ConDig (24-May-18).  A subsidiary of Woodlands, Texas-based civil contractor Sterling Construction Co has netted a $18.7 million construction contract to revamp and expand a section of State Highway 73, near Winnie, Texas.

Under the deal with the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Sterling Construction Co will install 2.5 miles of new subgrade and asphalt overlay and build a grade separation at the interchange between State Highway 73 and State Highway 124.

The construction project is slated to begin in late summer and is expected to take 26 months to complete.

“This project award strengthens our backlog in the Texas region and fits within our core competency in asphalt work, frontage road replacement and grade separation construction. The interchange between State Highway 73 and State Highway 124 is notorious for being very dangerous, with many accidents taking place over the years,” said Joe Cutillo, Sterling’s chief executive officer.

“This project is in an area impacted substantially by Hurricane Harvey and we are pleased to be part of the efforts in building an overpass and reconfiguring the intersection that should assist in better traffic flow and improved safety in the area while still maintaining the existing right of way.”

Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area last September and caused widespread flooding. The estimate for the cost of Hurricane Harvey’s damage was about $125 billion and was one of the most expensive disasters in US history.

Last month, Sterling announced that it had secured a $60.2 million construction contract to revamp and widen a section of Interstate 10 and its frontage roads near Boerne, Texas.

Sterling returned to profit in the fourth quarter as the civil contractor booked a 50.8% rise in revenue. The company posted net income of $3.1 million in the quarter ended December 31 last year compared with a loss of $6.3 million in the same period a year earlier.