Disagreement over permitting delays has led the public and private partners in the country’s first bundled bridge P3 to enter into a dispute resolution process just over a year after work started.

At issue are some of the 90 “half-baked” bridge replacement projects put on a fast track by PennDOT to build political support for the $899-million P3. About 450 smaller bridges also will be replaced and maintained over the 28-year term of the availability payment contract.

All preliminary engineering and related environmental, ROW, and utility clearances were performed and completed by PennDOT for the 90 so-called early completion projects. It was envisioned that Plenary’s design-build team of HDR/Walsh would obtain permits quickly and begin construction soon after financial close in March 2015.