After being awarded a $24 million contract, Angelo Iafrate Construction, which is a Michigan-based company that has experience in heavy civil and transportation construction, will oversee phase one of the construction of a connected and automated vehicle proving ground at Willow Run for the American Center for Mobility.

The first phase of construction, which is expected to be complete and open for testing in December of this year, will include the building of a two-and-a-half-mile highway loop with on- and off-ramps and a 700’ curved tunnel.

A garage for customers will also be constructed, and an operations center will be built out.

“We’ve been rapidly crafting this world-class purpose-built facility, with careful consideration of critical features and fidelity to real-world driving conditions,” says John Maddox, president and CEO of the Center.

“We feel the Angelo Iafrate Construction Company has the real-world expertise and proven capability necessary to handle a project of this magnitude.”

Mike DeFinis, vice president of Angelo Iafrate Construction, says, “Angelo Iafrate Construction Company is proud to be selected as the contractor of choice for this unique project at the American Center for Mobility and the integral role we will play in its development and construction.”

“We have built our reputation on excellence, innovation, collaboration, and quality construction, and we look forward to the opportunity to construct this state-of-the-art automated and connected vehicle test facility.”

The Center will be located on more than 500 acres in Ypsilanti Township, and will give occupants the opportunity to test, develop and validate connected and automated technologies.

Those that work at the center will also be able to “accelerate the development of voluntary industry standards, workforce and public education,” according to the American Center for Mobility.