Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Wins Prestigious 2023 P3 Award

66 Express Awarded Best Road, Bridge, or Tunnel Project; I-66 EMP Recognized for Public/Private Partnership

Manassas, VA – Monday, October 30, 2023 –As the 66 Express Outside the Beltway approaches its one-year anniversary Nov. 22, there’s another reason to celebrate: On Oct. 26, the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project was selected for the 2023 P3 Award as the year’s Best Road, Bridge, or Tunnel Project.

Considered the most prestigious award in the public/private infrastructure industry, the P3 Award recognizes the productive partnership among the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP, a consortium of private developers Cintra, Meridiam, and APG), the developer and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway facility, and design/build contractor FAM Construction (a joint venture of Ferrovial Construction and Allan Myers VA).

With I-66 EMP’s total private investment of $3.7 billion, the multi-modal Transform 66 mega-project is among the largest public/private partnership (P3) infrastructure projects constructed in the United States since the start of the 21st century. That private investment by I-66 EMP entails:

Approximately $2.3 billion in design/build costs;
$350 million for future improvements to the I-66 corridor;
An up-front $579 million concession-fee payment to the Commonwealth of Virginia for additional transportation improvements;
Transit subsidy of $800 million over the 50-year term of I-66 EMP’s public/private partnership contract with VDOT.
The investment by I-66 EMP has produced a state-of-the-art dynamically tolled roadway with two new express lanes and three reconstructed general-purpose lanes spanning 22.5 miles each direction between the I-495 Capital Beltway and Gainesville, Va, in western Prince William County. The express lanes feature seamless pavement, dedicated entrance and exit ramps, and 27 electronic toll gantries for automated cashless payments.

Additionally, the Transform 66 project created more than 4,000 commuter spaces in two park-and-ride lots, constructed or renovated 63 bridges along the I-66 corridor, auxiliary lanes between interchanges and made numerous safety and operational improvements at busy I-66 interchanges such as Nutley Street, Route 28, and I-495.

In May of 2023, I-66 EMP and VDOT celebrated the opening of the 66 Parallel Trail, a shared-use biking and hiking pathway running more than 11 miles along I-66 in Fairfax County. The trail was designed and constructed as part of the overall Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project to make seamless connections with other trails in the county and has provided an extra level of multi-modality to commuters along the I-66 corridor.

“Our entire team is thrilled to win this P3 Award,” said Luis Vázquez, MBA, MSCE, and CEO of I-66 EMP. “To successfully deliver a project of this scale and complexity, it takes everyone working together. We’re extremely happy with the benefits the 66 Express has already brought to the communities and businesses of Northern Virginia, and we look forward to providing a valuable, reliable transportation option on the I-66 corridor for many years to come.”

I-66 EMP’s P3 Award comes after the roadway operator was honored in July by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) as the 2023 Public/Private Partnership Project of the Year in the Innovation of the Year category.

About the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway:
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the 66 Express Lanes are a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project featuring advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic flowing at all times. The lanes provide Northern Virginia commuters, businesses, and mass transit with a reliable option to move people, goods, and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More. Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more, and keep up with the 66 Express Lanes on Facebook and Twitter.

About I-66 Express Mobility Partners:
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies including Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway through 2066. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.

Media contacts:

I-66 Express Mobility Partners:

Nancy H. Smith, Corporate Affairs Director

571-524-1830/nsmith@i66emp.us