Arizona 5 March 3, 2019

State Supplement sponsored by:

ARIZONA STATE EDITION

A Supplement to:

SHIP WITHIN 48 HOURS SAME DAY PARTS AVAILABILITY

®

March 3 2019

24 HOUR TECHNICAL SUPPORT BACKED BY A 75 YEAR BUSINESS Thousands in Service!

Vol. III • No. 5

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

Your Arizona Connection – Debbie Hansen – 1-702-239-0348 – dhansen@cegltd.com

Affordable Price. Premium Service.

CALL 800-367-4937 *On approved credit • Financing Available

ADOT Upgrades Busy SR347 in Growing Maricopa

By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT

Designed to improve traffic flow and safety, a project overseen by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration is making significant progress in Maricopa. Crews are tackling a portion of SR 347 that’s widely used and in need of an upgrade.

“Maricopa is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona,” said Tom Herrmann, spokesman of ADOT. “The intersection of SR 347 [John Wayne Parkway] and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway is geographically about in the north/south center of the community.

“Railroad tracks that carry both ADOT photo

Crews are tackling a portion of SR 347 that’s widely used and in need of an upgrade.

ADOT photo

Work on the project began in spring 2018, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak trains cross SR 347 just south of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Trains cross the road more than 30 times daily, and that is expected to increase to about 60

times daily by 2040.”

Work on the project began in spring 2018, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Planning for the project began before 2010 and involved consid-

erable community input, beginning with a public scoping meeting in 2012, and additional gatherings in 2013 and 2014.

“Public meetings in 2016 and 2017 were standing-room only,” said Herrmann. “We designed an alignment for SR 347 east of the current alignment, so we could perform the work on this overpass without disrupting traffic. The current alignment is further east, to avoid conflict with the local Amtrak station and an auto parts store.”

The new alignment will veer to the east at Alterra Parkway, cross the railroad tracks and MaricopaCasa Grande Highway and reconnect with the current Maricopa alignment at Hathaway Avenue.

After the bid was awarded on this project, the community held a groundbreaking in November see ALIGNMENT page 6

ADOT photo

Designed to improve traffic flow and safety, a project overseen by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration is making significant progress in Maricopa.

Page 2 • March 3, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

First Pecos Road Traffic Moving Onto Loop 202 SMF Lanes For the first time, motorists will use a stretch of the future Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, in this case through a temporary configuration that will allow work to progress on the 17th Avenue and Desert Foothills Parkway interchanges in Ahwatukee.

Effective Feb. 11, both directions of Pecos Road traffic between 17th Avenue and an area west of Desert Foothills Parkway began using a temporary alignment on the freeway’s future eastbound lanes. This 2-mi. stretch will be reduced to one lane in each direction, connecting with 17th Avenue using what will become the westbound Loop 202 off-ramp and with Desert Foothills Parkway using the westbound Loop 202 onramp.

By moving traffic to this temporary configuration, crews can finalize construction of the 17th Avenue interchange without requiring extended weekend and nightly closures of the Pecos Road intersection.

In addition, the traffic shift will allow crews to begin building the Desert Foothills Parkway interchange, the only South Mountain Freeway interchange where construction has yet to start. To accommodate this work, a temporary Desert Foothills Parkway intersection will be located west of the current intersection.

This shift of Pecos Road traffic onto the future South Mountain Freeway is the first of several that will allow Connect 202 Partners,

The traffic shift will allow crews to begin building the Desert Foothills Parkway interchange, the only South Mountain Freeway interchange where construction has yet to start. To accommodate this work, a temporary Desert Foothills Parkway intersection will be located west of the current intersection.

The traffic shift will allow crews to begin building the Desert Foothills Parkway interchange, the only South Mountain Freeway interchange where construction has yet to start. To accommodate this work, a temporary Desert Foothills Parkway intersection will be located west of the current intersection.

the freeway developer, to advance construction.

Once all traffic is shifted onto the freeway, Pecos Road will be permanently closed and repurposed into a 6-mi. shared-use path south of the freeway between 17th

Avenue and 40th Street.

Final construction planned for the 17th Avenue interchange includes completing ramps, barrier and sound wall installation, final paving and striping, and crossroad improvements.

In order to create additional room for construction, 17th Avenue traffic south of Cottonwood Lane will be reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted to the east side of the roadway, using the current northbound lanes.

This phase of work is expected to be complete this spring. Local traffic will continue using this temporary configuration until a second shift is needed to complete the rest of the 17th Avenue interchange.

Desert Foothills Parkway interchange construction is expected to be completed in summer.

The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced in some areas.

The 22-mi. South Mountain Freeway, which is slated to open as early as late 2019, will provide a

long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I10 through downtown Phoenix.

Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511. 

Meeting to Be Held on Potential Routes Sonoran Corridor Six months after southern Arizona residents gave their opinions on possible routes for the Sonoran Corridor proposed in the Tucson area, they will have the chance March 7 to learn about routes that have been recommended for further study.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

March 7, at the DoubleTree Suites Tucson Airport, 7051 S. Tucson Blvd. A presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

The meeting is part of a public involvement process that allows the community to ask questions and offer comments about potential locations for the proposed corridor as well as environmental considerations, impacts on wildlife habitat and cultural resources.

The Sonoran Corridor would connect Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 south of Tucson International Airport. It has been designated as a high-priority corridor under the federal

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. There is no timeline for building a freeway in the corridor.

A new freeway in that area would support the economy of southern Arizona and the state. It also would reduce travel distances south of Tucson and relieve congestion at the current interchange of I-10 and I-19 southwest of downtown Tucson.

In the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Study, officials are identifying and studying a range of possible corridors along with the opportunities and constraints of each. The study considers the potential social, economic and natural environment impacts of the alternatives, as well as the impact of not building a freeway in this area. The study, which began in 2017, is expected to be completed in 2020.

The study is evaluating multiple 2,000-ft.-wide corridor alternatives, including a no-build alternative and multiple

build alternatives, to determine a recommendation that is based on technical analysis and other factors, including public input.

A future Tier 2 environmental study would advance the Tier 1 recommendations to identify the specific project alignment, effects and mitigation. There is no timeline or funding identified for the Tier 2 study.

For more information about this study, visit azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor.

Public comment also is welcome through April 7 in several ways: • Email: Sonorancorridor@azdot.gov • Toll-free bilingual information line: 855/712-8530 • Mail: Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS Study Team, c/o Joanna Bradley, 1221 S. Second Ave., Mail Drop T100, Tucson, AZ 85713 

Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 3, 2019 • Page 3

Page 4 • March 3, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Production Due Late 2019...

3650 REIT Funds Excelsior Mining Begins Construction $27.5M Loan for on Gunnison Copper Project Facilities Phoenix Project

Excelsior Mining Corp. announces that construction has started at the Gunnison Copper Project, in southeast Arizona; first copper production is anticipated in Q4 of 2019.

“Our ability to move quickly from the close of project financing to the initiation of construction at our Gunnison Copper Project is a demonstration of the operational capacity and experience of the Excelsior team,” said Stephen Twyerould, president & CEO. “We look forward to updating all stakeholders as we move through the construction process. Our approach during this stage of development will remain, as always, focused on delivering technical excellence and long-term value for our shareholders.”

Hydro Resources has commenced drilling the production wellfield and the accompanying compliance wells.

Hydro Resources are experienced insitu recovery (“ISR”) wellfield drillers; this experience includes drilling for insitu copper recovery projects. There are currently three drilling rigs on site with two additional drilling rigs arriving early 2019. A total of 63 wells, including 41 production wells and 22 compliance wells totaling approximately 82,000 ft. will be completed. The significant number of compliance wells will ensure groundwater protection as per state and federal regulatory requirements. Drilling of the production well-

field is expected to be finished in Q2 of 2019. The initial wellfield area will be 400 ft. by 400 ft. with a spacing of approximately 70 ft. between delivery and production wells.

Schmueser and Associates has been chosen as the general contractor.

Construction activities will include: • Wellfield drilling and infrastructure — The wellfield has been designed to provide maximum operational flexibility including reversing wells and adjustable flowrates to maximize copper production.

• Access road construction — An additional access road south of the I10 Highway is currently being installed.

The Gunnison Copper Project is one of the most easily accessible mining projects in the world.

• Johnson Camp Mine plant upgrades — Upgrades to the processing facilities include enhanced controls and instrumentation, new rectifiers, increased solution heating capacity as well as a number of other modifications that will ensure Gunnison produces Grade A, 99.999 percent pure copper cathode.

• Pipeline distribution and infrastructure — A two-mile-long high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline corridor will safely transport solution to the JCM processing facilities. Pipeline corridor liners, double-pipe containment and maintenance ponds will ensure

best practice in terms of environmental management and safety.

• Electrical distribution and infrastructure — Electrical distribution to the wellfield will include moving and utilizing the existing substation near the crushing facilities that are currently on care and maintenance; thereby providing substantial cost savings to Excelsior.

• Process pond upgrades and completions — The existing ponds are being modified to accommodate the copper solutions from the wellfield.

Additional pregnant leach solution (PLS) capacity is also being created at Gunnison to provide operational flexibility.

• New acid storage facilities — These new facilities have been designed to enable the company to take advantage of market acid pricing opportunities as they arise.

“Schmueser & Associates LLC is pleased to have been selected as the General Contractor for the Stage I Gunnison Copper Project/Johnson Camp Mine,” said Larry Schmueser II, president of Schmueser & Associates.

“We look forward to working with Excelsior Mining Corp. on this low cost, environmentally friendly, copper production process. The goal of our project team puts a priority on safety with the understanding that achieving the budget and schedule are critical to the success of the project.” 

“The team at 3650 REIT brought a wealth of experience to the underwriting of this loan.”

Pat Watts Greenlight Communities

“This loan aligns with our strategy of providing shortterm, fixed-rate capital to high-quality sponsors with strong projects in markets that we believe exhibit compelling growth prospects,” said Jonathan Roth, co-founder and managing partner of 3650 REIT. “We are pleased to provide the financing for this innovative development, which will contribute towards addressing the affordability gap in rental housing in the Phoenix market.”

“The team at 3650 REIT brought a wealth of experience to the underwriting of this loan,” said Pat Watts, partner of Greenlight Communities. “They understand our business plan and provided us with a highly-attractive financing solution that will help bring this much-needed project to completion.”

The Phoenix metropolitan area is an emerging technology hub that features a diverse and well-educated population. covering four acres. With more than 20,000 items in stock According to CBRE data, Greater Phoenix is home to more along with a list of items on its website, the new warehouse than 83,000 high-tech employees with metro employment will give Fisher Tools the opportunity to increase its inven- growing 33.5 percent over a five-year period. Moreover, the tory, providing a greater selection of tools to its customers. area’s labor pipeline is supported by a collection of major universities and college systems including Arizona State About Fisher Tools University, which U.S. News and World Report named the The privately-owned company in the greater Phoenix area most innovative university in the nation for three consecutive serves the commercial construction industry specializing and years.

Churchill Commercial Capital, a commercial mortgage targeting electric, concrete and mechanic contractors, providing tools for the job. Fisher Tools has been offering tools banking company in Phoenix, was responsible for arranging the financing. for more than 55 years and continues to grow.

For more information, visit 3650REIT.com.  For more information, visit fishertools.com. 

Fisher Tools Expands With Ground Breaking on New Tempe Warehouse Fisher Tools announces the expansion of its Tempe facility with a new warehouse. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on March 1 at 11:00 a.m. at 1990 East 3rd St., Tempe, Ariz., just south of Tempe Marketplace.

With the expansion of a new 30,000-ft. warehouse, Fisher Tools will carry more products for its customers on site, which allows customers to receive tools and products immediately, without the need to wait for shipping.

The General Contractor will be Central Construction Co., a 50-year-old, family-owned and operated construction company from the Valley.

The current Fisher Tools facility contains four buildings,

3650 REIT, a relationship lender providing tailored fixedrate bridge and long-term financing solutions to commercial real estate investors, has funded a $27.5 million senior construction loan to Greenlight Communities for the development of a 252-unit attainable multifamily project in Phoenix, Ariz.

Located at 4235 N. 12th Street within the fundamentally strong downtown submarket, the multifamily project will be one of the area’s first new developments to offer attainable rents. The new development will feature an innovative, modern design with a focus on in-demand amenities including on-site management, gated parking, parcel storage, a pool and a fitness area. The project is being engineered to maximize efficiencies in design and construction, and should benefit from its proximity to major employment centers and transportation corridors.

Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 3, 2019 • Page 5

NEXT ISSUE CLOSES MARCH 21, 2019

3 3 3 3 3 3 3

empirecat.com/eloy / l | 520-582-2900 520 582 2900

Page 6 • March 3, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

New Alignment Improves Safety, Traffic Flow in Area

ADOT photo

The primary tasks remaining involve completing the overpass, including girder placement and pouring the deck, as well as building more than 1 mi. of new pavement north and south of the overpass.

ADOT photo

Planning for the project began before 2010 and involved considerable community input, beginning with a public scoping meeting in 2012, and additional gatherings in 2013 and 2014.

ALIGNMENT from page 1

2017 to celebrate the award and the positive impact it would have on commute times in the area. Local leaders spoke about the work they have done dating back more than a decade, including meeting with national officials, to bring the project to construction.

Crews are building the project on a new alignment, eliminating restrictions on primary routes, with the exception of when the old and new routes are tied together in late 2019. Beginning in December 2018, the intersection of SR 347 and Honeycutt Road was closed for construction of the overpass, but short detours have been established and access to all local businesses has been maintained.

According to Herrmann, workers are primarily assigned daytime shifts.

“Because of the extreme desert heat in the summer, crews began work well before dawn and completed their shifts by noon or early afternoon to avoid the hottest times of the day. Current shifts begin about 7 a.m. and end in mid-afternoon.”

The project is considered vital to the continued growth and prosperity of the community of Maricopa.

It will improve traffic flow on SR 347, the primary north-south route.

The current alignment of SR 347 south of Maricopa-Casa

ADOT photo

Heavy equipment needed to complete the job includes lattice boom cranes, excavators, loaders, bulldozers, scrapers, backhoes and manlifts.

Grande Highway will see the addition of three cul-de-sacs. No traffic will cross the railroad tracks at the completion of the project.

Honeycutt Avenue will be extended to connect with the new alignments of SR 347.

Herrmann noted that dealing with traffic, both trains and the travelling public, has been the biggest challenge for crews, who are continuing to work on construction of the overpass. Piers and pier caps are in place, and girders began to be placed in January.

Herrmann explained that crews are not so much reconstructing an existing roadway, but building a new roadway that will replace a congested section of SR 347. He also said much of the land south of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway was undeveloped and required only clearing and grubbing, as well

as grading for the new road surface.

“There were several properties north of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway that were acquired for the project. Because of the overpass, we had to create a new route for northbound drivers on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway to reach northbound SR 347. That included building a new road [Plainview Street] connecting Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Honeycutt Road. Construction of Plainview is complete.

“The new alignment also will require the addition of three cul-desacs along the old alignment to allow continued access to homes and businesses. In addition, one street — Honeycutt Street — will be extended to connect with the new alignment.”

Replacing the existing at-grade

intersection of SR 347 with an overpass has required a great deal of planning and coordination.

“To create the overpass without impacting local traffic during construction, we had to build a new section of the roadway and a new overpass, meeting safety requirements for clearance over Union Pacific Railroad trains, said Herrmann.

As for the overall condition of the site prior to construction, property south of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, east of the Amtrak station, was undeveloped.

Land north of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway included both residential and commercial structures, which were acquired and removed from the site.

Although there have been unexpected issues, including unmarked underground utilities and other obstructions, weather has not been a significant factor on the project.

“Desert heat in the summer months meant shifting work times to cooler times of the day, including before sunrise. Rain is rarely a factor in the desert environment.

The Phoenix area 25 miles to the north receives less than eight inches of rain in a year, much of that during the summer monsoon or winter.”

Herrmann said by creating a new alignment away from motorists, there have been few issues regarding traffic.

“We will require road closures for girder placement and deck pours on the overpass during work above Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Scheduling can minimize the impact of those closures.”

The primary tasks remaining involve completing the overpass, including girder placement and pouring the deck, as well as building more than 1 mi. of new pavement north and south of the overpass, connecting to the current alignment near Alterra Parkway on the south and Hathaway Avenue on the north.

Between excavation and embankment/borrow, about 300,000 cu. yds. of dirt/material will be moved on the project.

Heavy equipment needed to complete the job includes lattice boom cranes, excavators, loaders, bulldozers, scrapers, backhoes and manlifts. Some of the main materials being used during construction include concrete and steel reinforcement.

As crews move forward with the project, ADOT reports that the average annual daily traffic for SR 347 at Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway in 2017 was 32,418.

Herrmann said now is the ideal time to perform the work.

“This project has been discussed for more than a decade. This is the right time because of the community’s continued growth and the increasing railroad traffic.”  CEG

Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • March 3, 2019 • Page 7

Pros Kno Pros Kno ow! w!

®

T Those in the know w,, know Takeuchi Take euchi

Takeuchi of o ffers a wide range of compact excavatorss to help you get your tougheest tasks comppleted. PUT A TAKEUCH A HI TO WORK ON O YOUR JOBSITE AN ND EXPERIIENCE THE DIFFEREN NCE!

www.ditchwitchaz.com

4028 S 36th Street Phoenix, AZ 85040 (602) 437-0351 6975 N Camino Martin Tucson, AZ 85741 (520) 579-0261

takeuch hi us.com hi-us.com

Construction Begins on UA’s Student Success District Construction has begun on the University of Arizona’s Student Success District, a project that will connect existing buildings near the heart of campus in order to integrate services and spaces designed to promote student success.

“Inspired by student input, this commitment ensures all UA students have seamless access to the resources and expertise needed to maximize their intellectual development, social growth, physical well-being and career preparation,” Jeff Goldberg, interim senior vice president of academic affairs and provost, wrote in a memo.

The district will integrate the Main Library, the Albert B. Weaver ScienceEngineering Library and Bear Down Gymnasium along with a new building — to be called the Student Success building — which is being constructed immediately south of Bear Down. Renovations are planned for the other buildings in the district.

The Student Success District is designed to augment and expand on learning that occurs in the classroom by providing the support that students need in one easy-tofind space, Goldberg explained.

In addition to collaborative learning spaces, the district will include tutoring services, health and well-being resources, and

cutting-edge technology that will enable students to collaboratively design and fabricate physical and digital creations as part of the learning process.

The district is a joint initiative among University Libraries, the Student Success and Retention Innovation office, the Student Engagement and Career Development office, and Campus Life. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021.

Goldberg acknowledged that the construction and renovation projects will cause some disruption.

“We are certain the temporary inconveniences will be well worth the end result: an integrated approach to student success that will benefit every UA student for generations to come,” Goldberg said.

The district will integrate the Main Library, the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library and Bear Down Gymnasium along with a new building — to be called the Student Success building — which is being constructed immediately south of Bear Down. Renovations are planned for the other buildings in the district.

The Student Success District is designed to augment and expand on learning that occurs in the classroom by providing the support that students need in one easy-to-find space.

Page 8 • March 3, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Public Auction held the 2nd Saturday of every month.

Preview Every Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm Consignments Welcome Western Sales Management, Inc 1616 S 67th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043

623-936-3300 wsmauctioneers.com wsmauctionbiz@yahoo.com

Next Auction March 9, 2019

File Photo