Will $31.7 billion Hyperloop be
built to connect Orlando and
Miami in 26 minutes?
MAJOR UPCOMING PROJECTS
See our top ten list on our website:
www.floridaconstructionnews.com Will FPL ever complete the
$20 billion Turkey Point
nuclear project expansion
Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) planned $20 billion
expansion of the Turkey Point nuclear power plant
takes second place in Construct Connect’s list of the
top 10 planned Florida construction projects. But it is
uncertain how soon, and whether, the massive proj-
ect will be built.
FPL hit the “pause” button on the project for four
years in 2016. But the utility indicates it is still com-
mitted to nuclear power despite the industry’s recent
retrenchment. In May 2017, FPL came closer to clearing what
might be the last hurdle in obtaining its federal li-
cense for expansion during a two-day hearing when it
defended attacks from environmentalists and neigh-
boring cities over plans to dispose of millions of gal-
lons of wastewater used in cooling the new reactors
in wells deep underground, The Miami Herald re-
ported. FPL first applied to the federal Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) to build the AP-1000 reactors in
June 2009. Long delays are not uncommon in the nu-
clear field, and matters have been complicated by the
bankruptcy of the reactor’s designer, Westingthouse.
NRC hearings were reportedly scheduled for De-
cember, 2017, but the NRC website referencing the
project was last updated last June, and there is no in-
dication in published reports about the hearing’s out-
comes. In February, FPL applied to the NRC to continue op-
erating the existing reactors until 2057.
In other words, this mega-project is still in the plan-
ning stages, but it is far from certain when, and if, it
will actually be built.
16 – MARCH 2018 — Florida Construction News
Florida Construction News staff writer
It is an idea that may
seem out of science fiction,
and if it is built, will cer-
tainly be one of the largest
construction projects in the
state’s history – but the
high-speed rail route that
would allow commuters to travel between Orlando and Miami
in 26 minutes is one step closer to reality.
Officials with Hyperloop One, a private effort first intro-
duced by billionaire Elon Musk in 2013, have included the
Florida route on a list of 10 that had cleared an initial proposal
review. Each of the cities will now receive resources to help de-
velop feasibility studies for the regions.
Of course, the idea still has a long way to go from concept
to reality. Construction Connect reports the estimated cost of
the system, if built, would be a little more than $31 billion (to
be exact, if you can be so finite in things of this scale,
$31,097 million). This puts it as the highest
value of the top 10 Florida construction
projects currently in planning.
Florida’s Hyperloop team is led
by AECOM, an engineering firm, and has
the backing of the Miami Dade Depart-
ment of Transportation and Public Works,
Miami- Dade Metropolitan Planning Organ-
ization, and additional private and public
sector partners, HyperLoop One said in its announcement.
“The Hyperloop One Global Challenge started as a call to
action for innovators, engineers, trailblazers and dreamers
around the world who shared our vision of creating a new
mode of transportation,” said Shervin Pishevar, cofounder and
executive chairman of the Hyperloop One group, in a release
announcing the finalists.
Hyperloop One has been scheduled to test the electric-
powered train, which would travel at more than 750 mph, this
year, at a Nevada site, though there appear to be snags – the
original test track has proven too short to get the train to the
required speed.
An optimistic timeline has the vehicles ready to ship cargo
by 2020 and passengers by 2021, the Orlando Sentinel has
reported. The 257-mile Orlando to Miami project is the second short-
est proposed route of the 10 finalists. Only a 208-mile pro-
posal to connect Bengalaru to Chennai in India is shorter.
The U.S. had three other finalists: A route that connects
Dallas, Laredo and Houston in Texas; one that connects
Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh; and a route con-
necting Pueblo, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, through
Denver.
ASSOCIATION AND INDUSTRY NEWS
Plaza Construction opens
central Florida office led by
Todd Fultz
Fort Lauderdale Historical
Society to recognize
developer Dev Motwani at
annual fundraiser
The Fort Lauderdale Historical So-
ciety (FLHS) says Dev Motwani, pres-
ident of Merrimac Ventures and
founder and managing partner of
Chieftain Residential, will be honored
at the annual History Makers
fundraiser that commends individu-
als who have made an impact on the
growth of the City of Fort Laud-
erdale. Plaza Construction says it plans to
open an expansion office in Central
Florida. Todd Fultz will lead the office
serving markets including Tampa and
Orlando, the company said in a news
release. “We view the central Florida mar-
ket as having a lot of potential, not
least because of its connectivity,
world-class educational institutions,
and lower land costs compared to
metro areas like Miami or Fort Laud-
erdale,” said Plaza Construction
Group Florida president Brad Meltzer.
“We look forward to levering our
unique expertise and international
reach to bring the area’s most excit-
ing projects to fruition.”
“I’m pleased to join Plaza Con-
struction and to continue working in
Tampa, Orlando, and the surrounding
markets,” Fultz said in a statement.
“The area’s steady economic growth,
highly skilled labor pool, and, as of
late, urban renaissance, are what
have kept me here and what has in-
spired me throughout my career.”
Previously, Fultz was vice-presi-
dent of the central Florida region for
Manhattan Construction and had
worked as a project executive for
DPR-Hardin Construction.
He currently serves as the board
chairman for the Florida Gulf Coast
Chapter of Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC).
founder and managing partner of
Chieftain Residential, a yield oriented
distressed residential fund purchas-
ing single-family homes and residen-
tial land, primarily in the southeast
U.S. and Texas.
Tickets for this year’s History Mak-
ers Gala are $100 (online service
charges not included) and can be
purchased online at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/his- tory-makers-honoring-dev-motwani-
tickets-42247744140 or by
contacting Kamal Khan at (954) 463-
4431, ext. 106, or via email at
info@flhc.org. Florida headquartered
contractor wins support
service contract for
California detention center
“Dev Motwani has a longstanding
investment in the past, present and
future growth of our beautiful City of
Fort Lauderdale and is committed to
preserving our vital history in each
property he develops,” FLHS execu-
tive director Patricia Zeiler said in a
statement. “In addition to real estate,
Dev is dedicated to the arts, educa-
tion and a variety of nonprofit
causes. We’re pleased to spotlight
his efforts and we invite the commu-
nity to join us as we celebrate his
achievements.” This year’s event on April 5 will
celebrate the city’s 107th birthday
with cocktails, food stations and
dancing under the stars on the
downtown Fort Lauderdale campus.
Motwani is currently involved with
$1 billion in development projects in-
cluding the Four Seasons Hotel and
Private Residences, The Gale Bou-
tique Hotel and Residences, Broad-
stone Oceanside, and the Flagler
Village Hotel - all in the Greater Fort
Lauderdale area. Motwani is also the
Moss Construction, based in Ft.
Lauderdale, says that it has been
awarded a $1.3 million-plus contract
to provide phase II management sup-
port services to the county of
Tuolumne, CA, with the development
of the county’s new J.H. “Jack”
Dambacher Detention Center.
The 63,000 sq. ft. jail north-east of
San Francisco has been designed by
Lionakis. “We are humbled to have been se-
lected by the County of Tuolumne to
provide counsel throughout the cre-
ation of this modern jail,” said Moss
vice-president David Burton. “Moss
is proud that the county has recog-
nized our knowledge and expertise in
the development of detention center
facilities and that it has trusted our
firm with this role.”
The new 230-bed jail will be lo-
cated on a 6-acre site and will con-
sist of central control, housing,
housing support, program rooms,
medical clinic, food service, laundry
services, intake administrative of-
fices, public lobby, visitation area and
vehicle sally port.
Harris Construction Company in
Fresno, CA is the project’s general
contractor. Construction is slated to
begin in March and be completed in
August 2019.
Florida Construction News — MARCH 2018 – 17