Industry News

I-66 Outside the Beltway Project Draft RFP Posted

August 31, 2015

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) posted today a Draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested private sector teams to share their resources, qualifications and experience to deliver the $2.1 billion I-66 Outside the Beltway project in Northern Virginia under the Public-Private Transportation Act.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board will consider if the RFQ will be formally issued during their September 16th meeting.

Issuing the draft RFQ will give the VDOT and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation the information required to determine if there would be enough benefit to move forward as a possible P3 project.  The state would then issue a Request for Proposals, which would go into more detail on what the private sector could offer.

Online sources:
Draft RFQ
I-66 Outside the Beltway P3 information
I-66 Outside the Beltway project

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VDOT Lists Potential Candidate Design Build Projects

August 19, 2015

VDOT has recently updated the Alternate Project Delivery (APD) Office webpage to include potential candidate design-build projects. Access http://www.virginiadot.org/business/design-build.asp to view recent updates.

VDOT anticipates the projects listed below will be advertised using the Design-Build project delivery method.  The list is subject to change at any time without notice.

• Route 630 (Courthouse Road) and Interstate 95 Interchange Reconstruction, Fredericksburg District, UPC 13558 (RFQ release late 2015)
• I-64 Peninsula Widening Segment III,  Hampton Roads District, UPC 106689 (RFQ release Fall 2017)
• Bridge Replacement: I-81 over Reed Creek and Rte. 697 (Formato Lane), Bristol District, UPC 104936
• Bridge Replacement: I-81 over Rte. 808 (Halls Bottom Rd) and Sinking Creek, Bristol District, UPC 107116
• Bridge Replacement: I-81 over Rte. 686 (Mulberry Lane),  Bristol District, UPC 107117
• I-64 Widening from I-295 to Exit 205, Richmond District, UPC 107458

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VDOT Issues Finding of Public Interest on I-66 Improvements

August 16, 2015

A Public Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 17th on P3 Procurement Option Public Finding for the I-66 Outside the Beltway Improvements

VDOT Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick has issued a Finding of Public Interest to utilize the P3 procurement process for improvements to I-66 outside the beltway in Northern Virginia. Details of the Finding of Public Interest.

A meeting of the Transportation Public-Private Partnership Advisory Committee has been called by Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne to determine whether or not to affirm the Finding of Public Interest signed by Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick. If the committee affirms the commissioner’s decision, the project will advance to procurement.  The meeting is scheduled for August 17th.

The public is invited to attend to listen to the committee’s discussion. Public comments will be taken during this meeting.  The meeting will be held at the following time and location:

August 17 at 2 p.m.
VDOT Central Office Auditorium
1221 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219

Additional details regarding the Finding and the project are available online:

I-66 Project Info

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Virginia’s Zion Crossroads Design Build Recognized by DBIA

August 04, 2015

Virginia is one of three state departments of transportation who have won National Awards of Merit in the Design-Build Institute of America’s 2015 Design-Build Project/Team Awards program for the Transportation category.

VDOT’s Design-Build improvement project at the I-64/Zion Crossroads Interchange won DBIA’s National Award merit.  Projects in Missouri and North Carolina also one the National Award merit and will compete with Virginia for the National Award of Excellence to be announced in November at DBIA’s national conference.

VTCA member Corman Construction was both the design-builder and general contractor.  VTCA members Parsons Transportation Group, Walllace Montgomery & Associates, McDonough, Bolyard, Peck, and Schnabel Engineering were also identified as key team members on the project.

Additional details about the award and other category winners can be found in DBIA’s press release.

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Awards Presented to Virginia Aggregate Producers

July 24, 2015

Did you know that each person in the U.S. uses an average of ten tons of rock and mineral products every year?  It is vital that we safely obtain the aggregate materials we need while protecting our environment. 

A unique program in Virginia rewards companies who apply innovative techniques to reclaim land and who set the bar high with their safety and community outreach programs.  VTCA, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy – Division of Mineral Mining, presented the following awards on July 11: 

Safety Awards are presented to mining operations in Virginia that have met or exceeded a benchmark of safety criteria in their day-to day plant operations. Congratulations to these recipients of the 2015 Mineral Mine Safety Awards:

Quarry
0 – 25,000 Employee Hours:  Vulcan Construction Materials – Dale Quarry, Chester, VA
25,000 – 50,000 Employee Hours:  O-N Minerals (Chemstone) – Winchester Plant, Winchester, VA
50,000 – 75,000 Employee Hours:  Stuart M. Perry, Inc. – Winchester Quarry, Winchester, VA
75,000+ Employee Hours:  Mountain Materials, Inc. – Castlewood Plant, Castlewood, VA

Open Pit
0 – 5,000 Employee Hours:  Holland Sand Pit, Suffolk, VA
5,000 – 10,000 Employee Hours:  Bardon, Inc. – Mattaponi Sand/Gravel, King & Queen County, VA
10,000 – 30,000 Employee Hours:  Iluka Resources, Inc. – Old Hickory Mine, Dinwiddie, VA
30,000+ Employee Hours:  Bennett Mineral Company, Inc - #1, Walkerton, VA

Reclamation Awards from the Virginia Division of Mineral Mining are presented to mining operations in Virginia that have been selected by their DMM inspector based on projects that have resulted in successfully reclaiming a portion of their permitted operations.

Overall Winner - Quarry
General Shale Brick, Mine 18 Yuma, Roanoke, VA

Honorable Mention – Quarry
Roanoke Cement Company – Roanoke Cement, Troutville, VA

Honorable Mention - Non–Quarry
Bardon, Inc. – Ashland Plant, Ashland, VA
Bay Sand Company – Mine #1, Smithfield, VA

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Kim Joins VDOT as Asphalt Laboratory Program Manager

July 01, 2015

VDOT is pleased to welcome Mr. Sungho Kim, Ph.D., PE as Statewide Asphalt Program Manager in the Central Office Materials Division, effective August 10.

Kim currently serves as the lead Bituminous Research Engineer with the Florida Department of Transportation.  He earned his BS & MS degrees in Transportation Engineering from Hanyang University in Korea, and later a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. 

His experience includes extensive work with practical, field application of applied research – to include areas that will are currently of high interest in Virginia:

• Superpave design and gradation improvements;
• Best practice(s) for high RAP usage;
• High polymer binders; and
• Heavy-vehicle simulation for testing of pavements and materials on accelerated pavement testing facilities.

During his post-doctoral research work, Kim also worked closely on other projects very pertinent to Virginia’s challenges and issues:

• Hybrid binders – use of rubber, polymers, and other materials in binder(s) for better rut & cracking resistance;
• Development of reflective cracking mitigation technologies & techniques;
• Best practice(s) for high RAP usage; and
• High polymer binders.

Most importantly, Kim comes highly recommended for his ability to understand the field operational needs from both a DOT and contractor perspective through his demonstrated work at Florida DOT.  He has proven ability to transfer his technical expertise into practical solutions that can be effectively applied in the day-to-day operations of asphalt paving across the Commonwealth.

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VDOT Issues Explanation of Audit Oversight Responsibility

May 13, 2015

On May 6, 2015 VDOT sent a letter to consultant engineering firms operating in Virginia that provided an explanation of the Department’s Assurance and Compliance Oversight office responsibilities.  Specifically, the letter outlines the Department’s role and responsibilities to comply with the AASHTO Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide for Audits of Architecture and Engineering Consulting Firms.  Although the letter does not characterize the adoption of the guidelines as a change in policy, A/E firms are urged to carefully review the letter for possible changes to the Department’s business practices.  The letter can be downloaded here.

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New Mining Educational Video Available

June 01, 2014

In a recent effort driven by VTCA’s Aggregate Operations Committee, a great video about aggregates mining and the use of aggregates has been developed and is now available.

Only eight minutes in length, the video in DVD format was originally planned for use only at the 2013 Virginia Association of Science Teachers Conference. However, once completed by Rob Teague at Martin Marietta, it was felt that this video could be a great public relations tool for any number of opportunities including presentations to civic clubs, youth groups, school boards, boards of supervisors as well as other community and legislative outreaches.

Once again, our thanks to Rob Teague for a very professional job in making the mining video.

If you have any questions please contact Sam Hollins at .

View the Mining Educational Video (314 MB, MP4 Format)

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