AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. announced that it has been awarded a four-year, $18-million contract by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide Construction Engineering and Inspection Services (CE&I) for an interstate highway project in Waco, Texas. AtkinsRéalis has provided CE&I services on three other interstate projects for the state, two of which are currently ongoing. In partnership with TxDOT, AtkinsRéalis and its subconsultant partners will provide overall project administration on the job, including day-to-day management of construction inspection, material testing and project documentation.

The $263-million project widens nearly 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) of Interstate 35 (I-35) to eight lanes, reconstructs interchanges and frontage roads to reduce congestion and meet future demand needs in the first complete rebuild of the roadway since it was first constructed in the 1960's. Upgrading the highway is a priority for the City of Waco, State of Texas, the Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation. 45% of Texans live along the 812-kilometer (505-mile) I-35 corridor within the state boundary linesi. The 2,525-kilometer (1,569 mile) roadway is the larger interstate connecting Canada and Mexico.

The majority of Mexico's trade with the U.S. and Canada traverses IH 35 via commercial trucks, valued at approximately $750-billion in goods annually. AtkinsRéalis has provided CE&I services on a wide range of TxDOT projects, helping enhance safety and relieve congestion on some of the State's most heavily traveled highways including the $606 million CapEx North project along an interstate in Austin, TxDOT's larger design-bid-build project let to date. The Company has been providing CE&I services in the Lone Star State for more than 20 years, beginning with the Central Texas Turnpike System in 2002.

Additionally, AtkinsRéalis provides CE&I services to state DOTs and transportation authorities in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington and Puerto Rico.