Construction Contract Awarded
The Texas Department of Transportation awarded the Woodall Rodgers Park (The Park) construction contract to Archer Western, an Atlanta-based company with a regional office in Dallas that specializes in highway and bridgework, rapid transit, design-build projects and more. Archer Western is currently part of a joint venture expanding the DART line. Archer Western was the lowest bidder among nine competing contractors who submitted bids on July 7.
Archer Western will build the 5.2 acre bridge with basic landscaping across eight lanes of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, creating the primary infrastructure for The Park. This first phase of construction will begin in September, after the $44.5 million contract is executed by TxDOT and Archer Western. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 14. Additional park landscaping and amenities will be built in the next phase of construction.
“The construction contract award is an exciting and significant milestone for The Park,” said Linda Owen, president of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. “This public-private partnership will result in a beautiful, sustainable green space that will connect Uptown and Downtown Dallas with improved pedestrian accessibility.”
Federal Stimulus Dollars at Work in Dallas
In March, The Park received $16.7 million in federal stimulus funds dedicated to transportation enhancement.
"The Woodall Rodgers Deck Project not only demonstrates the power of ARRA dollars in putting people to work, it also demonstrates the power of partnerships,” said Cynthia Northrop White, TxDOT public information office supervisor. “The commitment of the private sector, the City of Dallas, and the State of Texas has created a project that contributes to mobility while at the same time promotes green development that enhances the quality of life in Dallas.”
For more information about The Park, visit www.woodallrodgerspark.org. The Park’s Web site is currently being re-designed and will be unveiled in time for groundbreaking. TxDOT mobility information, including lane closures, will be found on the new Web site, among other enhanced features.
About Archer Western
Archer Western Contractors, Ltd. (AW) is a national industry leader in heavy civil and rail transit construction, with over $1.1 billion currently under contract across the nation. AW is a subsidiary of The Walsh Group, a Chicago-based, 107-year-old construction firm that ranks 20th on ENR’s Top Contractors list with 12 regional offices across the country and over $4.6 billion currently under contract.
The AW-Texas office, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, specializes in transit systems, bus/train stations, utility distributions, bridge/highway expansions, and other major transportation/infrastructure projects. This local organization is comprised of over 800 employees and over 150 professional project managers experienced in these areas of work. AW has completed projects for multiple local transportation authorities, including the City of Dallas, Trinity Rail Express, DART, TxDOT, and NTTA.
The Walsh Group has completed numerous projects similar to the DART expansion for transportation agencies across the country, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority in California and the Chicago Department of Transportation, while Archer Western has completed similar contracts for DART, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail Starter System and others.
About The Park
The Park is a 5.2-acre deck park that will create an urban green space over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets. The park will provide connectivity to the city’s flourishing Arts District, bring cultural offerings together and serve as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy.
Plans for the park include jogging trails, a dog park, a children’s playground, a restaurant, a performance pavilion, a water sculpture, an area for games and much more.
The project is being managed by Bjerke Management Solutions and the design is being led by two nationally-recognized design firms, the Office of James Burnett and Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.