A Skanska joint venture has won a major Los Angeles bridge rehabilitation project, the Sweden-based developer and contractor announced Wednesday.

In partnership with Pleasanton, California-based heavy civil construction firm California Engineering Contractors, Skanska will replace the bridge deck for the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The total contract with Caltrans is valued at $534 million, per the news release, with Skanska’s share worth $320 million. Caltrans estimates its total cost for the replacement project will be about $706 million.

Skanska’s work will include removing and replacing the existing bridge deck, installing new expansion joints and integrating corrosion-protection systems, according to the release. The deck modernization will increase load capacity, enhance safety and reduce long-term maintenance requirements.

The team will also replace the bridge railings, fences and median barrier, according to the Caltrans project website. A proposal to raise the bridge’s height by 26 feet to allow larger ships to pass underneath was rejected, however, and isn’t part of the project’s scope, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

The Vincent Thomas Bridge was built in 1963 and has been in service for 60 years. The bridge remains structurally sound, but the deck is rapidly deteriorating. The state transportation agency attributes this to concrete fatigue caused by heavy traffic loading and environmental deterioration due to age and the marine environment. 

Infrastructure construction work in the U.S. has been a key factor for Skanska of late. In the firm’s fourth quarter earnings call Feb. 9, the contractor described U.S. construction as “fragmented.” Nonetheless, construction remained the company’s most profitable sector, especially in the U.S.

CEO Anders Danielsson largely attributed Skanska’s success to the civil construction market and the booming data center industry. That paired with a diverse portfolio has been key to Skanska’s construction strategy.

“I think the organization has been consistent with our strategy to be selective in the market and go for projects where we see that we have a competitive advantage, a good track record, a good relationship with the client and also the right organization in place,” Danielsson said.

Work on the Vincent Thomas Bridge will begin in March, per Skanska’s release. Caltrans’ website says the bridge will open for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with full construction work finishing in March 2029.