Award: Bridge deck replacement
Value: Total contract of $534 million
Location: los angeles
Customer: Caltrans
A Skanska joint venture has won a major rehabilitation of the Los Angeles Bridge project, the Sweden-based developer and contractor announced Wednesday.
In partnership with heavy civil construction company California Engineering Contractors of Pleasanton, California, Skanska will replace the bridge deck for the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The total contract with Caltrans is valued at $534 million, according to the news release, with Skanska’s share of $320 million. Caltrans estimates its total cost for the replacement project to be about $706 million.
Skanska’s work will include removing and replacing the existing bridge deck, installing new expansion joints and integrating corrosion protection systems, according to the release. The deck modernization will increase load capacity, improve safety and reduce long-term maintenance requirements.
The team will too replace the bridge railsfences and median, according to the Caltrans project website. A proposal for increase the height of the bridge 26 feet However, allowing larger ships to pass underneath was rejected and is not part of the scope of the project, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge was built in 1963 and has been in service for 60 years. The bridge remains structurally sound, but the deck is rapidly deteriorating. The state transport agency attributes this to concrete fatigue caused by heavy traffic loading and environmental deterioration due to age and the marine environment.
Infrastructure construction jobs in the US has been a key factor for Skanska of late. In the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Feb. 9, the contractor described U.S. construction as “fragmented.” However, construction remained the company’s most profitable sector, particularly in the US
CEO Anders Danielsson attributed much of Skanska’s success to the civil construction market and the booming data center industry. This combined with a diverse portfolio has been key to Skanska’s construction strategy.
“I think the organization has been consistent with our strategy of being selective in the market and betting on projects where we see that we have a competitive advantage, a good track record, a good relationship with the client and also the right organization,” said Danielsson.
Work on the Vincent Thomas Bridge will begin in March, according to Skanska’s statement. Caltrans’ website says the bridge will open in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with construction finishing in March 2029.
