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Source : Wikipedia Commons
July 27, 2022
Author : Alex Bustillos
Residents and motorists of Tampa Bay in Florida may soon encounter a barrage of construction activities, hamper the traffic conditions. Still, the major new Tampa Bay project will make their future travel smooth.
Kris Carson, the spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), explained, "There is a lot of growth and a lot of people are wanting to move to Florida, which is a great thing for our economy, but it also brings congestion. But we are handling it. We have a lot of great projects, and the Tampa Bay area's very fortunate to have a lot of money coming our way for infrastructure."
The Lane Construction Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group, is experiencing a boom in construction projects in Florida.
The FDOT has awarded Lane a $223 million design-build contract for safety and operational improvements at the Interstate 275 and Interstate 4 interchange in downtown Tampa, Florida.
FDOT wants to improve the I-275/I-4 freeways, so they can serve as a primary hurricane evacuation route for the Tampa Bay area.
Lane will widen roads, realign ramps, update signage, and erect noise barriers on the interchange, which will be used by 200,000 vehicles per day beginning in 2023.
The project adds to the company's more than $1 billion in active work in Florida.
It's Lane's second contract in Florida this year, following a May selection to help upgrade an air force base in Panama City to make it more resilient to heavy storms after Hurricane Michael severely damaged the area in 2018.
Lane's other Florida projects include the Wekiva Parkway in Seminole County, the Poinciana Parkway in Osceola County, the Suncoast Parkway in Hernando and Citrus Counties, and the Caloosahatchee West Basin Storage Reservoir in LaBelle.
This latest contract highlights the importance of the North American market to Webuild, as it was responsible for 21% of the group's revenue in 2021, a contribution that could grow given the infrastructure investments that the United States plans to make in the coming years.
Lane was awarded an $85 million contract for an adjacent project along the I-275 Corridor from the I-4/I-275 Interchange to Hillsborough Avenue last year. This project, currently under construction, will improve safety and traffic operations, increase general use capacity, provide sound barriers, and integrate transit opportunities.
Both projects are critical to the surrounding innovation district, known for its expanding healthcare and economic hub. They provide interstate access to I-75 and I-4, tourist and employment destinations, and the University of South Florida, allowing for more efficient movement of people and goods throughout the Tampa Bay area and the entire state.
Through key infrastructure, Lane's portfolio of state-wide sustainable mobility and water management projects is helping to shape more livable and healthier communities and systems.
The IIJA has helped incentivize construction projects across the state and will help upgrade infrastructure, providing a better commuting experience.
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Category : Department of Transportation Investment in Infrastructure State Government Freeways and Highways