The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved hiring Hawkins Construction Company to serve as the Construction Manager/General Contractor for the CONNECTSarpy – West Sarpy road program, which encompasses approximately 9 miles of arterial roadway projects, including 1.5 miles already complete.
Construction costs for the program are estimated at $65 million. Under the agreement passed by the Board, Hawkins will be paid $250,000 for initial preconstruction work.
“As the fastest growing county in the state, we need a well thought out and well developed network of arterial roads, and we need it quickly,” Sarpy County Board Chairman Don Kelly said. “Hawkins is an industry leader in roadway construction and program management. Bringing them on board as our Construction Manager/General Contractor will allow us to complete this project in a timely and cost-effective way.”
Sarpy County is the first entity in the state to use the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) process for road construction. The Nebraska Legislature enacted the process in 2016 as part of the Transportation Innovation Act.
This progressive approach will provide better coordination for the project’s multiple phases, including utility relocation and expansion. It will also streamline construction operations, saving both time and money. Hawkins was selected after a multi-step process that included submitting the company’s qualifications.
“The West Sarpy project is a massive undertaking with many moving parts, including coordination with utility companies and the BNSF Railroad, which operates in the area. Our original timeline called for three to four years of construction. With the CM/GC on board, we’re going to be able to cut that by 25 to 50 percent,” Sarpy County Engineer Dennis Wilson said.
As the Construction Manager/General Contractor, Hawkins Construction will coordinate with a number of partners, including the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the City of Gretna, Gretna Public Schools, the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District, Metropolitan Utilities District, Omaha Public Power District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, BNSF Railway and various telecommunication partners.
“Sarpy County is the right place for Nebraska’s first major CM/GC transportation project. The local needs demand an innovative solution, which the County, engineering team and Hawkins are ideally suited to provide. We are thrilled to partner with Sarpy County, and we are confident we will deliver success for the traveling public,” said Chris Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer at Hawkins Construction.
The CONNECTSarpy – West Sarpy project covers approximately 9 square miles between Harrison Street and Highway 370 from 168th to 204th streets. The new infrastructure, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2023, will support development and economic growth in the area, including several new schools, 11 new development projects and future growth.
“This area is a hub for new residential development, so the County is taking the lead and creating a single vision for the infrastructure in this area, making sure that it meets our current and future needs,” said Sarpy County Commissioner Jim Warren, who represents the area.
To learn more about the project, visit CONNECTSarpy.com/updates/west-sarpy.