Progressive Design-Build Allows JEA to Realize Best Solution

Although JEA had developed a preliminary design as part of the original request for proposal, they saw value in allowing the design-builder to offer alternatives that would: 

• Reduce impact on the environment and surrounding community 
• Reduce costs 
• Improve schedule 

Water/Wastewater Solutions Focused on Owner Objectives

The project objective was to move water from the west side of the river to the east side of the river to meet regulatory commitments. The team’s goal was to develop alternative routing solutions that did not stray too far outside the original concept, but met the project's principle goals. 

The original concept identified a three-part base route for the river crossing. Environmental impacts were clearly the single greatest risk to project budget and schedule. The design-build team launched an evaluation of the environmental and construction impacts associated with the original pipeline route, while concurrently developing possible alternatives.   

Employing Water Solution Expertise to Improve Outcomes

Impacts were classified as inherent to the project scope or caused by the project. By developing this tool the team was able to: 

• Assess the alternatives 
• Reduce impacts 
• Lower engineering and construction costs 
• Improve the schedule  

By developing an alternative that could be installed in a single pipe string, the alternative: 

• Reduced the project cost by $5 million 
• Eliminated both state sovereign submerged land lease issues and environmental resource permitting 
• Eliminated maritime traffic hazards and disruptions
• Eliminated marine support 
• Reduced noise pollution to surrounding residential neighborhoods 

Overall the decision to evaluate alternative design solutions produced both monetary and environmental benefits for JEA and the surrounding community. 

Would you like to hear more about the benefits of progressive design-build? Contact Haskell water expert, Bryan Bedell by email, bryan.bedell@haskell.com.