California 18 September 6, 2026

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Security Paving Begins Caltrans SR 91 Sign Rehab Work

By Irwin Rapoport

CEG CORRESPONDENT

Following several months of site preparation and preconstruction activity, including the placement of protective K-rail barriers, Security Paving Co. Inc. has begun active operations on the California Department of Transportation’s $34 million State Route 91 Sign Rehabilitation Project.

The three-year asset-management initiative spans a 14.7-mi. corridor of SR 91 in Los Angeles County, stretching from Vermont Avenue in Gardena east to postmile 20.7 at the Orange County line in Cerritos. The highway segment, constructed between 1970 and 1985, features five traffic lanes in each direction and carries up to 284,000 vehicles daily, according to 2024 Caltrans traffic census data.

Financed through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program using state and federal matching funds, the multi-asset project has been in the planning pipeline since 2019. Caltrans officials anticipate project delivery by summer 2029.

Comprehensive Capital Scope Designed by the Caltrans Division of Design, the contract encompasses widespread infrastructure modernizations along the corridor. Primary deliverables include: • Rehabilitating 12 overhead sign structures and replacing 1,507 sign panels.

• Installing 7,157 linear ft. of upgraded Midwest Guardrail System and Alternative In-Line Terminal guardrails.

• Constructing improvements to eight worker safety barriers and nine worker safety access points.

• Retrofitting bridge railings at the westbound SR 91 Alameda

Street/Santa Fe Avenue off-ramp.

• Restoring full irrigation systems across 18 acres of highway roadside plantings.

According to Caltrans District 7 spokesperson Colleen Park, the project was prioritized to address systemic retroreflectivity loss and operational degradation across the aging corridor.

“The scope of this multi-asset project involves work along a large area,” Park told Construction Equipment Guide. “This requires a longer period, as work must be coordinated along the many other projects along the route. The legibility/visibility of existing roadside and overhead sign panels within the project limits do not meet current standards for sign retroreflectivity.”

“Updating these structures will help reduce operation and maintenance costs,” Park added. “Irrigation systems along the highway and at on- and off-ramps are damaged or not working as originally intended, resulting in diminished landscaping.

Improvements are needed to restore the landscaping and improve the effectiveness of irrigation to maximize water conservation.”

Safety enhancements were also factored into the design phase to minimize long-term highway exposure for maintenance personnel.

“Some roadside areas are difficult to access and maintain due to their proximity to mainline and ramp traffic,” Park said. “This increases the duration of maintenance worker exposure to traffic. Upgrades to access points will improve safety by minimizing maintenance worker exposure to live traffic during routine maintenance activities.”

To maintain effective long-term asset performance while curbing material theft, designers incorporated specialized subsurface utilities. see SECURITY page 6

Security Paving photo

Security Paving Co. Inc. has begun active operations on the California Department of Transportation’s $34 million State Route 91 Sign Rehabilitation Project.

Page 2 • September 6, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • California Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Construction Equipment Guide • California Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 6, 2026 • Page 3

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Page 4 • September 6, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • California Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

RDO Equipment’s Fresno Team Celebrates New Facility RDO Equipment Co.’s Fresno team recently welcomed customers, employees, partners and community members to celebrate the grand opening of its new facility, marking a new chapter for the team and the company’s continued investment in California’s Central Valley.

For years, the team served customers from its Fowler location, maximizing a facility that could no longer keep pace with growing demand. Limited shop space and parts storage made expansion difficult, creating the need for a larger, purpose-built location designed to better support customers, team members and future growth.

“This move has been a long time coming, and it means a lot to all of us to finally be in this space,” Store Manager Nhia Vue said.

Vue explained that while the new Fresno facility reflects a major investment, the milestone is rooted in the dedication of the team members who continued serving customers as the previous location became increasingly limited.

“When I think about what it took to get here, I think about our team,” Vue said. “They showed up every day and made it work, even when our previous location made things challenging. This building reflects that effort, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished together.”

Built to support a growing customer base across the Central Valley, the new Fresno facility includes approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of combined shop and warehouse space. The larger facility expands service capacity from seven bays to as many as 19 bays, creating more space for technicians to safely and efficiently service large equipment indoors.

The new facility also increases parts warehouse capacity from approximately 1,000 sq. ft. to 3,300 sq. ft., helping the team support customers with greater efficiency. Additional site features, including built-in loading docks and a dedicated wash bay, are designed to improve workflow and create a better overall experience for both customers and team members.

The investment comes as infrastructure projects and construction activity continue to drive demand across the region. To meet those needs, the Fresno team has grown

The RDO Equipment Co. team celebrates the opening of its new Fresno facility.

from approximately 14 employees to 22 today, with plans for continued expansion.

Vue also recognized the customers whose trust has helped fuel that growth.

“Your trust is what made this possible,” Vue said. “As your needs have grown, we’ve worked to grow alongside you. This new space gives us the ability to operate more efficiently and deliver a better overall experience.”

Guests toured the facility, connected with team members and enjoyed food trucks during the celebration, getting a firsthand look at the operation’s expanded capabilities.  Grand opening visitors explore the new 22,000-sq.-ft.

(All photos courtesy of RDO Equipment Co.) facility.

Suffolk Conducts Back-to-School Drives Across California Construction company Suffolk brought together employees across Northern California and Los Angeles this summer to provide backpacks, school supplies and other resources to students and families ahead of the new school year.

“At Suffolk, our commitment to the communities where we build extends well beyond the job site, and our Back-to-School drives give our teams a meaningful way to come together and make a direct impact on local students and families,” said Christina Mustone, manager, corporate initiatives at Suffolk. “The strong participation we’ve seen across California reflects the culture of caring our employees bring to their work every day and our belief that being a good community partner means investing in the people and neighborhoods around us.”

In Northern California, Suffolk continued its partnerships with Mercy Housing and Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp., organizations with deep roots in the communities they serve.

Over the past two years, the team has donated 510 filled backpacks and approximately $12,000 worth of school supplies, with items selected from partner wish lists based on the needs of local students and school districts.

This year, Suffolk also contributed an additional $1,000 toward school supplies for Young Community Developers.

In Los Angeles, 20 Suffolk volunteers packed more than 200 backpacks with school essentials for families supported

by Ronald McDonald House, building on the company’s growing relationship with the organization. The backpacks included items such as calculators,

pencils, markers and notebooks. Over the past year-and-a-half, Suffolk teams have participated in 45 Ronald McDonald House events nationwide, from serving meals and assembling care kits to writing cards of encouragement.

Suffolk launched its first coordinated national Back-to-School campaign in 2025, when teams across the country donated 4,233 backpacks, 20,000 school supplies and $15,000 in monetary contributions. This year, every Suffolk office and Mission Critical job site is hosting a Back-to-School event.

During the current fiscal year, employees participated in 23 volunteer events in Northern California and 44 in Los Angeles, with both regions achieving 100 percent employee participation in Suffolk’s volunteer program, meaning Suffolk photo every employee took part in at least one Suffolk employees fill backpacks during the company’s Back-to-School drive. volunteer event during the year. 

Construction Equipment Guide • California Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 6, 2026 • Page 5

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Page 6 • September 6, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • California Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Phasing of Construction Critical to Project’s Success SECURITY from page 1

“Design challenges included the problem of future theft or vandalism to the irrigation systems that would reduce their effectiveness,” Park said. “In order to deter theft and vandalism, new irrigation facilities include irrigation bubblers which will be buried with electronic ball markers. The underground marking system is more cost-effective than installing tamper-resistant devices.”

Park noted that retroreflective sign panels carry a standard service life of 12 years, while slope paving finished with rock cobbles lasts 15 to 20 years.

“The sign panels will be replaced with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Type XI retroreflective sheeting,” Park said, “which does not require electricity/ external lighting to illuminate signs.”

Construction Phasing, Logistics Security Paving’s site mobilization began with night operations to establish safe work zones across the heavily traveled route. Crews have staged approximately 3 mi. of 20-ft., 3.5-ton concrete K-rail sections using Cat M332 wheeled excavators and Terex T340XL truck cranes.

Traffic management strategies rely primarily on shoulder closures to minimize impact on daytime commuter traffic, reserving full lane reductions for specialized overhead tasks.

“The majority of the work will only require shoulder closures and maintain the traffic lanes open,” Park said.

“Overnight lane reductions or closures will be required to allow for overhead signs and lighting removal work.”

To launch field operations, contractors systematically phased traffic shifts and site prep across active segments.

“The work will begin by installing all construction area signs to facilitate efficient nightly traffic control and traffic shifts,” Anthony “T.J.” Mattivi Jr., area manager for Security Paving, told Construction Equipment Guide. “A survey will then establish stationing and layout for the K-rail required for the [maintenance vehicle pullouts], concrete barriers and Stage 1 construction at the WB 1 off-ramp and the Santa Fe/ Alameda off-ramp. Once traffic control is in place, the existing yellow thermoplastic traffic stripe (hazardous waste) will be removed and replaced with temporary traffic paint.”

“After the project is completed, the temporary striping will be removed, and the final permanent traffic stripe tape will be installed,” Mattivi said. “Stamped and broom-finished concrete areas will be excavated and prepared with aggregate base so that A.M. Concrete can perform the concrete placement operations.”

“Concurrent with these activities, crews will perform electrical work, prune vegetation and clear roadside vegetation to prepare the corridor for the subsequent installation of irrigation systems and landscaping,” he added. “Guardrail removal and replacement operations will also occur concurrently.”

Subsurface foundation work is scheduled ahead of major structural deliveries, which carry significant fabrication lead times.

“CIDH sign foundations will be drilled while awaiting fabrication of the overhead sign structures, which have an anticipated lead time of approximately eight months,” Mattivi said. “Once the overhead sign structures are delivered, the existing overhead signs will be removed and replaced, new overhead sign structures will be installed, and the permanent roadside signs will be installed to complete the project.”

Contractor operations over the next 12 months will cen-

Security Paving photo

Setting up K-rails was an early project task.

ter on constructing maintenance vehicle pullouts, pouring stamped and broomed concrete, setting additional barrier walls, and drilling cast-in-drilled-holes (CIDH) concrete shafts.

Structural, Subcontractor Execution Major structural elements include overhead sign trusses manufactured in Utah that stand roughly 30 ft. tall. Electrical installations for the structures will require foundation borings using a CZM LR85 drill rig, taking four to five days per site.

Concurrently, specialized task forces will handle roadside landscaping along the 18-acre corridor.

“The existing irrigation will be cut and capped as needed to facilitate construction in the work area,” Mattivi said.

“Once our work is complete, Marina Landscape will remove the existing irrigation system and install the new irrigation improvements.”

Off-ramp bridge railing retrofits and remaining guardrail runs are scheduled to begin in early 2027, using SPCI metal forms, timber forming systems, and boom trucks.

Modernization of flat roadside sign panels is underway using utility pickup trucks and aerial manlifts.

Security Paving’s field executive team includes Project Manager Luis Rios, Project Superintendent Jeremy Strobl,

Freshly completed stamped concrete

Caltrans photo

and Joel Medina, operations manager of the Structures Division. The job site averages 20 trade workers and specialty subcontractors daily. Prime subcontractors engaged on the project include: • A.M. Concrete • Ace Fence Co. • Fortte Construction Inc. • Galvan Reinforcing Co. • Gridlock Sign & Safety Solutions • Maneri Traffic Control • Marina Landscape Materials Fleet, Maintenance Strategy To support multi-site tasks, Security Paving deployed a dedicated equipment spread of roughly 15 primary units, including Cat M332 excavators, Terex T340XL cranes, Cat 303.5 CR mini-excavators, Cat CB24 tandem vibratory rollers, and Cat 262 skid steer loaders. Fleet assets are procured through regional suppliers Quinn Cat, Cal Lowbed, and United Rentals.

Mattivi credited field personnel and union trade labor for maintaining high equipment uptime under demanding urban highway conditions.

“The challenges on this project are typical of most Caltrans highway projects, including maintaining traffic, working within limited lane closure windows and resolving design issues as they arise,” Mattivi said. “Fortunately, we have a strong working relationship with the department and view them as an integral part of the project team. By working collaboratively, we are able to address challenges quickly and keep the project moving forward.”

“The project is progressing well,” Mattivi said. “We can manage many sites by having open communication to be able to overcome any obstacles that we run into. We work as one team with Caltrans, and that partnership is a key to the project’s success.”

Addressing operational maintenance, Mattivi added: “Fortunately, equipment maintenance has been minimal throughout the project. This is a testament to our crews’ commitment to properly maintaining the equipment, as well as the expertise and responsiveness of our highly skilled union mechanics, who keep our fleet operating reliably and efficiently.” 

Construction Equipment Guide • California Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 6, 2026 • Page 7

Next Issue Closes September 23rd

Page 8 • September 6, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • California Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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