MONROVIA - The Foothill Gold Line Extension Construction Authority's Board of Directors on Friday unanimously approved an $18.5 million contract to two companies that will design and build a bridge for a light-rail train over the 210 Freeway.

Riverside-based Skansa USA Civil West California District Inc., and Los Angeles-based AECOM Technical Services Inc. got the go-ahead from the board Friday morning to develop the Foothill Extension's Iconic Freeway Structure.

The project, which spans from the freeway median over the eastbound lanes into Arcadia, could create about 500 engineering and construction jobs, Foothill Extension officials said.

The two companies will work as a design-build team to develop the 584-foot-long structure, which is part of the publicly funded, $800 million, 11.4-mile Foothill Gold Line extension route from Pasadena to Azusa.

Officials from either company could be reached for comment on Friday.

But Foothill Extension officials think that after a lengthy evaluation process, they've found the right team for a key part of the planned two-year project, which breaks ground next week.

"This is the start of everything we are going to be doing, and it will set the tone for our work throughout," said Habib Balian, CEO of the Extension Authority.

Voters approved the funding for the project by passing Measure R, which allocates $40 billion over 30 years from a half-cent sales-tax increase to

finance county public transit upgrades.

And after years of lobbying for the project, Friday's vote put in motion actual plans.

AECOM will design the bridge. And Skansa, the "prime" contractor, will build it, both using a set of several subcontractors. Balian estimated the bridge project alone could create about 500 engineering and construction jobs.

Both companies have global reach, with Skansa's global headquarters in Sweden.

According to its website, AECOM serves clients in more than 100 countries. Its revenues topped $6 billion during the 12 months ending March 31.

At Friday's board meeting, the firms were up against Shimmik Construction Co. in Oakland and Biggs Cardosa Associates Inc. in Orange.

Both contending teams ranked high, but the decision came down to cost, officials said.

The Construction Authority budgeted $24 million for the project, and the Skanska/AECOM bid came in at $18.5 million.

"It was definitely cost," said Sam Pedroza, a Claremont city councilman and member of the Authority's board of directors. "It was well below the budget amount, and it was just about knowing that they are going to show a very close relationship with our staff."

Officials were awaiting word late Friday from Metro to approve the contract.

Those officials are now looking to the groundbreaking of the extension June 26.

The team will begin designing the bridge, but it will still be several months before excavation begins on the project. In the meantime, Balian said, surveyors will be visible along the 210 Freeway, with heavier work beginning in the spring.

The Authority has not yet awarded contracts to companies vying for the next part of the project, which includes the rail-track alignment, crossings and stations. Those awards are scheduled to come next year.

The entire extension is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

ryan.carter@sgvn.com

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