Articles

AM Technical Session - October 2015

Note: There will NOT be an afternoon technical session for the month of October. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

MORNING SESSION - Hosted by the Transportation & Development Institute @ 11:15 AM

Topic: Dallas Horseshoe Project

Speaker: Justin Nielson, Deputy Project Director - Pegasus Link Constructors

The Horseshoe Project is dedicated to improving mobility along I-30 and I-35E near downtown Dallas' Central Business District in a safe, efficient, reliable, and environmentally sensitive manner.

Scope

The project includes I-30 from Sylvan Avenue to I-35E and I-35E from north of Eighth Street to the I-30/I-35E interchange in Dallas.

Improvements

The proposed $818 million project would include the following improvements:

• Roadway design upgrade
• Replacement of I-30 and I-35E bridges over the Trinity River
• Construction of  additional lanes
• Construction of the Margaret McDermott bridges

Proposed Timeline (Subject to Change)

•  Final RFP issued in June 2012
•  Contract award in late 2012
•  Construction to begin in early 2013
•  Construction substantially complete in late 2016 or early 2017
  
  
  
  

JUSTIN NIELSON, DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR – DESIGN/ADMIN     

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT
Justin Nielson is currently the Deputy Project Director of Design and Administration for Pegasus Link Constructors, a Fluor Enterprises, Inc. / Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. LLC on the Texas Department of Transportation Horseshoe Project in Dallas, TX.  In this role, he is responsible for the pre-construction (design, utility relocations, right-of-way, etc.), project controls, contracts, and general administration activities for the Design-Build Contractor.  


Past Experience
Prior to his assignment on the Horseshoe Project, Mr. Nielson was the Deputy Construction Manager for Prairie Link Constructors, a Fluor Enterprises, Inc. / Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. Joint Venture on the North Texas Tollway Authority President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension in Grand Prairie, TX.  In this role, he was responsible for managing the design, utility relocations, environmental, and field engineering activities on the Design-Build Project.

He also previously worked for Washington Group International, formally Morrison Knudsen, in various management and field engineering capacities on the State Route 125 Design-Build Toll Road Project in Chula Vista, CA, the Seattle Monorail Design-Build pursuit in Seattle, WA, and the E-470 Design-Build Toll Road Project in Denver, CO.

Prior to joining Morrison Knudsen, Mr. Nielson also worked as a field engineer, estimator, and contract administrator for Neosho Construction Company in Topeka, KS.  His work with Neosho included various freight and light rail transportation projects, including assignments in Portland, OR and Kansas City, MO.

EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University in 1995
• Member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association