US Route 35 Design Build

E.L Robinson teamed with Kokosing Construction Company as joint advocates for the first ever design-build highway project for the West Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOT). The design enhances traffic safety and opens new economic development opportunities for the state and its people.

This project consists of approximately 6.29 miles of new four-lane divided highway, an interchange with WV 34, and approximately 3.34 miles of side road access and two sets of mainline structures. The project involved 6.8 miles of pavement, two bridges, 28 culverts, 39 storm sewer runs, one interchange, six at-grade intersections, realignment of four local roads and one state route, over 8,000,000 cubic yards of earthwork, 6 modified NPDES documents, two reviewing agencies (WVDOH, DEP), and 21-day review times.

The bid price was $73,819,000 and was approximately $30 million under the next bidder. One of the reasons that the bid price was substantially lower was due to ELR’s innovative design. The original quantity of excavation was expected to be 11 million cubic yards, but was able to be reduced by 3 million cubic yards, thanks to the expertise of our qualified staff. Additional benefits from this reduced excavation included less impact on the topography and environment.

In order to meet the construction timetable, the design phase needed to be completed in four months. The design schedule followed the contractor’s CPM schedule, which permitted construction crews to begin the massive excavation task the day after notice to proceed was issued by the West Virginia Department of Highways. The project involved moving approximately 8,000,000 cubic yards of earth and placement of 290,000 square yards of non-reinforced Portland Cement Pavement, along with several large size drainage structures. To complete construction in the time frame needed, both day and night crews were utilized.