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Transportation commission approves HNTB as owner dvisor for US 70 Roosevelt Bridge project
Summary
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved hiring HNTB Corporation as the owner's representative for the US 70 Roosevelt Bridge project at Lake Texoma to support a progressive design-build procurement aimed at accelerating delivery and encouraging innovation.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission voted to hire HNTB Corporation as the department's owner's representative for the US 70 bridge project over Lake Texoma, the commission heard at its meeting.
The owner's representative will work as an extension of Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) staff to help draft specifications, define scope, set qualifications, develop special design requirements and prepare cost estimates needed to procure a progressive design-build contract for the Roosevelt Bridge project, Mr. Hernandez said. "We selected them based upon their qualifications they submitted. It's it's the normal procurement process for us for obtaining engineering services," he said.
Commissioners were told the progressive design-build approach is new to ODOT and is intended to allow "maximum innovation" from design-build teams and speed project delivery. The department recommended approval to prepare the project for procurement and to anticipate procuring design-build services by the end of 2025. No change to funding or final contract award for the design-build team was approved at this meeting.
Director Tim Gatz (listed in the meeting as Director Gantz/Gaps) framed the work as part of ODOT's effort to use "alternative delivery" on projects with unique aspects. He told commissioners the department is coordinating with the Federal Highway Administration and other partners to learn the process, and said the department was "targeting a late '26, early '27 contract to have this project out the door." He described HNTB as one of the firms with prior experience in alternative delivery methods.
The commission approved the HNTB owner's-representative selection by motion. The department did not present a revised project budget or a final design-build contract at the meeting; the owner's representative role was described as pre-procurement and advisory.
ODOT staff said the owner's representative will assist with scope development, team qualification criteria, special design specifications and cost estimates and will help anticipate procurement of the design-build services. Commissioners asked procedural questions about selection and staff said HNTB was selected through ODOT's qualifications-based procurement process.
The vote advances ODOT's preparations for the Roosevelt Bridge procurement but does not itself authorize a design-build contract award. The department will return for future approvals when it presents procurement documents or contract awards for the design-build team.
