✕
The Texas Department of Transportation has contracted Ferrovial Construction–Webber 99, a joint venture between Ferrovial and Webber, to design, build and maintain the nearly 15-mile B-1 SH 99 Grand Parkway Segment southeast of Houston, valued at about $1.47 billion.
Officials selected the team through a best value process after a year-long review. The total contract includes a $1.438 billion design-build contract and a $28.25 million capital maintenance agreement covering years 1 through 15. Final approval is pending approval from the Federal Highway Administration, with contract signing expected this summer. The project is expected to be substantially completed in the winter of 2031-2032.
subtitle
Map courtesy of TxDOT
*Click on the map for more details
The project extends the 184-mile Grand Parkway circuit southeast of Houston through Brazoria and Galveston counties. It includes four new TxDOT-operated toll lanes and discontinuous frontage roads along approximately 15 miles from FM 2403 to FM 646, two direct connectors to the SH 99/SH 35 interchange, and approximately 5.9 miles of operational improvements along SH 35. This includes 1.3 miles of main road operation and 4 miles of reconstructed operation. improvements TxDOT said the project aims to improve safety and mobility, support regional economic development and strengthen hurricane evacuation capacity.
The CEO of Ferrovial Construcció, Ignacio Gastón, said in a press release that the award expands the company’s existing presence in the corridor. “Building on our success with SH 99 Segments H and I-1, we look forward to improving mobility and connectivity in Southeast Texas,” he said.
TxDOT Houston District Engineer Glenn Allbritton said in a May 6 statement that the project would benefit communities far beyond the building boundaries. “In addition to further integrating the transportation networks of Brazoria and Galveston counties, this transformative project will serve as a catalyst for growth in the surrounding communities, while supporting long-term regional economic development,” he said.
Beyond road construction, the project includes more than 2 million square feet of bridge structures, 10 million square feet of pavement and more than 1 million square feet of retaining walls, with significant earthmoving to raise the corridor above the area’s water levels, according to Ferrovial.
“This corridor brings a combination of highly plastic soils, floodplain limitations, significant utility impacts and a railroad relocation, all of which require early coordination with local partners,” says Khalid Ansari, Ferrovial spokesperson. “These lessons from segments H and I-1, particularly in drainage, drilled wells and traffic management, are shaping our approach to B-1.”
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new intelligent AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
The Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation will fund the toll elements through a combination of toll revenue, debt and cash on hand, following the Texas Transportation Commission’s allocation of development rights for Segment B-1 to GPTC in January 2024. About $186.8 million in TxDOT funds are set aside to cover the SH 35 toll-free work.
Ferrovial has a 70% equity interest in the joint venture with Webber, LLC. Principal design and engineering subconsultants include Consor Engineers, LLC; CONSOR-OTHON, a joint venture; OTHON, Inc.; and Rodriguez Engineering Laboratories LLC.
The segment is part of the larger 28-mile Segment B corridor, a controlled-access toll road that connects I-45 South in League City with SH 288 near Rosharon through Galveston and Brazoria counties.
