UDOT Approves Three D/B Teams for I-15 CORE Project

Powerhouse teams will spend the next several months developing their proposals for the estimated $1.3 billion project, which will be submitted in November 2009.

UDOT has approved three design-build teams to continue in the bidding process for the Utah County I-15 Corridor Expansion (I-15 CORE) project. The list was developed in anticipation of the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) that was issued June 2.

The teams pre-approved to bid for I-15 CORE are (in alphabetical order):

Flatiron-Skanska-Zachry

• Flatiron Constructors, Inc.
• Skanska USA Civil West California District Inc.
• Zachry Construction Corporation
• CH2M Hill, Inc.
• AECOM Inc.
• AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.
• Project Engineering Consultants (PEC)
• R2H Engineering, Inc.
• Resource Systems Group (RSG), Inc.
• Stanley Consultants, Inc.
• Earthtec Testing and Environment
• Dr. T. Leslie Youd Consultant

Provo River Constructors

• Fluor Enterprises, Inc.
• Ames Construction Company, Inc.
• Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, Inc.
• Wadsworth Brothers Construction Company, Inc.
• Fluor/HDR Global Design Consultants, LLC
• Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
• Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
• H.W. Lochner, Inc.
• Kleinfelder West, Inc.
• Intermountain GeoEnvironmental Services, Inc.
• CRS Consulting Engineers, Inc.
• Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc.
• TransCore IP, Ltd.
• Stillwell & Associates, PLLC
• Applied Research Associates, Inc.
• Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants
• Psomas
• CME Transportation Group

Timpanogos Transportation Constructors (TTC)

• Kiewit Western Co.
• Granite Construction Company
• W.W. Clyde & Co.
• Parsons Transportation Group
• PB Americas Inc.
• Wasatch Electric (a division of Dynalectric)
• Apex Design, PC
• Bowen, Collins & Associates Inc.
• GeoEngineers
• Shannon & Wilson Inc.
• Stantec, Inc.
• SWCA Environmental Consultants
• TBE Group, Inc.
• Terracon Consultants, Inc.
• URS Corporation
• Utility Mapping Services, Inc.

“The pre-approved teams demonstrated a high-level of capability to take the planning we have done, complete the design, and build this important project,” says Dal Hawks, I-15 CORE project director. “We are confident the level of expertise coming to the table will help us reach our project goal of finding the greatest value solution for Utah within the budget allocated by the state.”

The pre-approved list was determined by the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) submitted by each team in May. The RFQ provided an overview of responsibilities needed for each team. The teams were required to submit those team members and contractors who would be filling each of those necessary roles. They will spend the next several months developing their proposals, which will be submitted in November 2009.

I-15 CORE will add two additional northbound and southbound lanes from American Fork to Provo, rebuild or reconfigure interchanges, replace or modify bridges and extend the express lane from Orem to Provo. Exact scope and methods will be determined by the selected design-build team within set I-15 CORE parameters. A selection from the three teams will be made in December 2009. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2010 and is anticipated to create and sustain thousands of jobs.

The pre-approved teams are posted online along with additional project information at http://www.i15CORE.utah.gov.

OTW Offers Alternatives to Prevent Work Zone Accidents on Road Projects

Salt Lake-based OTW Safety’s White Paper, titled Work Zone Safety and the Challenge: Choosing Effective Safety over Familiar Products describes the state of the road construction approach to safety, which currently amounts to contractors using the same products in every work zone even when better, safer alternatives exist. Longitudinal Channelizing Barricades, relative newcomers among safety products, are the best choice in many situations because drivers respect their larger size and wall-like shape. Drivers give them a wide berth, and if they are impacted, they are unlikely to cause injury to the driver.

Temporary concrete barriers are often required to protect workers from errant traffic in a work zone—an appropriate, necessary use. However, since concrete barriers can create a hazard in themselves, transferring the energy of a crash to the vehicle and occupants, it is very important to thoroughly evaluate whether a concrete barrier’s use will create more hazard than safety.

Salt Lake-based OTW Safety produces workzone safety products for road construction like these plastic barriers.

Cones, delineator posts, and orange barrels are on the other end of the spectrum of often-used equipment. These lightweight products are often used to mark considerable hazards, and to the detriment of everyone’s safety, are often knocked over by weather conditions, or are otherwise unseen or ignored. Barrels spaced too far apart allow vehicles to travel (accidentally or on purpose) into a hazardous work zone. Folding barricades can create a confusing work zone also, where the intended vehicle travel lanes are not obvious due to wide gaps.

By contrast, Longitudinal Channelizing Barricades (LCBs) are highly visible, very stable with their water ballast, and are capable of forming a wall that prevents any misinterpretation of a work site’s boundaries in the manner that cones, barrels or folding barricades often create. They are easy to set up, easy to move as a work zone changes, are inexpensive, and are safe for a driver to crash into. It is important to realize that LCBs are not barriers, however, and are not designed to provide positive protection.

OTW Safety, formerly Off the Wall Products, is a Salt Lake City-based company that designs and manufactures plastic barriers and barricades for roadway, airport, military, commercial construction and crowd control. Since 1993, the company has designed innovative safety products, such as easy-to-deploy water-filled barriers, barricades and other high-tech products, which reduce accidents, ensure motorist and worker safety, protect our armed forces, and ensure well-managed public events. The company also has a line of anti-terrorism bollards and barriers.

EPA Funnels Nearly $78 M in Combined ARRA Funds for Water Projects in Montana, Wyoming

In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water and wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $38.9 million each to the State of Wyoming and the State of Montana. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

“EPA is pleased to provide more than $38.9 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to water infrastructure that will benefit these states for decades to come,” said Carol Rushin, acting regional administrator. “This funding will protect public health and improve water quality while creating hundreds of green collar jobs.”

In both states, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive more than $19.2 million. It provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $19.5 million. It provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.

An unprecedented $6 billion dollars will be awarded to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20% of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.