State Highway 130 (SH 130) is one of the largest highway projects in the nation and the first road project in Texas to use the Exclusive Development Agreement (EDA) delivery method, which is similar to design-build. Under this delivery method, the owner enters into an agreement with one entity (the “Developer”) to perform the work on the project including design, construction, utility relocation, property acquisition, property management and future maintenance of the road.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Devleoper (Lone Star Infrastructure) engage Raba-Kistner to serve as the independent third party construction quality assurance firm (CQAM) program manager for the project. As CQAM program manager, Raba-Kistner is responsible for oversight of the Developer’s construction and design efforts under the EDA, including right of way acquisition and utility service relocation.

Approximately 600 parcels of land have been identified for acquisition along the 90-mile project extending from I-35 north of Georgetown, Texas southward to I-10 near Seguin, Texas. At this time, notice to proceed has been issued to the Developer for the northernmost 49 miles of the project. If additional funding becomes available, a notice to proceed will be given for the remainder of the project.

Raba-Kistner has a full-service group working on this project and its staff consists of engineers, scientists, laboratory and field technicians and construction material engineering professionals. Our scope has expanded to include Traffic Engineering, Design Quality Assurance, Environmental Compliance Monitoring, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, and environmental compliance monitoring.

The 80 plus staff of the Raba-Kistner CQAM team are located in 3 different project filled offices with a centralized materials testing laboratory and management offices co-located with both the Owner and Developer.

The primary goal of every construction project is to end up with a high-quality product while staying within budget and on schedule. Raba-Kistner is providing in-house construction consulting expertise to keep this $1.3 billion project on track from inception through post-construction activities. Since the beginning of this project, cost estimating, scheduling, document management, quality assurance plans and state-of-the-art technology are used to effectively determine and regulate how TxDOT’s time and money are used to ensure a successful build out.