost Estimate Development
  • Constructability Review
  • Management Consulting
  • Stakeholder Facilitation
  • Risk Analysis
  • Bidding Phase Services

In 2013, with more than 5,200 structurally deficient bridges spread throughout the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania led the nation in structurally deficient bridges. To expedite the replacement of these bridges, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) intended to enter into a public-private partnership (P3) for the design, construction, and maintenance of a large group of bridges under an availability payment structure. Lochner provided advisory services, as a subconsultant, to PennDOT during project development and procurement.

During project development, Lochner assisted PennDOT and the project team in establishing evaluation criteria and evaluating approximately 1,000 bridges that were being considered for inclusion in the project. Lochner examined as-built documents, inspection reports, maintenance records, and other available data for these bridges and conducted field inspections on a portion of the structures to confirm the collected data and validate the ranking criteria. The results of these evaluations were utilized by PennDOT to establish the list of 558 bridges that were ultimately included in the project.

During project procurement, Lochner assisted in engaging project stakeholders and private industry, developing the request for qualifications and request for proposals (RFP), and carrying out evaluations of proposers’ statements of qualifications. Lochner assisted in establishing the commercial and technical terms that would govern the project and documenting these decisions in the RFP, serving on the technical team responsible for drafting the technical provisions, and participating in a series of one-on-one meetings with the shortlisted proposers. Other tasks performed by Lochner included assisting PennDOT in tracking the collection of reference information documents and other project data, producing construction cost estimates, performing a risk analysis, participating in FHWA’s cost estimate review, developing an implementation schedule, assisting in obtaining FHWA’s approval for the development entity to carry out the environmental process, drafting a project management plan, developing a process for accepting and evaluating alternative technical concepts, and assisting in carrying out proposal evaluations. After notice of contract award, Lochner assisted in incorporating proposal commitments into the project documents. Lochner also assisted in documenting project decisions, requirements, and processes, as well as identifying and evaluating lessons learned.

Commercial close of the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project was achieved in January 2015. This ground-breaking project was the first P3 for PennDOT and the first availability payment concession of a multiasset project in the U.S., expediting the replacement of hundreds of bridges under a single contract. The project was also the first to receive SEP-15 approval for the development entity to carry out the environmental process.

Recognitions

Infrastructure Investor’s 2014 North American Deal of the Year

2015 P3 Bulletin Best Transport Project Gold Award

2015 P3 Bulletin Government Agency of the Year Gold Award

Related Projects

Phase I and II Engineering for Mile Long Bridge Reconstruction

Move Illinois is a 15‐year, $14 billion capital program adopted by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Illinois Tollway) to […]

See the Project

North Texas Tollway Authority Construction Engineering Consultant

The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is a crucial component of the North Texas transportation system, maintaining eight toll roads […]

See the Project

City of El Segundo Urho Saari Swim Stadium

Built by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) in 1940, the Urho Saari Swim Stadium, a beloved jewel to the residents […]

See the Project