Infrastructure stalwart FlatironDragados has transitioned into the construction phase of a $518 million resiliency project to help manage stormwater and reduce flooding in three neighborhoods in Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to a Wednesday news release.
The Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza and The Lakes Stormwater Improvements project, named for the areas of the city it will protect, is aimed at mitigating widespread flooding in the low-lying region of southeastern Virginia.
Elements of Atlanta-based FlatironDragados’ work will include the construction of large pump stations, tide gates to minimize tidal impacts and maximize storage, flood barriers and upgrades to drainage channels.
Construction is progressing after a two-year preconstruction collaboration between the contractor and the city, as well as design partner Arcadis, a Dutch firm with U.S. headquarters in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
“This project leverages expertise developed in the resiliency market throughout North America,” said Jim Schneiderman, FlatironDragados executive vice president, in the release.
The overall use of pumps, tide gates and the additional storage capacity created by the system will allow the city to mitigate flooding by eliminating tidal influence before a storm, and then manage flows by slowly discharging water downstream, according to the city’s project page. The undertaking is made up of six sub-projects that include the conversion of an existing golf course into a neighborhood park with stormwater storage capacity.
FlatironDragados launched in 2024 when European construction giants Hochtief and ACS Group combined their U.S.-based infrastructure operations to form one American civil construction juggernaut. FlatironDragados’ resiliency project portfolio includes:
The Virginia Beach project represents the firm’s strategy to build resiliency infrastructure that protects communities, vital facilities and essential supply chains from increasing climate threats and natural disasters, according to the release.
