CALIFORNIA As a part of its Clean Coal Power Initiative, the U.S. Dept. of Energy has allocated $304 million of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a proposed $2-billion hydrogren-fueled powerplant to be built near Taft. The Hydrogen Energy California Project is being developed by Hydrogen Energy International, a joint venture of BP and Rio Tinto. The powerplant will combine petroleum coke and coal with nonpotable water to create hydrogen gas, which will power a net 250-MW power-generating facility. If the project goes forward, construction is expected to begin in 2011, with the plant to begin operation in late 2014.

TENNESSEE John Portman & Associates has issued the preliminary design for a 40-story hotel in Nashville. The project includes 1,000 rooms, 100,000 sq ft of meeting space and an open arcade at the building’s base containing restaurants and retail. The structural-steel tower will have a curved shape, with alternating glass and stone exterior around the base. Construction is expected to start in the second quarter of 2010. The project value is currently estimated at $199 million. Nashville Metro Development & Housing Agency, 712 South 6th St., Nashville 37202-0846. DR# 08-00828951.

CALIFORNIA Douglas E. Barnhart Inc. was awarded a firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quality multiple award contract for design and construction of a child development center at Coronado Naval Base in San Diego. Work is expected to be completed by January 2011. Project is estimated at $10.9 million. Douglas E. Barnhart, 10760 Thornmint Rd., San Diego 92127. DR# 09-00525973.

CALIFORNIA Soltek Pacific Construction was awarded a firm-fixed-price order under a previously awarded multiple construction contract by the Southwest Naval Facilities and Engineering Command for the design and construction of a military training facility in Twentynine Palms. The Combined Military Operations in Urban Terrain training facility will be located at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. The $18.7-million project has an estimated completion date of January 2011. Soltek Pacific Construction Co., 2424 Congress St., San Diego, 92110. DR# 09-00466446.

CONNECTICUT American Bridge has been awarded a $35.1-million firm-fixed-price contract by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic District for the construction of a new pier at Naval Submarine Base New London. The initial work will consist of the demolition of the existing pier. Construction of the new Pier 31 will include a concrete deck, electrical and sewer connections, waste-oil piping connections and rubber-faced steel fendering system. Work is expected to complete by November of this year. American Bridge Co., 7401 Beaufont Spring Dr., Richmond, Va. 23225-5520. DR# 09-00446967.

MASSACHUSETTS Fay, Spofford & Thorndike has been selected by the Massachusetts Highway Dept. to design and construct improvements to the Interstate 93/I-95 Interchange in the towns of Woburn, Reading and Stoneham. The interchange is the highest-volume interchange in the state. The scope of work includes completion of an environmental impact statement, design of the interchange upgrades and widening of three miles of the I-95 northbound lanes. Design is to begin by fall of this year and be completed by fall 2014, with construction to start in spring 2015. The project is currently valued at $15 million. Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, 5 Burlington Woods, Burlington 01803. DR# 01-00856337.

NEW JERSEY South State Inc. has been awarded a $50.7-million contract by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for turnpike widening. A widening project is under way on a 34-mile stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike between Interchanges 6 and 9. Under the contract, South State will build one mile of widened highway, including two overpasses above Route 206 in Bordentown Township and Mansfield and an interchange flyover. Related work includes shoulders, paving, drainage, lighting, pavement markings and signage. Work on this contract is expected to begin in August. There are 24 other contracts related to the New Jersey Turnpike widening project that have yet to be awarded. South State Inc., 202 Reeves Rd., P.O. Box 68, Bridgeton, 08302-0053. DR# 08-00604631.

TENNESSEE Sherrick Construction has been awarded a $9.6-million firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a child development center at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tenn. The single-story, 33,000-sq-ft building will be designed to accommodate up to 200 children. Related work on the project includes playgrounds, storage space, parking, renovation of an adjacent building and assorted site improvements This project is partially funded by ARRA. Work is expected to be completed by July 2011. Sherrick Construction Inc., 307 Emery Dr., Nashville, 37214-3113. DR# 09-00481563.

TEXAS URS Corp. was awarded a contract by the city of Dallas to manage its airport capital development program at Dallas Love Field Airport. The program’s design and construction projects total an estimated $1 billion. The contract term is for two years, with two two-year extensions. The seven-phase program covers the modernization of the terminal building complex and the potential construction of an automated people-mover system between a Dallas Area Rapid Transit station and the terminal. URS Corp., 600 Montgomery St., San Francisco, Calif. 94111. DR# 06-00771053.

VIRGINIABRPH and its design-build partner Lifecycle Construction Services have been awarded a $100-million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award task order contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the design and construction of Army administrative facilities in the Northeast region. The contract has a five-year duration, with the first project to be a $3-million battalion headquarters at Fort Lee, Va. The headquarters will consist of spaces for administrative, special functions, storage and classrooms. Other projects covered by the contract will include a soldier-family assistance center as well as general-use Army administration buildings. BRPH Construction Services Inc., 3275 Suntree Blvd., Melbourne, Fla. 32940. DR# 09-00539237.

NEVADA 7/20 Clark County Regional Transportation Commission, 600 South Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, 89106-4502, bus rapid transit improvements. The contract calls for resurfacing 15 miles of bus rapid-transit lanes, installation of FAST/ITS interconnect infrastructure, transit signal systems, ticket vending machines, bike lanes and drainage systems. Contract is estimated between $35 million and $45 million and has a target start date of December 2009, with an expected completion in August 2011. Clark County Regional Transportation Commission, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, 89106-4502. DR# 05-00618754.

NORTH CAROLINA 7/20 Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 9742 Maryland Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23511-3015, physical fitness center. The structural- steel-frame building at Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune will include a gymnasium, indoor running track, swimming pool, weight room and racquetball courts. Because the facility will also serve as a shelter during weather emergencies, it will have reinforced masonry walls, roll-up storm shutters and an emergency generator. Project intends to seek LEED-Gold certification. The project is currently valued at $10 million. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 9742 Maryland Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23511-3015. DR# 09-00440998.

NEW JERSEY 7/20 Casino Reinvestment Authority, 1014 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City 08401, combined parking garage and retail building. The six-level, 413,000-sq-ft, 1,200-space precast-concrete parking garage will feature integrated retail space on the first floor. One or more digital multimedia billboards will be affixed to the structure, and a timber boardwalk will be constructed on timber piles. The project is valued at $41.3 million. Casino Reinvestment Authority, 1014 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, 08401 DR# 08-00583147.

DELAWARE 7/21 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, armed forces medical examiner system facility. Contract covers the design and construction of a maximum 117,000-sq-ft building at Dover Air Force Base that will include laboratory space, a medical warehouse and administrative offices. It will also entail demolition of an existing building as well as sitework and utility improvements. The contract is estimated between $25 million and $100 million. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106. DR# 09-00440561.

LOUISIANA 7/21 City of Baton Rouge Dept. of Public Works Engineering Division, 300 North Blvd., Rm. 408, Baton Rouge, 70801-1506, roadway widening of South Harrell’s Ferry Road. The project will add two additional lanes, sidewalks and a raised median along 1.9 miles of South Harrell’s Ferry Road to 1,250 ft south of Interstate 12. The project will extend the already improved section of O’Neal Lane and will contribute to an improved north-south connection extending from Nicholson Dr. to Hooper Rd. The project is valued at $19 million. City of Baton Rouge Dept. of Public Works Engineering Division, 300 North Blvd., Room 408, Baton Rouge, 70801-1506. DR# 06-00854625.

OHIO 7/21 Southington Local School District, 4432 State Route 305 NW, Southington, 44470, K-12 school building. The two-story, 105,800-sq-ft school building will be located on State Route 534 in Southington. The project is valued at $17.3 million, and has a target start date of August 2009. Southington Local School District, 4432 State Route 305 NW, Southington, 44470. DR# 06-00890472.

NEW YORK 7/21 New York State University Construction Fund, 353 Broadway, Albany, 12207-2915, field house. The structural-steel-frame, two-story, 70,000-sq-ft recreational building will be located on the campus of the State University of New York Institute of Technology Utica. It will feature a fitness center, two basketball courts, four volleyball courts, a running track and indoor practice facilities. The project is valued at $16 million. New York State University Construction Fund, 353 Broadway, Albany, 12207-2915. DR# 07-00764227.

TEXAS 7/21 City of Wichita Falls Public Works Dept., 1300 7th St., Room 402, Wichita Falls 76301-2305, water treatment plant. A new 10-million-gallon-per-day lime-softening water-treatment plant, sludge belt press, dewatering facility, 60-mgd pump station and the renovation of the existing chemical building. This project is partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contract is valued at $45 million. City of Wichita Falls Public Works Dept., 1300 7th St., Room 402, Wichita Falls, 76301-2305. DR# 09-00495086.