SWCPA Honors Eight Great Projects

On Friday, December 8^th, SWCPA presented its Second Annual Outstanding Achievement Awards, recognizing eight innovative and distinctive projects ranging from California’s first “PLC Bridge” to the Contra Costa I-80 Paving Project. The SWCPA Awards were presented at a luncheon hosted by Executive Director Charles Stuart and Communications Director Mark Gudenas at the Flatiron West offices in Chino, California.

Structural Elegance on a Grand Concrete Scale
The New West Mission Bay Drive Bridge Replacement Project
The first award went to The New West Mission Bay Drive Bridge Project. In addition to its stunning concrete appearance, the New West Mission Bay Bridge is the largest bridge replacement project in San Diego history. Accepting the SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award on behalf of Flatiron West’s Andy Boswell was George Butorovich. Flatiron constructed the $138-million bridge for clients City of San Diego Engineering & Public Works Dept. and Caltrans.  https://swcpa.org/new-west-mission-bay-drive-bridge-opens/

Extraordinary Performance Under Pressure
The Cannon AFB Taxiway Mike and Taxiway Delta Project
Southwest Concrete Paving Company and principal Dave Rath were honored next for their $12.5-million Cannon AFB Taxiway Mike and Taxiway Delta Project. These two taxiways were built under extreme cold weather conditions, while Air Force fighter jets took off and landed adjacent to their paving work at the USAF 27^th Special Operations Wing in Clovis, New Mexico.  https://swcpa.org/acpa-awards-swcp-top-honor-in-military-airport-work/

Precise Planning, Mobilization & Execution
The Contra Costa I-80 Paving Project
The next project to be recognized was the Contra Costa I-80 Paving Project by Vanguard Construction, who teamed closely with Caltrans in this $47-million strategic concrete pavement deployment. During three 55-hour weekend closures and the big 104-hour Labor Day Weekend full closure, the construction team of 170 strong compressed what would have taken 150 nightshifts over five to six months into just 270 hours. Vanguard’s Jon Alexander accepted the SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award. https://swcpa.org/cc-80-pave-sets-new-records-during-weekend-closures/

Setting a New Concrete Standard
The J.C. Erreca Safety Roadside Rest Area
With long-life concrete pavement, reconstructed comfort stations, increased capacity, and upgraded utilities, the $27.9-million J.C. Erreca Safety Roadside Rest Area on Interstate 5 in Merced County has been built as a model for all future Caltrans California highway rest stops. The Walsh Group served as the general contractor on the project, with CEMEX’s Michael Smith consulting on the mix. A big tip of the hard hat goes to Caltrans District 10 for implementing long-life concrete pavement as the foundation for their sustainable, modern, highway rest areas of the future.  https://swcpa.org/rethinking-repaving-a-model-roadside-rest-area/

Blazing New Concrete Trails
The Rosamond-Mojave Rehabilitation Project
State Route 14 out of Mojave, the Aerospace Highway, received a complete pavement rehabilitation recently, encompassing 32 lane miles. Caltrans Districts 9 & 11 teamed up to design the project, and Atkinson Construction placed the new continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) overlay on the existing concrete pavement, saving both schedule time and hard costs. The Atkinson Team completed the $53-million project 45 days ahead of schedule and built an outstanding, long-life highway with incredible smoothness. Accepting the SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award were Atkinson’s Ryan Hester and Brian Presti.  https://swcpa.org/caltrans-atkinson-rehab-the-aerospace-highway/

Outstanding Pavement Innovation
The City of Santa Rosa Fulton Road RCC Improvements Project
Vanguard Construction, working with CEMEX, CNCA, and client City of Santa Rosa, widened and rehabilitated one mile of Fulton Road in Santa Rosa with Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) pavement in this $10.9-million project. With a lifespan of more than 50 years and boasting high strength with the ability to withstand heavy loads in high traffic areas, this showcase project demonstrated that RCC is fast, affordable, and a great sustainable choice. Jon Alexander, on behalf of Vanguard’s Tom Swisher, received the SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award. https://swcpa.org/the-city-of-santa-rosa-rolls-out-rcc/

Advancing Sustainability
The Foothill Low Water Crossing Bridge Project
When heavy rains came to this area of eastern Santa Barbara County, State Route 166 was often washed out, forcing residents to make a 17-mile detour. To solve this problem, Security Paving Company was awarded the $15.9-million contract to build a new bridge across the Cuyama River. Then National Cement stepped in and suggested using Type 1L Portland limestone cement (PLC). All parties agreed, and history was made – California’s first PLC bridge was constructed. The SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Security Paving Company’s Pete Wilson.  https://swcpa.org/security-paving-brings-plc-into-the-mix-for-bridge-project/

Superb Long-Life Concrete Paving
The I-8 Pavements Replacement & Road Improvements Project through the Cuyamaca Mountains
This mountainous stretch of Interstate 8 hosts more than 100,000 vehicles daily and needed an improved pavement that would last for years while enduring heavy traffic and weather extremes. Designed by Caltrans Project Manager Abdul Malikyar, Granite Construction placed more than 39,000 cubic yards of concrete into the new continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) in lanes 2 and 3. The result is a smooth-riding surface capable of withstanding the heaviest traffic load and the most adverse environmental conditions – for the next 70 years! Granite’s Zach Katje accepted the SWCPA Outstanding Achievement Award.  https://swcpa.org/paving-i-8-through-the-cuyamaca-mountains/