Executive Spotlight with Keith Sasich, President of Kiewit Texas Construction

As North Texas continues its rapid growth, our transportation infrastructure grows with it. We asked Kiewit Texas Construction President Keith Sasich for an update on changes we’re seeing on the roadways.

Q: What are some of the highway projects that Kiewit Texas is currently involved with?

A: Kiewit Texas is involved in many large roadway projects both in Texas and across the United States. The following is a look at some of our higher profile projects.

Locally we are working on the DFW Connector Project, one of three comprehensive development agreement (CDA) projects being undertaken by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in North Texas. The DFW Connector, a joint venture between Kiewit Texas Construction L.P. and Zachry Construction Corporation, will develop, design and reconstruct $1 billion of improvements to SH 114/SH 121 starting in early 2010. The 8-mile project will improve mobility and air quality through expanded roadway capacity, toll managed lanes and continuous frontage roads. Although some of the original configuration remains unfunded, work is being carried out to provide as much access and capacity within the available funding.

In Los Angeles, Calif., we are joint-ventured with other Kiewit districts on the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening project for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This involves engineering, procuring and constructing 10 miles of HOV lane and improving supporting infrastructure such as ramps, bridges and sound walls on the freeway. The project will be constructed in two phases. Design engineering will be a component of the first half of this job, which began in June 2009. Construction will begin as soon as design is approved on the construction segments beginning approximately first Quarter 2010 and will continue for approximately three years.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development awarded a Kiewit-led joint venture the final contract of a series of four to upgrade the capacity of the Huey P. Long Bridge. The project includes replacing the east and west approach structures and constructing a three-lane deck, widening both sides of the existing bridge, also known as route US 90, over the Mississippi River. The project will add an additional lane in each direction along with 8-foot emergency shoulders.

Finally, the Intercounty Connector (ICC) Contract B in Maryland involves the design and construction of the ICC extending from approximately 600 feet east of MD 97 to west of US 29. Approximately 6.9 miles of a six-lane highway will be built, including two interchanges.

Q: What is the timeframe for some of the larger CDA projects in our region?

A: TxDOT has many ongoing roadway projects in the North Texas Region. Three CDAs, valued at a total of $5 billion, will begin construction in North Texas soon. The DFW Connector will begin in early 2010 and improvements are expected to be completed by early 2014, the North Tarrant Express should begin by late 2010 and the LBJ Freeway project should begin by 2011. By adding capacity and managed toll lanes, these projects will improve regional mobility.

Q: What will these construction projects do for the North Texas region?

A: Primarily these projects mean safer roadways for the travelling public along with much needed relief by adding freeway capacity in areas that experience heavy congestion. In turn this means a decrease in commuter time and air pollution. With the DFW Connector project, we are using a design-build method, which means construction will be completed in approximately five years, bringing much needed relief in half the time for traditional contracts of this magnitude.

At the peak of construction, the DFW Connector will create over 600 local jobs, and many more will be generated that are directly and indirectly linked to the construction.

Q: What should North Texas focus on to ensure that our infrastructure can withstand the growth projected for the region over the next several decades?

A: It will require a multi-pronged approach that focuses on everything from finance issues to innovative contracting methods such as the design-build practice used on the DFW Connector and other types of CDAs.

North Texas leaders are working hard to deliver major projects and keep traffic moving. From the DFW Connector to DART projects, Kiewit is ready to help North Texas tackle its transportation challenges.

Our partners at TxDOT, DART and the North Central Texas Council of Governments also are working to identify and fund much-needed projects that will help reduce congestion and improve air quality throughout the region. It will take all those agencies – and the entire contracting community – working together to address the challenges that come with the benefits of living in one of the fastest-growing population centers in the nation.