Infra Insight Blog

Insurance on a project is a vital tool with which to manage project risk. In a warming world with ever larger and more complex projects, insurance becomes that much more important to ensure that projects can stay on track after an accident or other insurable event.

Join Jim Vorhis and me on May 30th for the next webinar in our Infra Insight webinar series focused on navigating risks and adapting insurance to align with evolving methods of project delivery. We are excited to welcome our guest panelists, Michael Earp and Tariq Taherbhai from Aon Construction & Infrastructure. … 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced a long-awaited Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for public agencies to enhance technical capacity to deliver projects using a public-private partnership (P3) model. Authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58; also known as the IIJA), $57.72 million is available through the Innovative Finance and Asset Concessions Grant Program (Program) for public agencies to hire technical, financial and legal experts (either on staff or as consultants) to support the evaluation and delivery ...

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58; IIJA) expanded the scope of the Buy America preference by requiring that all construction materials, iron and steel, and manufactured products used in federally supported infrastructure projects be produced in the United States. Prior to the IIJA, Buy America requirements did not apply to construction materials.

The federal government began implementing the new requirements earlier this year, beginning with the Office of Management and Budget’s implementation guidance, followed by the U.S. Department of ...

The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) recently issued initial Buy America implementation guidance required by Sections 70901-52 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58; “IIJA”).

The Buy America preference applies to federally supported public infrastructure projects, including the structures, facilities and equipment for highway, transit, water and energy projects in the United States ...

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or “IIJA” (P.L. 117-58) passed on a bipartisan basis in both the House and Senate and was signed by the President one month ago today, on November 15, 2021. One could have assumed that federal agencies would begin allocating the new funding and commence implementation of the IIJA as soon as it became effective. Unfortunately, that is not the case, but for reasons that may not be readily apparent.

The federal government is actually constrained in its ability to implement the IIJA because it is currently funded and operating under a ...

Yesterday, the Senate released legislative text for its highly anticipated bipartisan infrastructure package, titled the ­­­­­­­­Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Negotiations have been ongoing for months, and while several political and policy hurdles remain before this proposal can arrive on the President’s desk for his signature, agreement on this bipartisan package is a hugely positive development. Project sponsors and practitioners have closely tracked the development of this package not only with respect to overall funding levels and policies but ...

The President unveiled details of his historic infrastructure plan this morning, proposing the largest infrastructure investment in U.S. history.

The President’s proposal, titled the American Jobs Plan, requests roughly $2 trillion in total federal funding and financing tools over the next eight years...

For years, policymakers and economists around the country have been well aware that the federal gas tax is dying.

In its report to Congress, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, on which I was honored to serve, made clear that we must replace the 18.4 cent federal gas tax with other means of funding transportation in order to maintain and improve our highways, bridges and transit systems in the United States.

The commission recommended a road user charge as the most effective approach to solving this problem.

[If] we fail to address the immediate ...

On Wednesday, March 30, 2016, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott signed two bills that further advance the state’s existing public-private partnership (P3) framework and provide additional guidance for implementing P3s. The two new laws will go into effect on July 1, 2016.

SB 124 amends the 2013 law that authorizes counties, municipalities, school boards, and other political subdivisions to use P3s for a wide range of facilities, including education facilities, transportation facilities, water/wastewater facilities, roads, highways and bridges, healthcare facilities ...

State and local governments can now obtain railroad bridge inspection reports by making requests on the website of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This new tool will help state and local governments gain better information regarding this important aspect of railroad safety in their communities.

Access to the public version of bridge inspection reports is required by section 11405 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). Under the FAST Act, the following information about a bridge will be included in the report:

• The date of the last inspection;

On September 28, 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation and Flatiron/Dragados, LLC  (Developer) entered into a comprehensive development agreement (Agreement) for the Harbor Bridge Replacement Project in Corpus Christi (the Project).  The new Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge will allow larger ships to deliver their cargo to the Port of Corpus Christi, serving as an economic catalyst for the region and the State of Texas.  The current bridge was built in the late 1950s. Plans for a replacement bridge to improve safety have been in the works for more than a decade.  The proposed $800 ...

The long-awaited Presidio Parkway opened for the first time to Bay Area motorists on July 12th, ahead of schedule and to local and national praises.

The $1.1 billion Presidio Parkway replaces Doyle Drive – an outdated and seismically deficient viaduct – as San Francisco’s main connection to the Golden Gate Bridge.  The new 1.6-mile, six-lane roadway tucks elegantly into the natural contours of the historic Presidio of San Francisco, and enhances transit, pedestrian and bicycle access within the national park area.  The Presidio Parkway has received numerous honors ...

The Texas Transportation Commission has conditionally awarded a comprehensive development agreement to Flatiron/Dragados for the longest cable stayed bridge in the United States.  The new Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge will allow larger ships to deliver their cargo to the Port of Corpus Christi, serving as an economic catalyst for the region and the State of Texas.

The conditional award, which took place at the April 30 meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, authorizes TxDOT and Flatiron/Dragados to enter final negotiations for the design, construction, finance and ...

The New York State Thruway Authority has received federal approval of a 35-year low interest loan for the $4.8 billion Tappan Zee bridge replacement project through the federal government’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA).  As previously reported, the Authority originally applied for credit assistance for up to 49% of eligible project costs under the expanded MAP-21 TIFIA credit assistance program.  The final loan amount only covers 33% of eligible project costs, but is still the largest award in the history of the TIFIA program.  The ...

Almost a year to the day from when the procurement began, the East End Crossing P3 project has achieved financial close.  Raising nearly $1 billion of public and private debt and equity funding, WVB East End Partners, made up of equal shares to WI East End (Walsh), VINCI Concessions Investments and Bilfinger East End Holdings, will now finalize design and begin construction of the project which consists of a new bridge over the Ohio River, a tunnel as part of the Kentucky approach, and a highway as part of the Indiana approach.  Indiana Finance Authority acts as the public sponsor under the ...

As reported in our December 18 post, the New York State Thruway Authority unanimously approved award of the design-build contract for the Tappan Zee bridge replacement project to Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC.  All required approvals for contract award have now been obtained, and the Authority issued the notice to proceed on January 18, 2013.

On December 27, 2012, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) achieved commercial close of the East End Crossing project in southern Indiana, part of the broader Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.  WVB East End Partners, LLC (WVB), is the private counterparty for the East End Crossing project under an availability payment concession, a first for Walsh and VINCI in an equity role in the US P3 market.  The parties reached agreement and executed the public-private agreement before the end of the year as scheduled, capping an extraordinary procurement on an expedited ...

On November 16, 2012, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) selected WVB East End Partners (WVB) as the Preferred Proposer for IFA’s East End Crossing project in southern Indiana.  WVB East End Partners is a joint venture consortium of Walsh Investors, LLC, VINCI Concessions S.A.S. and Bilfinger Berger PI International Holding GmbH, partnering with Walsh Construction Company and VINCI Construction Grand Projets as the builders, with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. as the designer, and with others.  VINCI Concessions S.A.S. will be performing the operations and maintenance of the ...

On November 16, 2012, the board of the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA), with Governor Daniels in attendance, based on the recommendation of Kendra York, IFA’s Public Finance Director, approved the preliminary selection of WVB East End Partners as the preferred proposer for the East End Crossing project, Indiana’s second foray into public-private partnerships as a solution to infrastructure planning for the State.  The East End Crossing is Indiana’s part of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project (the ORB Project).  WVB East End Partners is a joint ...

The Port of Long Beach and Caltrans have selected a team led by Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., FCC Construction S.A., and Impregilo S.p.A. as the apparent best value proposer for the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project design-build contract.  The Shimmick team had both the highest technical score and, at $649.5 million, the lowest proposal price to replace the existing span linking Interstate 710 to the Port of Long Beach.

The Port and Caltrans are jointly procuring the design-build portion of this project through California’s Design-Build Demonstration Program.  ...

On April 23, 2012, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA), in coordination with the Indiana Department of Transportation, shortlisted four teams for its East End Crossing (Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project) (the East End Crossing) located in Southern Indiana.

The East End Crossing is part of the broader Ohio River Bridges Project in the greater Louisville, Kentucky/Southern Indiana region.  Specifically, the Ohio River Bridges Project will consist in improvements to connecting roadways, but most prominently, provide two new toll bridges across the Ohio ...

On March 9, 2012, the Indiana Finance Authority, an independent instrumentality in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation, issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting statements of qualifications from prospective proposers to develop, design, build, finance, operate, and maintain a tolled bridge facility and associated roadway facilities crossing the Ohio River from Clark County in southeastern Indiana into Jefferson County, Kentucky (the East End Crossing) through an availability payment concession.

The East End Crossing involves the ...

The Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project reached a major milestone today when it received three proposals to replace the existing span linking Interstate 710 to the Port of Long Beach.  The Port of Long Beach and Caltrans are jointly procuring the design-build portion of the project - estimated to cost roughly $750 million - through California’s Design-Build Demonstration Program.

The three teams that submitted proposals are:

• Dragados USA Inc./Flatiron West Inc/CC Myers Inc., A Joint Venture;
• Shimmick Construction Company Inc./FCC Construction S.A./Impregilo S.p.A, A ...

The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) announced today that IFA and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will be providing updated information and answering questions from prospective proposers related to the procurement of the East End Crossing of the Ohio River Bridges Project on March 2, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY. All interested parties should pre-register here for the event by 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 29, 2012.

As previously announced, the Ohio River Bridges Project will include two procurement ...

In advance of its deadline for statements of qualifications (SOQ),  the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority are holding a Pre-SOQ Informational Meeting for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project.  The event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY.  Interested participants are required to pre-register for the event by completing an online registration form, available here.   The agenda includes presentations by the DOT and Authority, a question period, and a "meet-and-greet" ...

Yesterday, the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) announced its decision to shortlist three of six teams that submitted statements of qualifications for the Knik Arm Crossing project.  KABATA is procuring an availability payment public-private partnership for the $750 million project. Nossaman acts as KABATA's legal advisor for the procurement.
 
Michael Foster, KABATA's Board Chairman, said, "The process becomes very competitive from here on out. We expect to see some top notch proposals."
 
The shortlisted teams are:

Alaska Infrastructure Access Partners
Infrared ...

We all know that our infrastructure is aging.  Considering how hot the issue of transportation funding (or lack thereof) has become, it is almost impossible not to see or hear something on this topic daily.  That being said, Transportation for America has provided a new way for us to fixate on the state of disrepair of our nation’s bridges – an interactive map.

The map is color-coded and uses green to mark states that are more-or-less maintaining their bridges.  A special hats off to Florida and Nevada, which rank 50th and 51st respectively in the list of disrepair.  In contrast, the map ...