Four Corners 10, May 7, 2023

Utah Unveils Its Biggest Construction Projects for 2023

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is ramping up construction on highway projects across the state.

This year, UDOT has 217 proj-

ects scheduled to start or already under construction, with a combined value of $3.2 billion. This means there will be 217 different work zones across the state.

“This is one of our biggest construction years, with major projects happening all across the state,” said Lisa Wilson, UDOT deputy director for engineering and opera-

tions. “We are working to help people in all parts of Utah stay connected to the things they care about: family, school, work and recreation.”

Projects scheduled to start or already under construction in 2023 include a brand-new highway, new interchanges, widened freeways

see UTAH page 5

The Utah Department of Transportation recently unveiled its top construction projects for the upcoming year. The agency revealed that there are 217 projects scheduled to start or already under construction, with a combined value of $3.2 billion.

LOGAN, UT 453 North 1000 West Logan, UT 84321 435-752-1533

SALT LAKE CITY, UT 4343 Century Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84123 801-262-5761

CEDAR CITY, UT 482 North Main Street Cedar City, UT 84720 435-586-4406 Email: del.maxedon@centuryeq.com

SPRINGVILLE, UT 1350 South 2000 West Springville, UT 84663 801-794-1463

CLIFTON, CO 549 32nd Rd. Clifton, CO 81520 970-434-7363

DURANGO, CO 1097 Hwy 3 Durango, CO 81301 970-247-0522

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 6301 Edith Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 505-433-2246

UVU Construction Management Team Places at Nationals

Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Smith College of Engineering & Technology (CET) Construction Management program recently sent more than two dozen students to the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) competition in Sparks, Nev., and took home multiple accolades. This nationwide competition featured more than 1,600 students, making up more than 200 teams, from 57 participating universities, across 24 states, from Alaska to Arizona and from California to Virginia.

The four-day competition began where students listened to a guest speaker and we’re treated to a buffetstyle dinner, followed by a raffle where they got their first win.

The Construction Management program sent the following four teams: Heavy Civil, Commercial, MixedUse and Project Management — plus a category for ‘alternate’ contenders, who competed with students from other schools in their own category.

Later, the teams reported to its industry competition problem sponsor where it was given its competition problem. The Heavy Civil problem was a complex highway expansion project in Hawaii. The Mixed-Use problem was a new gothic-style tower and building on a college campus. The Commercial problem was a professional sports stadium and the Project Management problem was the refurbishment of a downtown office building.

Not only did UVU finish third place nationally in the Mixed-Use category (team members: Yahir Narciso,

Andrew Weight, Jacob Chugg, Alec Spottiswood, Joseph Robins, Drew Christensen), where they had to compete against 11 other teams — but one student, Wyatt Baum, earned first place as an alternate, of which there were more than 300 participants.

Each problem category required teams to create a construction schedule, estimate, site logistics plan, risk analysis, safety plan and strategy for a real-world multi-million-dollar project as part of the competition. Students presented their solutions to the project in a formal presentation to the industry judges, who had recently constructed the very projects the students were given. These presentations lasted throughout the day with a meet-andgreet with representatives from the industry.

Students also were able to visit vendor booths to learn about the construction industry and collect ‘swag.’ There were more than 120 national companies attending — all for the purpose of recruiting students to their respective companies. That same morning during the recruiting fair, students, staff and faculty gathered in the ballroom for an awards ceremony.

UVU competed against other construction management program teams from all over the United States, including Auburn, Purdue, Stanford, Berkeley, BYU, UCLA and Colorado State, among others.

To learn more about the CET Construction Management program, visit https://www.uvu.edu/ct/cm/.

Gov. Hobbs, ADOT Investing $50M for Multiple Projects

As warming weather allows the Arizona Department of Transportation to begin more permanent repairs to highways after a rough winter, the agency is reallocating $50.5 million to replace deteriorating pavement surfaces within 23 locations, most of them in northern Arizona. Funding for the pavement repair work comes from savings on other projects.

The State Transportation Board on Friday, April 21, approved ADOT’s plan to address severe roadway deterioration on segments of I-40, I-17, I-10, U.S. 60, SR 260 and SR 77. ADOT plans to recommend $40 million for similar projects in the agency’s 2024-2029 Five-Year Construction Program.

“I'm proud to announce an over $50 million investment in fixing our roads,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs. “For too long, Arizona has failed to invest the money we need to protect our highways and ensure a brighter future for all Arizonans. Snow and rain this winter exposed the lack of upkeep and I'm grateful to the State Transportation Board for identifying these projects and approving these critical investments.”

The projects, which ADOT plans to begin as soon as possible, are in areas where pavement was already stressed in recent years due to age and use. The snow and rain during the record-setting winter

created ideal conditions for potholes and other road surface damage in these highway stretches.

“ADOT’s goal is to deliver the safest and most reliable highway system possible with the funding we have to make improvements around the state,” said Greg Byres, ADOT state engineer and deputy director of transportation. “We know these projects to improve pavement conditions are muchneeded, and we will move forward as quickly as possible.”

Depending on the project, work is expected to begin from mid-May into June. These projects will consist of removing and replacing damaged surface pavement in locations within these highway stretches.

These projects are in addition to pavement repairs that continue in many areas. To address the recent issues, ADOT crews first applied temporary patches and now, with warmer weather, are beginning the more permanent repairs. These repairs often involve patching material or milled and recycled pavement and a heavy-compaction roller to fill in potholes or areas of pavement.

The repairs planned for I-17 complement a $35 million paving project that’s resuming after a winter hiatus. Alongside shorter-term pavement repairs, this project will help address rough conditions on 29 mi. of south-

bound Interstate 17 near Flagstaff.

I-40

• Both directions between Needle Mountain Road and SR 95 (MP 2-9);

• Eastbound between U.S. 93 and Silver Springs Road (MP 72-79);

• Eastbound between Willow Ranch and Fort Rock roads (MP 88-92);

• Westbound between Cross Mountain and Willow Ranch roads (MP 9589);

• Eastbound between Fort Rock Road and Seligman (MP 92-123);

• Both directions between Seligman and Ash Fork (MP 123-146);

• Both directions between the Riordan Bridge and I-17 (MP 190-195);

• Both directions between Walnut Canyon and Townsend-Winona roads (MP 204-211);

• Both directions between SR 99 and Tucker Flat Wash (MP 242-249);

• Both directions between Pinta and McCarrell roads (MP 319.1-330.55).

I-17

• Both directions between Sunset Point and SR 69 (MP 251-263);

• Both directions between SR 69 and SR 169 (MP 266-278);

• Northbound between SR 169 and 1 mile north of SR 179 (MP 280-300);

• Southbound between Middle Verde Road and SR 169 (MP 290-280);

• Both directions between SR 179 and the Scenic Overlook (MP 300-310).

I-10

• Both directions between U.S. 191 and New Mexico line (MP 350-391).

SR 260

• Both directions between Rim Road and Heber (MP 282-302);

• both directions between Knottingham Lane and fire station (MP 347.1-349.3);

• both directions between Penrod Lane and Buck Springs Road (MP 354.1-354.4).

U.S. 60

• Both directions between Wickenburg and SR 74 (MP 110-120);

• Both directions between Seneca and Salt River Bridge (MP 288-293);

• Both directions between Vernon and Cerro Montoso (MP 363.5-367.2).

SR 77

• Both directions between Dripping Springs and El Capitan (MP 154-163).

UVU team members (L-R, top row): Yahir Narciso, Andrew Weight and Jacob Chugg; (L-R, bottom row): Alec Spottiswood, Joseph Robins and Drew Christensen.

UDOT Crews Will Work On 217 Separate Projects in State

and highways, new paths for pedestrians and cyclists, maintenance to keep roads and bridges in good condition and improved access to a new state park.

The major projects UDOT has planned for this year include:

Bangerter Highway, Salt Lake County: $378.5 Million

This project will construct four new freeway-style interchanges with on- and offramps at 2700 West, 13400 South, 9800 South and 4700 South, eliminating stoplights at four more intersections for drivers on Bangerter Highway. Construction is scheduled to start this summer.

5600 South, Weber County: $238 Million

UDOT will reconstruct the 5600 South interchange on I-15 in Roy near Hill Air Force Base and widen 5600 South from three lanes to five lanes between 1900 West and 3500 West. This project also will build a new trail system for pedestrians and cyclists. These improvements will help area residents get around more easily, whether they are walking, biking or driving. Construction is scheduled to start this summer.

9000 South, Salt Lake County: $56.6 Million

Crews will widen 9000 South between Redwood Road and 700 West from five to seven lanes, replace pavement on 9000 South from 700 West to State Street and add

bike lanes to the road. This project will improve the condition of the road and enhance safety for drivers, and help traffic flow more efficiently. Construction is scheduled to start this summer.

West Davis Highway, Davis County: $750

Million

UDOT’s largest current project is building a new four-lane divided highway from Farmington to West Point along with 10 mi. of new trails. It will help residents in western Davis County get to and from I-15 more easily and safely. Construction started in 2021.

I-15 Interchange, Widening, Washington City: $73.6 Million

Work is under way to add a new interchange on I-15 at Main Street in Washington City, near St. George. This project also will widen I-15 to create a new travel lane in each direction and will improve traffic flow and access to Washington City from I-15. Construction started this spring.

SR 108, Davis County: $71 Million

Crews will widen SR 108 between West Point and Clinton, adding a new travel lane in each direction along with a new multi-use

path. This project will improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists and helps traffic flow more smoothly. Construction is scheduled to start this spring.

Redwood Road, Taylorsville: $8.5 Million

UDOT will widen Redwood Road in Taylorsville from 6200 South to the I-215 interchange and add lanes to the eastbound and westbound on-ramps to I-215. Doing this will help drivers get through this area more efficiently and safely. Construction started earlier in April.

U.S. 40, Wasatch County: $9.9 Million

This project replaces sections of concrete pavement north of Heber City as well as the bridge driving surface at the Mayflower exit. This maintenance work will improve the condition of the road and extend the life of the bridge. Construction started in 2022.

Projects scheduled to start or already under construction in 2023 include a brand-new highway, new interchanges, widened freeways and highways, new paths for pedestrians and cyclists, maintenance to keep roads and bridges in good condition and improved access to a new state park.

Pleasant

Grove Boulevard, Pleasant Grove: $15.9 Million

UDOT is widening Pleasant Grove Boulevard to make it easier to access northbound I-15. This project also widens the Pleasant Grove Boulevard/North County Boulevard intersection to add new turning lanes, installs new traffic signals and repaves sections of North County Boulevard. This will improve traffic flow and enhance safety for drivers in a fast-developing area of Utah County. Construction started earlier this spring.

UTAH from page 1

Numerous projects will create 217 different work zones across the state.

“This is one of our biggest construction years, with major projects happening all across the state,” said Lisa Wilson, UDOT deputy director for engineering and operations. “We are working to help people in all parts of Utah stay connected to the things they care about: family, school, work and recreation.”

see UTAH page 10

CDOT Expanding Its Work Zone Safety Truck Program

A $1.9 million federal grant will allow the Colorado Department of Transportation to expand the ways it’s been using special self-driving trucks to protect workers in construction zones.

“Every major advancement in the history of U.S. transportation has involved technological progress,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The investments we are making today are about fostering innovations that improve people’s day-to-day lives, making transportation safer, more reliable, more efficient and more sustainable.”

“We are hard at work fixing Colorado's roads thanks to historic state and federal transportation funding, which is why it is as important as ever to make sure the hardworking people fixing our

roads are safe on the job. This exciting federal grant supports innovative solutions to improve our roads and keep Coloradans safe," said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.

“For the men and women working as highway maintainers and in our work zones, Colorado’s roads are their office,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

“Innovations such as automated attenuators can be life-saving, and we appreciate the support of our federal partners in moving them forward with funding from the IIJA.

“We hope that this is one of many opportunities for such collaboration.”

CDOT, like most departments of transportation around the country, has long used "truck-mounted attenuators," structures fitted onto

the backs of heavy trucks and designed to take the impact of a vehicle crash. But since 2018, CDOT has been testing automated truck-mounted attenuators, essentially self-driving versions of the crash-absorbing trucks. In fact, CDOT was the first state in the nation to use an automated attenuator.

Using these automated attenuator trucks takes the driver out of the equation, protecting an additional life on top of the construction zone workers who are shielded by the vehicle. CDOT has two such automated safety trucks, one in northeastern Colorado and another in the southern part of the state, and the trucks right now are primarily used to protect workers during lane-striping projects.

The federal Strengthening

Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, grant awards announced this week will fund these automated attenuator programs in Colorado and four other states.

"Colorado has been a leader among states in using automated vehicle technology to protect transportation workers, and the award of this grant will help us explore new ways to increase work zone safety,” said Kay Kelly, chief of innovative mobility for CDOT, adding that the grant means CDOT can use automated crash trucks for jobs beyond lane-striping, including sweeping, crack sealing and patching.

In 2021, Colorado received national attention for its automated attenuators by receiving the Innovation Initiative Award from

the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, an organization that represents departments of transportation across the U.S.

CDOT also leads the Autonomous Maintenance Technology Pooled Fund, which includes a total of 14 state departments of transportation working together to advance the research and deployment of autonomous maintenance technologies that drastically improve safety to the employees and the public. When CDOT launched the pooled fund in 2018, Colorado was the only state with an operating automated attenuator. Three years later, five other states had such vehicles in their fleets and were in some phase of testing or deployment.

Colorado Investing $45M for Repairs After Rough Winter

The Colorado Department of Transportation is redoubling efforts to improve road conditions after one of the most intense winters in recent decades has damaged some roads beyond what they normally sustain each year. Recently, CDOT received an additional $45 million from the Transportation Commission of Colorado to fund snow and ice removal for the remainder of the winter season and to address pavement problems that reflect the unusually severe conditions over the past several months.

A total of $19.6 million will fund snow and ice control above and beyond the $84 million base budget for these operations and a $12 million reserve fund that has been exhausted. $25 million will support projects to address critical pavement conditions across the state such as permanent repair of potholes. Locations for these projects are currently being identified by CDOT maintenance and engineering teams as they assess impacts of the winter season, and CDOT intends to use a combination of in-house maintenance operations and emergency con-

tracting to perform the work.

“Colorado’s strong winter snowpack has helped grow our economy, support jobs and our world-class ski resorts, but we also need to address the consequences of a challenging winter to ensure that our roads remain safe and reliable for drivers and our economy as the weather warms up,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “We are making it a priority to fix potholes on state roads after a tough winter.”

The 2022-23 winter season is projected to wind up as the third or fourth snowiest winter in the last 50 years. The statewide snowpack is averaging 150 percent of normal as the 32nd tracked winter storm is currently affecting the high country. Winter snowfall was well above average both west of the Continental Divide and over the far northeast plains. Snowfall in the high mountains has been especially large. Remote weather stations at Columbine Pass (Uncompahgre Plateau), Park Reservoir (Grand Mesa), Tower (Park Range) and Wolf Creek Pass all measured liquid precipitation above 40 in. since October; this equates to roughly 400to-600 in. or more of snow.

In addition to the impressive snowfall amounts, this season’s October - March period is the coldest since 2010. March 2023 was the fifth consecutive month with belowaverage temperatures and the coldest March since 1970. Arctic cold outbreaks affected the state in November, December, January, and February, and two-day temperature swings in both December and February neared all-time records on the Front Range.

“CDOT has taken on one of the harshest winters in memory and I want to thank the men and women who logged nearly a million miles more than they usually do in our plows to keep roads clear,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “As we see the winter season through to its end, we are looking to quickly address road surface quality, whether it be potholes or more severe damage sustained over the winter.”

CDOT currently is tracking unusual damage in several places, such as several segments of U.S. 40. Along I-70, several areas including recently repaved portions near Vail Pass were damaged this winter due to the extent of snow and ice as well as related fac-

tors like extensive wear and tear by commercial vehicles utilizing chains to travel in conditions requiring traction law. Over the coming weeks, CDOT’s maintenance teams across the state will be helping to identify segments of roadway under their purview that have worsened over the winter. They also will be advising leadership on which segments of repair can be completed inhouse.

As temperature fluctuations continue, the department expects to identify additional needs that go beyond the normal seasonal wear and tear that the state experiences. The $25 million investment in road surface treatment will allow CDOT to address these urgent issues without having to delay any planned projects that are scheduled to be constructed in the coming months.

The Transportation Commission approved the transfer of funds at its April meeting and all funds were drawn from the commission’s program reserve fund. CDOT staff will be updating the commission at future meetings about the details of the activities and roads that will receive this funding. 

New Highway, Interchanges, Widened Roads Coming to Utah

I-15 Lane Striping, Utah County: $11.6 Million

Crews are replacing or improving lane markings on I-15 from Payson to Lehi, which will make these markings easier for drivers to see in all conditions. This is the first phase of a larger project that will eventually include many other sections of freeway along the Wasatch Front. Construction started earlier this spring.

I-15 Bridge Repairs, Juab County: $17.8 Million

This maintenance project will replace the driving surface on two bridges and complete various repairs on nine others near Nephi. It will enhance safety and provide a smoother ride for drivers. Construction is scheduled to start this spring.

SR 132, Sanpete County: $8.7 Million

UDOT will add new passing lanes in both directions on SR-132 north of Fountain Green to improve safety for drivers. Construction is scheduled to start this spring.

U.S. 191, Grand County: $13.3 Million

Crews will add new passing lanes on U.S.-191 north of Moab and improve access to the new Utahraptor State Park. This project will make a popular recreation area more accessible to Utahns as well as out-of-state visitors. Construction is scheduled to start this summer. 

(All photos courtesy of UDOT.)

UTAH from page 5

Valued at $378.5 million, this Bangerter Highway project will construct four new freeway-style interchanges with on- and off-ramps at 2700 West, 13400 South, 9800 South and 4700 South, eliminating stoplights at four more intersections for drivers on Bangerter Highway.

ADOT Office, Engineer Receive Honors for Their Contributions

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office and Robert Samour, ADOT deputy state engineer for the Major Projects Group, have been honored for contributions to the transportation industry and to advancing women.

At an April 1 ceremony in Phoenix, the WTS Advancing Women Advancing Transportation’s Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter presented its Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award to ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office (BECO). BECO ensures that ADOT and its subrecipients, contractors and consultants comply with federal regulations related to disadvantaged and small business inclusion, equal and fair employment opportunity and on-the-job training in the construction trades.

BECO’s efforts include Construction Academy Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs that prepare minorities, women, disadvantaged individuals and veterans to enter highway construction trades. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Small Business Transportation EXPO that was scheduled on Wed., May 3, at the Mesa Convention Center, helped small businesses

and those owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups compete for transportation contracts that received federal funding.

Samour, who received the Honorable Ray LaHood Award, named for the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, oversees ADOT’s Major Projects Group. In that role, he is responsible for the state’s largest freeway projects, including construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway and the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. That includes managing public-private partnerships that allow ADOT to construct these projects faster and at a lower cost.

The WTS Advancing Women Advancing Transportation is an international organization dedicated to shaping the future of transportation for the public good through the global advancement of women. For more information on the group and its mission, visit wtsinternational.org.

For more information on BECO and its mission, visit azdot.gov/BECO.

To learn more about other winners of the Metro Phoenix Chapter’s annual awards, visit wtsinternational.org/chapters/metrophoenix. 