PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2002--Parsons announced today that its joint venture with HNTB has received notice to proceed on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a design-build project scheduled to be constructed in 55 months. The project scope consists of final design (to be completed in 14 months), engineering support during construction, and construction quality assurance for a new 5,400-foot suspension bridge, as well as partial retrofit to a parallel suspension bridge and 2.5 miles of roadway approach work for Tacoma Narrows Constructors (TNC), a joint venture of Bechtel and Kiewit. TNC is the main contractor/design-builder for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The parallel bridge will run south of the existing bridge with two eastbound general-purpose lanes, one HOV lane, and a bicycle/pedestrian lane. This new bridge will have the structural capacity to accommodate future light rail or additional highway lanes. The existing Tacoma Narrows Bridge will be configured with two general-purpose westbound lanes, one HOV lane, and a shoulder. A new split interchange with new on and off ramps and an overpass, a new toll plaza, and HOV improvements are also included.

"This project is an excellent example of Parsons' continued focus on design-build opportunities for large, highly technical transportation projects. We're very pleased to be able to continue our relationships built on other mega infrastructure construction projects -- like the Carquinez Bridge in California -- and provide innovative engineered solutions to Washington's growing transportation needs," states R. Craig Finley, Jr., Parsons Senior Vice President.

Parsons has been involved with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project since 1998 when it assisted in preparing the engineering studies for the Environmental Impact Studies as part of a team of consultants headed up by United Infrastructure Washington.

Parsons, a leader in many diverse markets such as infrastructure, advanced technology, transportation, energy, chemicals, refining, environmental and planning, provides technical and management solutions to federal, regional and local government agencies as well as private industries worldwide. For more about Parsons, please visit us on the World Wide Web at www.parsons.com.

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