PROJECT SPOTLIGHT—SUNTRAX CONNECTED/AUTOMATED VEHICLE TEST FACILITY

In March of this year, APG was awarded the Suntrax Connected/Automated Vehicle Test Facility project by Alston Construction. At nearly $8 million, this contract includes electrical construction, fire alarm, and voice data. We are happy to have Alston Construction as a new partner and are looking forward to a long and successful working relationship.
 
This cutting-edge facility in Polk County, located off I-4 between Orlando and Tampa, is being developed by the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. It will be used to further the research, development, and testing of new transportation technologies in a safe and controlled manner. The 475 acre site will include a 2.25 mile long, multi-lane test track (the only high speed autonomous vehicle testing area in the southeastern US), a 200 acre infield for connected and autonomous vehicle testing, featuring several simulated transportation environments, a welcome center with offices and classrooms, workshops and warehouses, and multiple test tracks. Once this project is complete, the testing and technological developments that will come out of this facility will improve transportation safety, efficiency, and accessibility for years to come.
 
A project of this technological complexity gives us the opportunity to hone our skills. We are using one of our newest tools, the Trimble System, with the help of our BIM team, to provide a highly accurate layout which will save time during our electrical rough in. In order to keep all areas of this massive site connected, including 18 different buildings, 17.5 miles of voice data cable will be installed, enough to go around the autonomous vehicle test track eight times! This cable will also connect the new fire alarm system, an eight node network across nine buildings, each with a fire alarm panel reporting to two central station communicators. This system will have a global network annunciator in the guardhouse, allowing the security staff to monitor all system events from a single location.
 
All of us at APG were excited to earn this contract and to be a part of a project that will drive the future of transportation. We greatly appreciate having been selected by Alston Construction. We are proud of the hard work of Senior Estimator George Lambert, Project Manager Richie Hollie, Project Superintendent Mike McGuire, Project Foreman John Lenges, Life Safety Project Manager Eric Brockmeier, Voice Data Project Manager Keith Hoover, BIM Specialist Quinton Robertazzi, and the entire team on site. Keep up the great work!