Archer Western places final beam at Howard Frankland Bridge
Tampa, Florida - Congratulations to the entire Archer Western / Traylor Bros., Inc. team at Howard Frankland Bridge, they've placed the final girder (1,730 in total) for the bridge's superstructure that stretches across Old Tampa Bay. This marks the latest achievement in a collection of milestones toward delivering the new southbound/westbound interstate bridge from Tampa to St. Petersburg.
- 100% of pilings have been driven
- 100% of bridge footings have been completed
- 100% of bridge columns have been completed
- 100% of bridge caps have been completed
- 100% of the bridge superstructure beams placed
- 92.9% of bridge decks placed
Walsh Construction completes first span of I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge
St. Louis, Missouri - Walsh Construction has completed the first of two spans in the replacement of the I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River. The opening of the new span to eastbound traffic marks the halfway point of this $496.2 million project for the Illinois Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Transportation.
In January, weather permitting, westbound I-270 traffic will be shifted to the new span using a temporary crossover just west of the Canal Bridge. Westbound traffic also will have two lanes across the new bridge. Eastbound and westbound traffic will use the new bridge while the adjacent structure is built over the next two years. Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
Archer Western completes Phase 1 of McMicken Dam Rehabilitation
Surprise, Arizona - Archer Western has completed Phase 1 of the McMicken Dam Rehabilitation project with the delivery of a new emergency spillway structure and principal outlet. The water control project included:
- 286,000 cubic yards of excavation
- 207,000 cubic yards of embankment fill
- 16,820 cubic yards of structural concrete
- 3,680 cubic yards of riprap
The McMicken Dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1954 and 1955 to protect Luke Air Force Base, the Litchfield Park Naval Air Facility, and agricultural activities in the area from flooding. Today, the dam also provides flood protection for significant portions of the cities of Surprise, El Mirage, Sun City, Litchfield Park and unincorporated areas of Maricopa County.
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center inpatient tower 90% complete
Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center inpatient tower is nearing 90% complete as crews have turned over the first floor to fit-up, and are now installing furniture, medical equipment, technology, signage and art. Currently on site:
- Final paint and plumbing touches on level 10
- Preparing levels four, seven, eight and 10 for turnover
- Exterior asphalt installation has begun on the West 10th Ave side of the building
- Finishing up framing and preparing for drywall installation on 24th level
- Public elevators are installed and ready for use
The 1.9 million-square-foot facility will enhance research, clinical training and patient care. The inpatient tower will have up to 820 beds in private room settings and is scheduled to open in early 2026.
Archer Western completes new Carrizo Water Treatment Plant
Rosanky, Texas - Archer Western was proud to celebrate with Alliance Water and cut the ribbon on the new Carrizo Water Treatment Plant. This is a significant milestone in Alliance Water's commitment to providing long-term water solutions for residents in Central Texas. Archer Western completed the new raw water infrastructure and ground water treatment plant, a 19 MGD water treatment facility that will serve 225,000 residents in Central Texas.
The new facility is key to providing high-quality water to the growing regions to address the rising need for a sustainable, long-term source of water in the rapidly growing areas. For example, upon completion of the project, the facility will lead to a 26.7% increase in water capacity for the City of Kyle, expanding the city’s water supply by 1.7 MGD in 2025, and 2 MGD in 2027. The plant is expected to be fully operational with its first delivery of water in early 2025.
The new water treatment plant is part of an agreement between the cities of Buda, Kyle, San Marcos and the Canyon Regional Water Authority to share water via pipelines for the next 30 to 50 years.
Walsh Construction delivering Biosolids Processing Solution upgrades at Morris Forman Treatment Plant
Louisville, Kentucky - The Morris Forman Water Quality Treatment Center (MFWQTC) is Kentucky’s largest water quality treatment center soon to be processing all the solids for regional wastewater facilities in Metro Louisville. The plant, designed to treat 120 MGD dry weather flow and up to 350 MGD wet weather flow, is at the end of its useful life. This Biosolids Processing Solution Project will replace and refurbish existing equipment as well as the addition of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) and supporting process modifications. Since the Notice to Proceed issued in January 2024, the Walsh team at Morris Forman has facilitated:
- Conversion from using the TWAS tanks to the SRT building for storage of primary sludge and thickened WAS decommission and demolition of the TWAS tanks and hypochlorite building.
- Successful completion of factory acceptance tests for four sludge heat exchangers validated centrifuge performance with polymer secondary dilution system implemented on customer’s existing centrifuges.
- Arrival of the first of four digester lids.
- Workforce development, education, and economic development by supporting 26 local non-profit organizations through 575 hours of volunteerism and $415,000 of financial contributions.
New equipment installation during the remaining 3.5 years of this new water market project will utilize the new THP to increase the volume of wastewater solids processed. This will generate sustainable Class A biosolids, resulting in energy recovery and production for on-site use, and reduce waste sent to the landfill. After project completion in early 2028, the facility will treat all solids to Class A standards, producing approximately 40,000 dry tons of exceptional quality biosolids annually that can be used for beneficial reuse.
Updates from the Arcadia Lake Water Treatment Plant Expansion
Edmond, Oklahoma - There is plenty of Archer Western action at the Phase II Expansion of the Arcadia Lake Water Treatment Plant:
- Work on the High Lift Pump Station continues to progress, with significant advancements in structural and utility elements.
- Grout caulking of precast panels and initial piping installations are underway.
- Building slab pours complete and wall construction nearing completion for the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filter Complex.
- Both 4-million-gallon clearwell tanks are complete and in standby.
- The Backwash Tower is nearly complete externally, with final painting and interior piping slated for completion within the coming months.
- The Recycle Pump Station is moving forward with wet well leak testing completed, CMU wall construction started, and excavation underway for the backwash basin.
- The main structure of the New Meter Vault is complete and masonry work on above-ground walls ongoing.
Federal Aviation Administration commissions new air traffic control tower at Teterboro Airport
Teterboro, New Jersey - The Federal Aviation Administration dedicated the newly commissioned and environmentally sustainable air traffic control tower at Teterboro Airport.
Built by Walsh Construction, the 157-foot-tall tower has a 750-square-foot cab that sits atop a 19,000-square-foot base building that houses office space for controllers, technicians, and administrative staff. The new tower is equipped with the latest state-of-the art technology to meet the current and future demands of the growing airfield.
Future engineers tour the new Louisville VA Medical Center
Louisville, Kentucky - A group of civil engineering students from Ballard High School recently received a tour of the new VA Louisville Medical Center. The class of high school juniors were led around the entire construction site by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Students received an exclusive look at the entire facility while obtaining insight and inspiration from the Walsh-Turner workforce. Currently on site:
- Work on the loading dock and laundry on the west side of the medical facility continues.
- Slab on grade placements are taking place at the South Parking Structure.
- Utilities and equipment installation at the Central Utility Plant continues, as well as exterior masonry.
- Utility work continues in the south portion of the site.
- Exterior metal wall framing continues on the west and south side of the West Bar of the medical facility.
- Interior framing and utility rough in is taking place in the East and West Bars of the medical facility.
- Decking and concrete placement in the East Bar of the medical facility is ongoing.
Chicago's first multi-story logistics facility completed
Chicago, Illinois - Chicago's first multi-story logistics facility is complete. The 1.2 million square-foot facility offers unparalleled access to the largest concentration of consumers and businesses in the region.
1237 W. Division delivers full fleet flexibility with separate entrances for truck and passenger vehicles; along with 135-foot trucks courts and 58 dock positions that service two floors of 36-foot clear warehouse space. This game-changing facility is the perfect solution for all logistics needs.
Miami Signature Bridge continues to rise
Miami, Florida – The Archer Western-deMoya Group Joint Venture continue to make significant progress on Miami’s I-395 Signature Bridge Project. Throughout the year, crews were able to complete multiple traffic shifts to create space for the foundation work on two of six Signature Bridge arches, and to advance the installation of precast arch segments at the tallest arch, set to reach 330 feet high.
All 41 of the precast, 90-ton arch segments were just recently erected to construct the second arch located over Northeast Second Avenue on the east end of I-395, where the bridge is being constructed. It is anticipated to be finished by early 2025 after crews join the two sides of the arch structure with a cast-in-place concrete pour. The final major concrete pour is scheduled for later this year at the large central pier support structure, where all six arches will meet.
Substantial work has also been completed on I-95 and the SR-836 double-decked roadway portion of the project including foundation and pier construction, bridge beam installations and concrete replacements. Crews completed all the foundations, including two drilled shaft foundations, in the Miami River and all the installation of augur cast piles from Northwest 12th Avenue to I-95.
CVST Southern Bridges team inspired to give back this holiday season
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania - The Walsh Construction team at the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CVST) Southern Bridges project, raised over $5,000 and donated countless toys for foster children. This incredible effort was sparked by our safety manager, Allan Quinn, who shared his personal story of growing up in foster care and the challenges foster children face during the holidays. Allan’s courage and the team’s compassion exemplify the power of coming together to make a difference. Thank you to the CVST project team for supporting this effort that will sponsor 24 children this holiday season.