The Chicago Transit Authority has chosen design and construction team Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to design, engineer and build the long-awaited $2.9 billion Red Line extension project, intended to serve the South End of the city Partners include Walsh Construction and VINCI Construction, and design firms EXP and Systra.
The team, selected after a nearly two-year procurement process, will be responsible for designing and building the 5.6-mile rail extension of the line from 95th Street to 130th Street in the city, and will include four new Red Line stations at 103, 111, Michigan Avenue near 116th and 130th Streets.
As ENR previously reported, several other recruiting teams had competed for the job. Walsh-Vinci’s proposal was selected because it provided an innovative design and construction approach that will minimize impacts to the community, the authority said.
The southern end of the side is the only area where the authority’s rail service stops before the city border. An expansion of the area has been promised for about 50 years.
“The Red Line extension corrects the transit inequity of the past and increases access to more affordable transportation in the city,” said Authority Chairman Dorval R. Carter Jr. in a statement. “Hiring the procurement team that can provide the best value … to build the Red Line extension is a consequential step that demonstrates our commitment to building this project.”
The authority plans to begin advanced construction work this fall, including demolition of properties acquired for the project and early relocation of utilities, which includes removing cables and poles and relocating utility equipment public before major construction in late 2025. The project will be completed in late 2025. 2030.
Since the start of procurement, the project budget has increased from $4.1 billion to $5.3 billion, which also includes financing charges, increases in construction materials and labor costs. Other factors adding to the increase include higher interest rates, continued uncertainty and unpredictability related to material delivery and a large project backlog, particularly for civil infrastructure, the authority said in its statement which announces the award of the contract.
It intends to secure funding for the budget increase with bonds issued by the agency.
The authority offers a disadvantaged business target for the contractor that includes the use of DBE-certified contractors for 25% for project design and 22% for project construction. In addition, Walsh-VINCI will host outreach events with the authority to educate potential DBE businesses about the certification process and inform the DBE small business community and career applicants about upcoming opportunities.
Walsh Construction and Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the project.
