KCI provided independent cost estimating (ICE) services to support the planned demolition and replacement of the existing 1.5-mile Blatnik Bridge connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin.
Delivered under a design-build model, the project required enhanced budget certainty prior to accepting contractor proposals, leading the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to engage KCI on behalf of both MnDOT and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
KCI produced a detailed, independent cost estimate to provide an objective evaluation of the engineer’s estimate prepared by the preliminary engineering consultant. Working collaboratively with their team, we evaluated multiple design alternatives for the main and approach spans, including cable-stayed and steel tied-arch options, while also estimating demolition costs for the existing bridge, including the camelback truss main span. This effort also required our team to navigate a variety of environmental challenges including contaminated soil, DNR restrictions, cold weather and potential archeological discoveries common to the area. To ensure accuracy and alignment with current market conditions, KCI sourced preliminary material and subcontractor pricing, and prepared independent construction means and methods, project access plans, and supporting CAD drawings to substantiate cost reconciliations and inform the design-build RFP.
In addition, KCI developed an independent preliminary construction schedule informed by historical production data to support duration-driven pricing and actively participated in Cost and Schedule Risk Assessment (CSRA) review meetings with MnDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. This data-driven approach gives owners greater confidence in cost and schedule projections, supporting informed decision-making on complex, high-profile infrastructure projects.
