| FAQs |
| When did the project start and how long will it take? Initial construction activities began in June 2009 and included the construction of the Broward County Greenway path on the north side of the North New River Canal, the relocation of utilities and the construction of sound barriers. Major roadway construction began in February 2010. The project has been divided into five construction segments, “A” to “E”. Segment C was the first to start in the vicinity of Pine Island Road. By the end of 2010 all five segments are anticipated to be under construction. The overall construction of this $1.2 B project is scheduled to be completed during summer 2014. How will traffic be maintained during construction? The number of existing lanes will be maintained during the heavy demand (peak) hours. Lane closures and/or detours will be implemented between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Portable message boards will keep drivers informed of real-time traffic conditions as they occur along the corridor. Road Rangers will be available 24/7 to help stranded motorists and to remove disabled vehicles from the travel lanes. Where can I get more information about lane and ramp closures? Information such as the status of construction, traffic pattern changes, and periods of lane and ramp closures can be found on the project website. Where can I learn about jobs and contracting opportunities? Contractors will list their job openings with the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) - a state agency. Applicants should register with the agency by either visiting one of their offices in Broward County or online at www.employflorida.com. Applicants may also view the Employment section on the I-595 Express, LLC website, www.i595express.com or call 954-671-5500. Vendors and subcontractors seeking to provide labor, material, equipment and other items and services needed on this project should complete the online Prequalification Questionnaire under the “Doing Business with I 595 Express” section on the I-595 Express, LLC website, www.i595express.com. Inquiries can also be emailed to info@i595express.com or call the inquiry hotline at 954-671-5500. What is a concessionaire? A concessionaire is typically a private sector firm (or firms) formed by one or more equity investors to design, build, finance, operate and maintain (D/B/F/O/M) a facility under a contractual agreement with a public entity. The concessionaire team will also include key subcontractors, including the project designer, builder and operator, who may or may not be equity investors in the concessionaire team. How is a concessionaire being utilized for this project? The concessionaire will finance, design and build the project, and operate and maintain the system under a long-term 35-year public private partnership (P3) agreement with FDOT. The concessionaire will finance the project funding shortfall up front and be repaid through availability payments when the completed project opens to traffic. Entitlement to the availability payments will generally be based on the ‘availability’ of the project to vehicular traffic and the concessionaire’s conformance with the operation and maintenance criteria established in the P3 agreement. FDOT will retain control of the toll revenue and toll rates. Will FDOT need to acquire right of way for the project? The Department has secured drainage rights over several golf courses along the corridor to satisfy the drainage requirements for the project. The golf course lake systems have been expanded to accept the additional drainage from I-595 to meet the permit requirements. This innovative drainage design avoids the need to purchase up to 60 acres of land along I-595 as originally anticipated. Minimal right of way is being acquired by the Department to satisfy the project needs. The Department is continuing to evaluate alternatives to help minimize the need for additional right of way. Will tolls be added to I-595? Yes, but only for the three reversible Express Lanes in the median of I-595. With the Express Lanes, motorists have the choice of paying for a reliable travel time. By offering additional travel choices for each trip, the Express Lanes will provide the means to relieve congestion on the I-595 mainline while providing a free-flow alternative that will reduce delays and lower total driving hours. The FDOT will set the toll rates and retain the toll revenue. |