The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) revealed the partners for two pivotal projects within the Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative:
- the Long Bridge-North Package; and
- The Franconia-Springfield Bypass.
A JV between Skanska and Flatiron secured the Long Bridge-North Package, which will be delivered under a progressive design-build contract.
Flatiron was also part of the other successful Joint Venture and will deliver alongside Herzog the Franconia-Springfield Bypass project under a construction manager/general contractor framework.
Long Bridge Project - Background
The current Long Bridge, built in 1904, serves as a vital railroad passage owned and managed by CSX Transportation (CSXT), facilitating rail transport from Northern Virginia into Washington, DC.
Solely dedicated to rail traffic, the bridge operates at near full capacity (98%), according to VPRA, handling approximately 80 CSXT, Amtrak, and VRE trains daily. Annually, this accommodates around 1.3 million Amtrak passengers and 4.5 million VRE commuters.
VPRA’s Long Bridge Project aims to mitigate rail congestion over the Potomac by constructing a new, parallel, two-track railroad bridge adjacent to the existing structure (shown below).
This enhancement will effectively create a four-track corridor, doubling the rail capacity across the river. The initiative is poised to alleviate a critical bottleneck that hinders the smooth flow of rail traffic up and down the East Coast.
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Long Bridge - Procurement Packages (North and South)
The Long Bridge Project encompasses two procurement packages: the North Package and the South Package, detailed below. The estimated cost for the comprehensive Long Bridge Project, encompassing both the North and South packages, stands at $2.3 billion.
Long Bridge - North Package
The North Package encompasses a complex construction zone stretching from the new bridge’s northern abutment to L’Enfant interlocking near L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, DC. It involves the construction of several smaller bridges within the project area, including:
- A new rail bridge over the WMATA Portal/I-395
- Replacement of the current two-track Ohio Drive SW Rail Bridge with a four-track bridge
- Replacement of the existing two-track Washington Channel Rail Bridge with a four-track bridge
- Replacement of the current two-track Maine Avenue SW Rail Bridge with a four-track bridge
- Replacement of the Maine Avenue SW Pedestrian Bridge.
Earlier this year, VPRA sought, via an RFQ process, experienced design-build teams for the Long Bridge Project’s north section. Following a rigorous selection process, VPRA has chosen the Skanska/Flatiron Joint Venture to execute the North Package.
According to VPRA, the design development phase has already reached the 30% milestone, and The Skanska/Flatiron Joint Venture will finalise the design and be in charge of the construction works.
Like the Brentt Spencer Corridor Bridge located at the Kentucky-Ohio Border, the Long Bridge North Package will be delivered under a progressive design-build framework.
Unlike traditional design-bid-build contracts, where the design is completed before contractors are involved, in progressive design-build, the contractor is involved much earlier in the design process, which encourages innovation, early problem-solving, and a more dynamic relationship between the design and construction phases.
Suggested Article: Design and Build (D&B) Contracts – How do they Work?
Long Bridge - South Package
The Long Bridge-South Package involves the construction of the bridge span across the Potomac River, complemented by an adjoining bicycle-pedestrian bridge. Currently, the South Package is in the procurement phase, with VPRA intending to release a Request for Proposals to selected teams by February 2024.
Franconia-Springfield Bypass - Project Background
The Franconia-Springfield Bypass, positioned just south of the Franconia-Springfield station, is a crucial rail bridge designed to enable passenger trains to cross over, serving stations on the western side of the rail corridor.
Once completed, the Franconia-Springfield Bypass will be an approximately 0.9-mile-long dedicated passenger rail bridge. Owned by VPRA, the new asset will:
- Safer operations in the rail corridor;
- Alleviate congestion for freight and passenger trains on the remaining two rail tracks;
- Increase the capacity for passenger service; and
- Improve the reliability of both passenger and freight services
The initiative aligns with VPRA’s mission to establish two distinct rail corridors— one for passenger trains and another for freight trains, catering to both Amtrak and VRE trains.
Franconia-Springfield Bypass – Construction and Contract Details
Following the confirmation of $100 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this year and a competitive tendering process, VPRA selected the Flatiron/Herzog Joint Venture as the preferred contractor.
The Franconia-Springfield Bypass project will implement the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) project delivery method, which is an early contractor involvement alternative that allows the owner to involve a construction manager during the design phase to offer valuable insights into constructability, scheduling, risk management, estimating, and other tasks to support project’s feasibility.
Typically, when design development is close to completion (i.e. 70% to 90% complete), the owner and construction manager negotiate a “guaranteed maximum price” (GMP) based on the detailed documents developed. Upon the agreement of a GMP, the construction manager assumes the role of the general contractor.
Initial site clearing and preparatory construction are scheduled to start by the end of March 2024, with full-scale construction projected to kick off in 2024, spanning a two-year timeline. The estimated cost for the Franconia-Springfield Bypass project is $405 million.
