State officials and environmentalists are nearing a deal to build a 5-mile bridge to link the northern Outer Banks with the mainland. The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reported Monday that the $650 million toll bridge would stretch over the Currituck Sound to Corolla, known for its lighthouse and wild horses. Projected tolls on the Mid-Currituck Bridge would be $10 to $15 for a one-way trip. The bridge is expected to generate $7 million in its first year. Join discussion...

North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) signed a project development agreement today with an ACS-led group that gives them a right of first refusal on building the Outer Banks' Mid-Currituck bridge as a longterm toll concession. Environmental permitting is under way. The development group will bear the bulk of the costs of remaining project Join discussion...

The $1.8-billion project—which involves improvements to Interstate 595 in Florida—brings together the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Spanish infrastructure firm ACS Dragados, and Banco Santander, Sabadell, Banco Popular Espanol, BBVA. Caja Madrid, Calxnova, La Caixa, Societe General, Caylon, Dexia, WestLB, and the National Bank of Australia. Join discussion...

AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM), a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced today that it has been awarded a $70-million, five-year contract by Dragados USA for design and construction services to upgrade Florida’s I-595 highway Join discussion...

In a deal struck last week, a Spanish-led group will be paid as much as $1.8 billion over 35 years to design, build, operate and maintain three new toll lanes along traffic-clogged Interstate 595 near Fort Lauderdale. The agreement came as something of a surprise during a period of turmoil in credit markets, and many experts called it a model for how states and private investors can work together to upgrade the nation's aging roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure. Join discussion...

Despite the forbidding financial climate some big projects seem to be going to financial close, though others are delayed. Florida's 595 Express successfully closed March 3, with simultaneous signings of nearly $800m of bank loans and $200m in equity in New York City, some $700m of TIFIA loans in Washington DC, and contract document signings at District 4 FDOT offices in Ft Lauderdale. There has not been an official announcement as we write, although apparently it is reported in Project Finance. Join discussion...

A year after forging an alliance to pursue large-scale P3 transportation projects in the United States, engineering giants MMM Group Ltd. of Canada and H.W. Lochner Inc. of the U.S. have landed a major assignment in North Carolina. Join discussion...

Iridium, the concessions company of the ACS Group, was selected by the Portuguese government to build and operate the new Baixo Alentejo highway, which shall connect the towns of Sines and Beja, in the centre of the country. Join discussion...

Two groups submitted proposals Friday for the approx-$1.5 billion upgrades to I-595, south Florida's east-west mega-highway/distributor project. It involves upgrades of the present 8 lane interstate with discontinuous frontage roads to a basic 19 lanes along 17km (10.5 miles) of the highway to a 3/5/3/5/3 lanes format, Texas style. The outside pair of 3 lane roadways are collector-distributors, the pair of 4 lane roadways are freeway accommodating bus rapid transit, and the central 3-lanes roadway is reversible tolled. Join discussion...