Mississippi DOT asks 3 to bid for $500m Jackson Airport Parkway toll concession

Mississippi DOT has invited all three groups who submitted qualifications to proceed to make proposals for the concession contract for the Airport Parkway project in the state capital Jackson.

The three are each led by large Spain-based international tollroad development groups:

1) the Jackson Access Mobility Group composed of Dragados and ACS

2) the Airport Parkway P3 Group composed of Cintra and Ferrovial

3) Global Via

ACS is newly mentioned as a member of the first team.

In a statement Brenda Znachko, MDOT’s number two and chief financial officer said: "MDOT is very pleased with the quality of the teams who submitted their statement of qualifications at the RFQ stage. These top caliber teams are a clear signal that the private sector is ready to invest in transportation in Mississippi. We look forward to working with these teams at the next stage of the selection process."

MDOT expects to issue the final RFP to the shortlisted teams by the end of this year with proposals due the end of January. Selection of the Best Value Proposer is anticipated in March 2009.

The project is 20km (12 miles) long and estimated to cost upwards of $500m. In plan a 'Y' on its side it extends due east from the central business district at I-55, crossing the Pearl River on a long bridge and splitting into northern and southern arms. The northern arm serves northeastern suburbs and the southern arm the entrance to the Airport and south eastern suburbs. Intermediate interchanges will serve Flowood and Pearl across the river to the east of the CBD.

Initially there may be only one connection to city streets but the concessionaire may be required to add connections to two other major city streets - a feature called 'the pitchfork' - when traffic reaches certain thresholds.

The Airport Parkway project is to provide improved connections to the Airport and address the congestion resulting from a fast-growing suburban population east of Jackson and the major retail growth and economic development that has occurred in the corridor.

http://www.theairportparkway.com/Home.aspx

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TOLLROADSnews 2008-08-22