While private projects struggle with persistent headwindsthe shovels of the public projects are still able to turn the dirt.
This rings especially true on the I-35 corridor, one of the busiest interstates in Texas.
Lone Star Constructors, a joint venture between Fluor and Austin Bridge & Road, a Coppell, Texas-based road construction company, broke ground Thursday on the first phase of its I-35 Northeast South Expansion Project in San Antonio, Texas, according to Fluor.
“The first phase of the I-35 NEX South project builds on Fluor’s more than two decades of work helping the Texas DOT improve vehicle safety and mobility across the state,” said Shawn West, President of Fluor’s infrastructure business. “This project reinforces Fluor’s commitment to quality delivery infrastructure and supports economic development and commerce in Texas.”
The I-35 NEX project is a 20-mile widening effort that is divided into five segments. The $1.5 billion I-35 NEX Central project broke ground in 2022, and the remaining segments are still being designed.
The first phase of the I-35 NEX South project includes the addition of three elevated lanes, including two main lanes and one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction, according to the release. These extend from the I-35/I-410 South interchange to the I-35/I-410 North interchange along I-35.
The Texas DOT granted the $700 million contract in the joint venture led by Fluor last August. The Irving, Texas-based company will handle the design, construction and capital maintenance of the interstate project.
The launch followed other recent starts in the I-35 corridor, including a $606 million project in Austin which started in April 2023.
The CEO of Fluor, David Constable, emphasized the importance of this type of awards during Fluor’s most recent earnings call, highlighting its importance to the company’s Urban Solutions unit, which provides engineering, procurement and construction services for the infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, metals and life sciences industries. He said demand for services within that segment drove Fluor’s backlog to levels not seen since 2019.
The Irving, Texas-based company expects substantial completion of the project in San Antonio by early 2028, according to the release.
