VDOT Pocahontas Parkway (Route 895 Connector)

Client: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

Location: Richmond, VA, U.S.

Business Segment: Urban Solutions

Industry: Infrastructure

Map showing the location of VDOT Pocahontas Parkway (Route 895 Connector)

Executive Summary

Fluor led the team responsible for the financing, design and construction of the Pocahontas Parkway (Route 895), connecting southern Chesterfield and eastern Henrico counties in Richmond, Virginia.

The Parkway's signature feature, high-elevation Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, allows ocean-going ships access to the Port of Richmond's Deepwater Terminal.

Client's Challenge

The Commonwealth of Virginia used a public-private partnership arrangement to finance, design and build the Pocahontas Parkway.

The 8.8-mile, 4-lane, limited-access, divided highway includes interchanges with Interstates 95 and 295, a 656-foot clear-span, cast-in-place bridge over the James River, smaller bridges and toll facilities. The toll system uses the “Smart Tag” AVI technology.

Fluor's Solution

We used a public-private partnership approach for the Pocahontas Parkway Connector, which was the first capital project under The Commonwealth of Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. This legislation allows innovative financing of projects on which private developers and the state collaborate.

During the three-year development period, we raised private capital funding and employed an innovative use of tax-exempt bond financing to make the project possible, while fostering local support and obtaining agency clearances.

Project activities included utility relocations, wetland mitigation, right-of-way property acquisition and permitting in addition to design and construction. Construction began in 1998, with site staffing peaking at 600 workers. The eastbound lanes opened in May 2002, and the westbound lanes four months later.

Conclusion

The $324-million Pocahontas Parkway Project was completed under budget. Virginia provided $27 million of the total project budget, with the remaining funds coming from the private sector.