On Tuesday, May 14th, the Southwest Concrete Pavement Association (SWCPA) conducted Just-In-Time Training in Carlsbad for the Flatiron, Skanska, and Caltrans Project Team on the Interstate 5 North Coast Corridor Project. SWCPA Executive Director Charles Stuart and Fonte & Co. principal Matt Fonte conducted the training session for 12 team members who are on the project.
SWCPA Executive Director Charles Stuart, top center, introduces the day’s curriculum.
The I-5 North Coast Corridor Project is an expansive endeavor that encompasses widening I-5 with Express Lanes, making environmental improvements to San Elijo Lagoon, and double-tracking the LOSSAN rail line. The joint-venture partnership of Flatiron, Skanska, and Stacy and Witbeck has completed Segments 6 and 8, along with the Encinitas Coastal Trail. The full value of all of the contracts to date is $650 million. These massive projects are all a part of Phase One of the 40-year, $6.5-billion North Coast Corridor (NCC) Program.
The Just-In-Time Training addressed the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement work taking place in San Diego County at various locations from Lomas Santa Fe Drive Undercrossing to 0.2 miles north of Oceanside Boulevard Undercrossing, EA 11-2T36U4. Specific instruction covered Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP and JPCP-RSC), JPCP materials and construction, and the project Quality Control Plan.
Pictured is a section of Interstate 5 in San Diego County that will gain new Express Lanes.
Charles Stuart emphasized the importance of the training. “With placing concrete,” he stated, “you get one shot to get it right. You have to be prepared and ready for contingencies when conditions change.”
Stuart would like to improve the Just-In-Time Training so that it’s much more than a box that needs to be checked. “In order to increase the probability of success of a project,” he explained, “the instruction needs to be relevant and specific to the project. What’s the scope of work that needs to be covered? What are the conditions the crew has to deal with? How experienced are the teams? All of this comes into play when creating the curriculum for a training.”
Stuart would like to see J-I-T Training Guidelines established. “To make this program as effective as possible, let’s determine who needs to be in attendance,” he stated. “We can improve the quality of highway pavement work by having the right people in the training, and the right information being conveyed by the right instructors.”