NewsBreak! Articles > February 1, 2006

www.blytheconstruction.com

Blythe Construction, Inc., Charlotte, NC, received the Carolinas AGC Pinnacle Award for “Best Highway-Heavy Project” for its work as contractor on t he Interstate 85 Design-Build project in Mecklenburg County.

This project involved the widening and reconstruction of 8.3 miles of I-85 from the US 29-NC 49 Split to Speedway Blvd. The improvements resulted in 8 concrete through-lanes with a 22-foot median south of I-485. Above I-485, the highway was widened to three lanes northbound and four lanes southbound.

Working with The LPA Group, the team reconfigured the state's original design for the 29/49 connector ramp with I-85. The result, including a single new flyover bridge instead of dual structures, saved $1 million and 6 months off the schedule.

In the judges' words, for Blythe's first design-build project, they “took a risky approach that paid off in spades.”

In addition, fellow highway contractor judges termed the construction process on this project “seamless and stellar.” Blythe also made savvy use of the media on a weekly basis and created a special web site for two-way communication with the public. The web site also contained a secure area for private communications between NCDOT and key design and construction personnel, who could also share access to drawings.

Completed four months ahead of schedule and on budget, the owner said this project absolutely ranks with the very best. An engineer on the job also called it one of the best Design-Build projects they've ever been associated with.

The Best Highway-Heavy Project award was presented to Blythe Construction at the Carolinas AGC Annual Convention at The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL, January 27, 2005.

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