Sarpy County is pioneering the use of a new process for road construction authorized by the Nebraska Legislature in 2016.

The county government is the first entity in the state to use the Construction Manager/General Contractor process for road work, according to a county news release. The process was created by lawmakers as part of the Transportation Innovation Act.

Hawkins Construction was selected to serve as construction manager and general contractor for the West Sarpy portion of the CONNECTSarpy project, the largest road project in the county’s history. The road program aims to meet the future needs of the state’s fastest growing county.

The five projects within the West Sarpy portion that are using the CM/GC process span western Sarpy County from 168th to 204th streets between Highway 370 and Harrison Street. “As the fastest growing county in the state, we need a well thought out and well developed network of arterial roads, and we need it quickly,” Sarpy County Board Chairman Don Kelly said in a news release.

As construction manager/general contractor, Hawkins Construction will coordinate with a number of partners, including the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the City of Gretna, Gretna Public Schools, the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District, Metropolitan Utilities District, Omaha Public Power District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, BNSF Railway and various telecommunication partners.

“Hawkins is an industry leader in roadway construction and program management,” Kelly said in a release. “Bringing them on board as our Construction Manager/General Contractor will allow us to complete this project in a timely and cost-effective way.”

The West Sarpy program encompasses about 9 miles of arterial roadway projects, including 1.5 miles that are already complete. Construction costs for the program are estimated at $65 million.

Under the agreement, which was adopted unanimously by the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners earlier this month, Hawkins will be paid $250,000 for initial preconstruction work.

“The West Sarpy project is a massive undertaking with many moving parts, including coordination with utility companies and the BNSF Railroad, which operates in the area.” Sarpy County Engineer Dennis Wilson said in a release.

The county originally planned for the work to take three to four years, but the CM/GC process is expected to speed it up by one to two years.

The approach will provide better coordination for the project’s multiple phases, including utility relocation and expansion. It will also streamline construction operations, saving both time and money. 

“Sarpy County is the right place for Nebraska’s first major CM/GC transportation project. The local needs demand an innovative solution, which the County, engineering team and Hawkins are ideally suited to provide. We are thrilled to partner with Sarpy County, and we are confident we will deliver success for the traveling public,” said Chris Hawkins, chief operating officer at Hawkins Construction. 

The West Sarpy portion of CONNECTSarpy aims to be finished by mid-2023. It will support several new schools, 11 development projects and future growth in the Chalco and Gretna communities.

 The specific projects included under the CM/GC process are:

• 180th Street Storage – Cornhusker Road and Giles Road from 174th Street  to South Papio Creek

• Cornhusker Road from 180th Street to 186th Street

• Meridian Street from 180th Street to 192nd Street, 192nd Street from Giles Road to Cornhusker Road and Giles Road from South Papio Creek to 192nd Street

• 192nd Street from Cornhusker Road to Lincoln Road and Cornhusker Road from 186th Street to 194th Street

• 180th Street from Cornhusker Road to Highway 370

West Sarpy also included two finished projects: Giles Road from 168th Street to 174th Street and 180th Street to 186th Street as well as Giles Road from 192nd Street to 204th Street.

“This area is a hub for new residential development, so the county is taking the lead and creating a single vision for the infrastructure in this area, making sure that it meets our current and future needs,” said Sarpy County Commissioner Jim Warren, who represents the area. 

Find more information at CONNECTSarpy.com/updates/west-sarpy.