Superior Construction Begins Work on Florida Highway Patrol Test Track Facility

GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (October 6, 2025) — Superior Construction has started construction on a specialized driver training facility for the Florida Highway Patrol in Gadsden County. The project, delivered through a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) contract, is a collaboration between Superior and local partner Capital Asphalt of Tallahassee.

The facility will feature a 1.37-mile-long, 60-foot-wide paved oval track designed for high-speed driver training, plus an urban corridor section within the track’s infield that mimics city streets. A 1.08-mile-long, 22-foot-wide paved access road will connect the facility to the existing Florida Highway Patrol training academy campus.

Because of the CMGC delivery method — a collaborative approach that involves the contractor during the design phase — the Superior-Capital Joint Venture worked closely with the Engineer of Record, George & Associates, to maximize value within the available budget.

“The CMGC process has allowed us to provide the best value to the owner,” said Evan Lawrence, Superior’s Panhandle Division Manager. “The client originally expected their budget would cover just the track facility, but our value engineering approach will deliver the high-speed track, 22-foot-wide access road and in-field urban track for the same cost.”

Superior inherited a partially constructed site, which presented unique challenges. Work initially began in 2018 but was discontinued in 2020, leaving incomplete infrastructure that required extensive assessment and remediation. Superior’s team conducted comprehensive drone surveys and used specialized cameras to assess existing infrastructure, determining which elements could be preserved and which required rework.

Across the 120-acre site, Superior will self-perform clearing and grubbing, erosion control, storm drainage, and earthwork involving 521,000 cubic yards of material. Capital Asphalt will handle subgrade, base and asphalt paving totaling 10,000 tons, along with pavement markings, signs, guardrails and concrete flatwork. Construction is expected to continue through spring 2027, with the track taking visible shape by late 2025.