Skanska proposes plan to expand I-285

Skanska USA Civil, Atlanta, intends to submit a competing proposal for the expansion of Interstate 285 from I-20 north to I-75 in northwest Atlanta. Following guidelines set forth by Georgia's Public-Private Initiatives (PPI) legislation, Skanska has sent a Letter of Intent to submit a proposal to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), which can accept and evaluate proposals from private businesses and corporations for transportation projects. To date, the department has received one unsolicited proposal and two other letters of intent for the same corridor. Skanska has assembled a world-class team of transportation professionals that includes Citigroup, ARCADIS and several local and specialized firms. "We appreciate the opportunity offered by the state of Georgia to submit innovative proposals to meet transportation needs," said Randy Schultz, director of special projects of Skanska USA Civil. "The team we are assembling is first-rate. Through the PPI process, we hope to address needed improvements to this corridor, as well as improve traffic flow and highway connectivity for the region's motorists." Skanska is one of the largest construction concerns in North America, and is ranked third overall and fourth in transportation by leading industry trade magazines. The company and its subsidiaries have a long and distinguished presence in the United States dating back more than one hundred years. Skanska operates from local business units that continually seek client satisfaction through dependable project delivery. Skanska has three operating entities in the state: Skanska USA Civil, Skanska USA Building and Skanska Infrastructure Development. The company's presence in Georgia is noted by its many signature projects which dot the landscape and skyline, including the Woodruff Arts Center, Bank of America tower, MARTA Five Points Station, F. Wayne Hill Water Treatment Facility in Gwinnett County and the Georgia Dome. Recently, Skanska entered into an agreement with GDOT to construct one of Georgia's largest highway projects, the I-95 reconstruction over the Turtle River in Brunswick. According to GDOT, competing proposals for the I-285 Northwest Corridor must be submitted by October 30 of this year. Skanska USA Civil is comprised of eight operating units with over 4,000 employees. The firms provide public and private organizations construction services in the civil, mechanical, industrial, marine, foundation, and environmental market sectors. Skanska is one of the world's leading construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential projects and public-private partnerships. The Group currently has 54,000 employees in selected home markets in Europe, in the US and Latin America. Sales in 2005 totaled $17 billion.