Coffman Specialties, with headquarters in San Diego and a branch office in Phoenix, successfully changed the pavement type on a large design-build project in Phoenix from asphalt to concrete, and won the contract based on lower overall project cost.

Coffman joined with Fisher Industries in a joint venture (CFJV) to construct this $410-million project for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

The scope of work in Segment 1 for this project, entitled the I-10 Gila River Indian Community Project, includes constructing one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane and one general purpose lane in each direction from Wild Horse Pass to just south of Riggs Road.

In Segment 2, work includes widening I-10 to the median to construct one general purpose lane in each direction from Riggs Road to the Gila River Bridge.

Initially, the proposed pavement section was 13” of asphalt concrete (AC) over 4” to 8” of asphalt base. In the existing lanes – three in each direction in Segment 1, and two in each direction in Segment 2, the scope in the bid materials was to mill 6” and overlay with AC.

Instead, the Coffman Fisher JV proposed reconstructing the entire roadway – both the widening work into the median and the overlay, with jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP); 13.5” in Segment 1 and 12.5” in Segment 2.

Once all the number were in, the Coffman Fisher JV was awarded the I-10 Gila River Indian Community Project based on lower overall project cost.

Part of a $1-Billion Master Project

The 26-mile stretch of Interstate 10 between Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway) in south Phoenix and State Route 387 near Casa Grande, also known as the Wild Horse Pass Corridor, is a major commuter route and freight thoroughfare.

The goal of ADOT and partnering agencies is to reduce congestion and increase safety along the corridor by adding an additional general-purpose lane in each direction between Loop 202 to State Route 387, which will make the entire corridor between Phoenix and Tucson three lanes in each direction. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will also be extended in each direction from Loop 202 to Riggs Road.