Design firm HNTB, Kansas City, Mo., and contractor Walsh Construction, Chicago, have been awarded a design-build contract from the Ohio Dept. of Transportation to construct the first of two new spans that together will become Cleveland’s new Innerbelt Bridge. The twin-structure bridge will replace the existing 51-year-old, single-structure Innerbelt Bridge, which will be demolished. The firms’ work on the five-lane $278.4-million first span is expected to begin next spring and be completed by fall 2013. Construction of the eastbound section will be a separate contract awarded after the westbound span is completed.