Speaking

The SR 35 (US 98) Design-Build project is a major corridor improvement initiative located in Pasco County (Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7) and Polk County (FDOT District 1), Florida. Spanning approximately 18 miles, the project includes roadway reconstruction, widening and realignment to enhance safety, capacity and long-term performance along a critical regional corridor. Key elements include six modern roundabouts to improve traffic flow and reduce conflict points, two bridge structures, signalization upgrades, drainage and pond design, lighting improvements and extensive utility coordination. The project was delivered through a collaborative design-build partnership involving FDOT, the contractor, Construction Engineering & Inspection (CEI) and a multidisciplinary design team.

B&N served as the lead roadway design engineer and played a key role in advancing the project’s digital delivery strategy. The team led roadway and roundabout design, coordinated across all disciplines, developed and quality-controlled 3D models and supported construction through Requests for Information, Requests for Modification and constructability reviews.

A defining feature of the project is its role as an FDOT Digital Delivery (NextGen Plans) pilot and a CEI 3D model-based inspection pilot. These initiatives marked a shift from traditional 2D plans to a model-based approach, where 3D models served as the primary source of truth. This enabled improved coordination, more efficient communication and enhanced constructability reviews. CEI inspectors utilized the 3D model for real-time field verification, reducing reliance on traditional staking and improving construction accuracy.

The project aimed to modernize the corridor, improving safety, mobility and operational efficiency. Roundabouts reduce crash severity, while widening and realignment improve capacity. Drainage enhancements increase system resilience, and lighting improves visibility. The project also advanced FDOT’s vision for digital delivery and data-driven decision-making.

Key challenges included complex corridor conditions, drainage and environmental constraints, utility coordination and maintaining traffic during construction. A major challenge was the implementation of digital delivery across all stakeholders, particularly with smaller subcontractors and subconsultants who lacked the technology or experience to work with 3D deliverables. To address this, the team developed a practical transition strategy, including simplified deliverables, targeted training and parallel use of 2D sheets where needed. This approach ensured full team alignment while gradually building digital capabilities across the project.

Prior to this effort, traditional workflows relied on 2D plans and manual survey verification, limiting efficiency and coordination. By leveraging Bentley OpenRoads Designer and integrating AI-driven drone analytics, the team compared weekly aerial data to the design model to track earthwork progress in near real time. This improved quantity accuracy, enhanced transparency and enabled proactive decision-making.

As both a NextGen Plan and CEI 3D pilot project, SR 35 (US 98) demonstrates how innovation, collaboration and digital transformation can successfully deliver complex infrastructure while setting a new benchmark for design-build delivery.