Parsons has been selected as the lead designer for the Interstate 526 and Long Point Road Interchange Improvements project near Charleston, South Carolina. The company will perform the work as part of a design-build team led by Ames Construction. The South Carolina Department of Transportation awarded the team an approximately $227 million contract for the project.
Parsons’ design services are expected to represent approximately 10% of the total contract value. Based on the stated project amount, that percentage implies a design scope valued at roughly $22.7 million.
Under the contract, Parsons will provide comprehensive engineering and design services for improvements to the interchange connecting Interstate 526 and Long Point Road in the Mount Pleasant area.
The interchange serves passenger traffic, commercial vehicles and freight moving through one of the Charleston region’s important transportation corridors. The planned upgrades are intended to improve traffic flow, strengthen safety and provide more reliable travel conditions for motorists and truck drivers.
The project is also expected to improve access to the Wando Welch Terminal, a major port facility serving cargo moving through the Charleston area. Strengthening the connection between the terminal and Interstate 526 could support more efficient freight movement while reducing congestion near the interchange.
Commercial trucks regularly use the corridor to transport goods to and from the terminal. Improvements to traffic operations and roadway capacity could help reduce delays for freight carriers while also improving conditions for local commuters and other passenger vehicles.
As lead designer, Parsons will be responsible for coordinating the engineering work required to advance the interchange improvements through the design-build process. Its scope is expected to include the technical planning and roadway design necessary to support construction by the Ames-led team.
The design-build structure combines engineering and construction responsibilities within a single project team. This approach can allow design and construction activities to progress in a more coordinated manner than under a traditional structure in which the two phases are contracted separately.
Parsons’ role will focus on developing a design that addresses traffic operations, safety requirements, constructability and the needs of both passenger and commercial transportation users.
The project reflects continued infrastructure investment in the Charleston region as local transportation networks manage population growth, commuter traffic and freight activity associated with the area’s port operations.
Upgrading the Interstate 526 and Long Point Road interchange is intended to improve the movement of vehicles through the Mount Pleasant area while strengthening the roadway connection to the Wando Welch Terminal.
For Parsons, the award adds another large transportation infrastructure assignment to its engineering portfolio and gives the company a significant design role within the approximately $227 million project.
KEY QUOTE:
“As South Carolina continues to experience significant population and economic growth, strategic transportation investments are essential to supporting communities and commerce.”
Mark Fialkowski, President of Infrastructure North America at Parsons
