The design-build project began Aug. 21, 2017, and the current expected completion date is early 2023. Crews are constructing the future SR 690, a new four-lane elevated tolled expressway connection from U.S. 19 to the west of I-275.
The Florida Department of Transportation is working on one of the biggest construction projects in Tampa Bay history: The Gateway Expressway. The two-part project consists of constructing two new two-lane elevated tolled roadways that will provide direct connections between U.S. 19 and I-275 and between the Bayside Bridge north of 49th Street North and I-275 in Pinellas County, according to Kris Carson, FDOT District Seven communications manager. This elevated highway will be designated State Road 690 above 118th Avenue North between I-275 and U.S. 19. The other part is a raised highway in the median of SR 686 from 118th Avenue North to the Bayside Bridge.
The Gateway Expressway project has been designated a priority project to improve traffic flow in Pinellas County. The new roadway is expected to decrease travel times, making it easier and faster to drive from Pinellas County across the bay into Tampa. Transportation problems have been around for decades, but several expressway projects were cancelled as far back as the 1970s and 1980s, so the county has had no major limited-access thoroughfares other than I-275. While significant upgrades to U.S. 19 in the 2000s improved north-south traffic flow, east-west traffic has been relegated to local roads.
Greg Deese, FDOT engineer, told ABC Action News that the project has gained momentum in the past two years. By late 2022, it should connect U.S. 19 to I-275 and the Bayside Bridge to I-275, giving drivers a tolled option to commute "several miles up and over dozens of traffic signals."
In addition to speeding up traffic flow, one of the Gateway Expressway project's goals is "to improve the existing roadway system by enhancing safety, adding capacity and improving mobility," Carson added.
Teamwork
Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture is serving as general contractor for the nearly $600 million ($598 million precisely) project. Archer Western Contractors LLC was established in 1983, with corporate headquarters in Chicago. Considered a national expert in the building, civil, transportation and water sectors, it's part of the Walsh Group. The company focuses on infrastructure improvements such as multi-level highway interchanges, bridges, light rail transit, levees, airport civil work, lift stations, pump stations and water treatment plants. It has completed several complex highway and bridge construction projects in Miami.
The de Moya Group Inc. is a highway and bridge construction company with 25 years of civil construction experience throughout Florida. Founded in 1986 by three brothers, it specializes in complex major infrastructure projects.
The joint venture has worked on several other projects, but a spokesperson said "Winning the Gateway Project is a great opportunity for Archer Western/de Moya Group to work with the Florida Department of Transportation in District Seven."
Cardno, a global infrastructure, environmental and social development company, is providing design review, procurement and RFP assistance, in addition to construction administration throughout the five-year project and monitoring and inspection of onsite construction operations and materials.
Sub-contractors include David Nelson Construction, Shelby Erectors, Blacktip Services Inc., Preferred Materials Inc., P.A.W. Demolition and Traffic Management Solutions.
Getting to Work
The design-build project began Aug. 21, 2017, and Carson said the current expected completion date is early 2023. In short, they are constructing the future SR 690, a new four-lane elevated tolled expressway connection from U.S. 19 to the west of I-275.
A new four-lane tollway expressway from the Bayside Bridge to just west of I-275 also is being built.
"It will be primarily built in the median of the Roosevelt Boulevard between the Bayside Bridge and Ulmerton Road," Carson said.
An interchange at Ulmerton Road will be built as part of this project. The new roadway will continue south until it merges with SR 690.
"This new roadway is being built along the median of 118th Avenue North," Carson explained, "and includes flyover bridges connecting to mainline U.S. 19. The new SR 690 will be elevated over portions of 118th Avenue North, 49th Street North, 47th Street North, 43rd Street North, the ramp at 31st Court North and 28th Street North."
In addition to the new SR 690 four-lane tolled expressway from U.S. 19 to west of I-275 and from the Bayside Bridge to I-275, project improvements include:
- Constructing SR 686A on the north end of the project, a new four-lane elevated tolled (static, meaning the cost will remain the same at all hours) expressway from the Bayside Bridge (CR 611) to just west of I-275 within the median of Roosevelt Boulevard with a new interchange at Ulmerton, at which point it will continue south until it merges with the future SR 690;
- Reconstructing existing Roosevelt Boulevard from the Bayside Bridge to Ulmerton Road;
- Reconstructing sections of existing U.S. 19 and 118th Avenue North, including new ramps and flyover structures; and
- Various improvements to interchanges, intersections and ramps within the project limits.
In addition, I-275 will be widened to add toll lanes in each direction along the median next to the existing lanes from south of Gandy Boulevard to 4th Street North. These lanes are being designed in preparation for future express lanes proposed for the Howard Frankland Bridge.
In total, the project includes construction of 27 bridges; mechanically stabilized earth walls; concrete and asphalt paving; electronic toll gantries; lighting; signage; and Intelligent Transportation Systems installations.
The new express lanes along I-275 are in addition to the existing general-purpose, non-tolled lanes and are intended to ease congestion and improve traffic flow. FDOT points out that the existing roadways will remain the same for drivers who do not want to pay tolls.
ABC Action News recorded Deese as saying, "The surface streets are only going to be for local traffic."
He considers the project a "huge improvement" for commuters who will no longer have to stop at lights and said it will dramatically improve traffic flow, significantly reducing delays. But even drivers on the local streets should see reduced congestion with many travelers diverted to the toll roads.
The project also will make it easier for drivers to get to St. Pete Clearwater International Airport, according to FDOT.
Community Reaction
Carson said the project team works closely with the FDOT Public Information Office because community outreach and public information are vital to the success of the design-build project. There is a designated website providing updates and alerts to upcoming lane closures and detours.
Despite that, local business owners complain about the vibration of demolition, the noise of construction and the resulting decrease in business (up to 40 percent for some companies) as a result of detours, lane closures, congestion and general obstruction.
Deese said that 250 construction workers are on the job site 5 to 6 days a week, day and night, to try to complete the job quickly.
Challenges
There have been a few challenges with relocating overhead utility lines along 118th Avenue, Carson said. The lines must be moved in order to "build new bridges, allowing travel lanes to remain open while constructing the elevated roadways in the medians of 118th Avenue North and Roosevelt Boulevard, and while removing sections of the northbound I-275 ramp to Roosevelt Boulevard while maintaining traffic," she said.
"Another operation was the removal of the 4th Street North overpass bridge over I-275 in less than 16 hours," she added.
To assist with that task, Mammoet, a privately held Dutch company specializing in engineered heavy lifting and transport of oversized and heavy objects, provided heavy transport equipment.
To speed construction, TyBot, a completely autonomous rebar tying robot, is being used during rebar installation work on the many bridges being constructed on this project, Carson noted. TyBot doesn't require pre-mapping, programming or calibration. It self-locates, self-positions and self-ties up to 1,000 intersections an hour. It can be deployed to any job site that has screed rails in place and will do the work of a 6- to 8-person team.
Other equipment being used as part of this project is owned by the Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture, purchased from Ring Power. Rental equipment came from Kelly Crane and Hunter Crane Merchant Transport and Rigging, Carson said.
Materials used thus far on this project include:
- Structural steel: 8,130 tons
- Reinforced steel: 10,800 tons
- Concrete beams: 74,200 linear ft.
- Concrete: 192,000 cu. yds.
- Asphalt: 115,000 tons
Despite the challenges and complexity of the project, Carson said it is currently on schedule to complete late next year. CEG
Lori Lovely
Lori Lovely is an award-winning journalist, editor and author of the children's book Isadora's Dance. She has worked for newspapers, magazines and niche publications, covering a wide-ranging list of topics that includes motor sports, construction, MSW, energy, environmental issues, water, animal rights and issues, history, Native American issues and people, real estate and home decor, farming and more. Her degrees in History taught this dedicated professional to research thoroughly and ask detailed questions in order to winnow interesting facts that convey the essence of the story. As a seasoned writer and compassionate storyteller, she accurately portrays the subject in a manner that entrances the reader.
When she's not working on assignment, Lori is tending to her historic Indiana farm, where she raises alpacas. An inveterate animal lover, this vegetarian enjoys spending time with her animals and working in her garden.
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