I-69, Evansville to Crane
Evansville to Crane, Indiana, United States
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation
Parsons Brinckerhoff Role: Lead Design Firm
Congress approved the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991 designating certain corridors of national significance to be included in the National Highway System. Corridor 18 was defined from Indianapolis to Memphis, via Evansville, and was later extended as part of the evolving I-69 interstate trade corridor from Canada to Mexico. Improving the interstate linkage between Evansville and Indianapolis had also been a priority of the state of Indiana for many years. Among many envisioned project benefits, an improved I-69 will provide residents with better access to major universities, major medical facilities, and job opportunities.
Though originally targeted for completion in 2015, Indiana’s governor realized the opportunity for I-69 to serve as a catalyst for restoring jobs and recharging economic development. The governor challenged the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to build and open I-69 from Evansville to Crane by the end of 2012. In August 2009, Parsons Brinckerhoff was selected to lead the design team, consisting of four design subconsultants and over 60 land acquisition professionals.
Parsons Brinckerhoff is spearheading a design effort that encompasses 90 bridges and 270 small structures. Innovative fast-track project delivery is being achieved by letting a combination of separate contracts, using either design-build or design-bid-build techniques. Risk management of budget and schedule is also a critical part of Parsons Brinckerhoff’s work, as many processes that are generally completed sequentially will instead be completed concurrently to meet the aggressive schedule.
Thanks to an infusion of $700 million from the “Major Moves” transportation infrastructure legislation, the project received a critical financial boost. INDOT will soon have 65 miles (105 kilometers) of contiguous interstate construction underway at one time—likely the longest road project of its type underway in the U.S.