Design firm selected for new I-55 bridge project

Parsons Transportation Group receives contract for engineering, design

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

For those who have to endure the traffic and congestion going into and out of Memphis via I-55, relief is on the way — eventually.

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. has been selected to provide Engineering and Design Services for the Interstate 55 bridge replacement project over the Mississippi River, also known as America’s River Crossing.

According to Arkansas Department of Transportation officials, the decision was nased on a number of factors.

“Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. has over 80 years of experience in global infrastructure,” said ARDOT’s Ellen Coulter. “They are committed to designing a modern, safe, resilient structure that will replace the existing I-55 bridge built in 1949.”

According to specifications, thee new structure will need to support a projected 64,000 vehicles moving between Arkansas and Tennessee daily by the year 2050.

The I-55 bridge replacement project is a joint effort between the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). It was made possible through a $394 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The remaining cost of the project will be split evenly between TDOT and ARDOT, for a total of up to $250 million from each agency.

“This is another major milestone toward replacing the aging I-55 bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee,” said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. “We look forward to collaborating with TDOT and Parsons Transportation Group on the design of this critical structure.”

As the contract with Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. is finalized, the next anticipated milestone will be selecting the firm to carry out the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) method of Alternative Delivery, which is used to streamline large, complex projects.

Currently, the I-55 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge is undergoing a yearslong overhaul that includes a roundabout just east of the bridge and a rerouting of traffic on the interstate. That project has resulted in numerous traffic delays and shutdowns.

For more information on the proposed project, visit America’s River Crossing.

Photo courtesy of TDOT