I-80 Project Utilizing Barrier Moving Machine

222 South Main tower project finally underway in SLC; ‘The Crossing’
slated to be built in Riverdale;

Barrier Moving Machine:

In an effort to minimize traffic disruption while improving contractor safety, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is utilizing a unique machine manufactured by Barrier Systems Inc. (BSI) of Rio Vista, Calif., to move concrete barriers on the I-80 reconstruction project in Salt Lake City.

The ‘barrier moving machine’ is able to move concrete barriers from State Street to 1300 East approximately two miles in roughly 45 minutes, an astounding time that improves traffic flow during peak rush hour times while providing a safer barrier to construction workers than traditional methods like Jersey barrier or barrels.

“It gives us the ability to manage the lanes better and use them where we need them based on time of day,” says John Montoya, UDOT project manager on the I-80 job. “The peak direction in the evening would be east bound, and we’re able to have three lanes in operation. During non-peak times, we’re able to squeeze it down to two lanes and have a work zone for our contractors.”

Montoya said this is the first time in 15 years that UDOT has utilized the concrete barrier moving system. UDOT owns the concrete barriers, and leases the machine from BSI. He says the only time-equivalent option would be to put out orange barrels, which he says “is a hazard to our work force. This provides additional safety and at the same time expands our lanes for the traveling public when we need to.”

Big-D Awarded Unified State Lab Project

Salt Lake-based Big-D Construction has been awarded the project of constructing the new Unified State Lab by the state of Utah, located just north of the Rampton Complex parking at 4501 South 2700 West. 

Big-D will team with VCBO Architecture of Salt Lake City for construction of Module 1, a facility that will serve as the main component of a combination of laboratory functions provided by state government.  This module, which will cover 60,193 sq. ft., will contain public health labs, forensic toxicology, administrative offices, common space and building support. 

R&O Building Logan IHC Clinic

R&O Construction of Ogden has broken ground on a new IHC clinic in Logan, Utah. Located at 412 North 200 East, IHC will continue to work out of the adjacent clinic until the new center is completed this spring when they will relocate. The project consists of construction of a 17,300 sq. ft. clinic on a two-acre site that will house an InstaCare center, full pharmacy, exam rooms and x-ray facilities. In addition to the center, R&O will complete site work that includes a pedestrian bridge over the canals for easier access to the center.

222 South Main Project Finally Underway

Better late than never is certainly the case of Hamilton Partners’ 22-story high-rise tower project at 222 South Main in downtown Salt Lake City, which officially broke ground in late August after years of anticipation.

The massive $125 million project will be the first high-rise to be constructed in downtown Salt Lake since 1998.

“We’re just as excited as can be,” said Bruce Bingham, a principal with Hamilton Partners. “We think the building will hit the Salt Lake market at exactly the right time. I think the design will be stupendous. The base of it, which is three stories, is a podium that corresponds to historic building around it. It will fit in quite well with the immediate neighborhood and everything that has been built the past 10 to 15 years.”

Okland Construction is the general contractor on the 425,000 sq. ft. project, which is expected to be completed by July 2009. Of that total amount of space, 350,000 sq. ft. will be dedicated to office space, with another 9,000 sq. ft.-plus of retail space.

Nicklaus II Tours Collina Tinta

Jack Nicklaus II recently visited his newest golf course design at Collina Tinta, a 900-acre Tuscan-inspired master-planned community currently under construction in Hurricane, Utah, on the steps of Zion National Park.  Nicklaus II walked the course with members of the executive team from Summit Development & Management, the developer of Collina Tinta; and met with local dignitaries, including Hurricane Mayor Tom Hirschi.

“We’ve heard much about Collina Tinta in recent planning meetings, but to be onsite and catch the vision and magnitude of this project is inspiring,” said Hirschi.  “No doubt, Collina Tinta will raise the bar of elegant golf course living in southern Utah.”

The golf course will meander across 200 acres at the base of Sullivan’s Knoll, a volcanic-created topographic landmark on the Collina Tinta site.  According to Nicklaus II, the 18-hole, par-72 course is designed to attract golfers of all levels.

Scheduled to open in the fall of 2008, the course at Collina Tinta will become a private club but will offer non-member play for a limited time. In addition to the Nicklaus II course and other social and recreational amenities, Collina Tinta will be home to 2,200 homes, including custom estate lots, villas and townhomes, with prices expected to range from $500,000 to more than $1 million.

Rainbow Bridge Project Concludes in Idaho

Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smith’s Ferry concluded in September, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced.

Throughout 2006 and into this year, work was done on the arch piers, floor beams, deck joints and columns. Construction crews replaced the bridge's rails this spring and summer. Mowat Construction Co. of Woodinville, Wash., was the contractor on the $2.9 million renovation project.

The project's main goals were to preserve the historical quality of the bridge and ensure traffic safety during construction. Exposure to the elements over the years caused the bridge to deteriorate. The structure's rails were severely pockmarked and the deck was uneven.

Rainbow Bridge is the largest single-span concrete arch structure in Idaho. Built in 1933, it remains today as a major achievement reflecting leading-edge bridge engineering at the time, and exemplifies a conscious effort to meld a modern structure with a picturesque natural setting. Listed on the national historic register, the bridge's enduring popularity among residents and travelers alike is a tribute to its design. The open-spandrel concrete arches reach 410 feet across the North Fork of the Payette.

Ribbon Cutting Held on Hunter Douglas Facility

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in September for the new Hunter Douglas Assembly facility in Salt Lake City. The project was completed in May 2007 by Salt Lake-based Eckman Mitchell Construction; GA Architects of Salt Lake designed the project.

The 225,000 sq. ft. facility was constructed with tilt-up concrete panels, and includes a structural steel joist and deck roof. The largest panels were 35 ft. high and the project includes more than 30,000 sq. ft. of structural steel mezzanine inside the building. The facility manufactures various types of window blinds, including wood, metal, plastic and vinyl.

UDOT Completes Innovative CFI Project

The Utah Department of Transportation completed construction of the state’s first continuous flow intersection (CFI) at 3500 South and Bangerter Highway in West Valley City.

Constructed by Western Quality Concrete and designed by Carter Burgess, the $7.5 million CFI project will improve traffic flow through one of the busiest intersections in the state, and will prepare the intersection to handle future traffic demands due to expected population growth.

“This concept is new to Utah and looks a little different than a traditional intersection, but most drivers will find it to be safe and easy to navigate,” said Jason Davis, deputy director of UDOT Region 2.

The CFI configuration shifts left turns from Bangerter Highway onto 3500 South over to the far left of the roadway.  This design, combined with traffic signal coordination, will allow all straight-moving traffic, right and left turns from Bangerter Highway to proceed at the same time, resulting in more efficient traffic flow. 

UDOT has prepared an educational simulation for drivers who want to see how the new CFI works. 

Sirq in Midst of Constructing Centerpointe Business Park

Sirq Construction of South Jordan, Utah, is the general contractor on the Centerpointe Business Park just north of SR-201 and west of Redwood Road in Salt Lake City.

The project consists of three tilt-up concrete buildings Buildings A and B are 53,000 sq. ft. each, while Building C will be 105,000 sq. ft. The project began in July, and is slated for completion in May 2008.

Buildings from an existing trucking company were demolished on-site to make room for the new project, which will be a mix of office and R&D space for clients.

The main slab for buildings A and B is six inches thick with approximately 725 cu. yds of concrete per slab. The tilt-up walls have roughly 450 cu. yds. of concrete.

Nibley Park Elementary Addition Underway

Construction of a $3.5 million addition to Nibley Park Elementary in Salt Lake City has been underway since July by Valley Design and Construction of Layton, Utah. Designed by Salt Lake-based VCBO Architecture, the two-story, 20,000 sq. ft. addition will house seventh and eighth grade classrooms, with a scheduled completion of February 2008.

The structure is concrete block with steel and joist deck. The most challenging aspect of the construction has been tying in new infrastructure, including piping, cabling and electrical circuits, into the existing elementary school, which was built in 2003.

Hughes Building New Valley High

Hughes General Contractors of North Salt Lake, Utah is the general contractor on the new $16.5 million Valley High School project in Sandy, Utah, which began last February.

The new 83,670 sq. ft., two-story building was designed by Naylor-Wentworth Lund Architects of Salt Lake City.  The structure is a steel beam with open web and steel joist flooring with a masonry block facade. Estimated completion date is August 2008.

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The Crossing Project to Revitalize Riverdale

The Cutrubus brothers have announced plans to revitalize the Riverdale, Utah community with the construction of ‘The Crossing’ a vibrant mixed-use development integrating distinguished commerce and living.  Located on the corner of Riverdale Road and 700 West, The Crossing will feature boutique retail shops, class A office space, finely crafted town homes and exciting new restaurants.

The new development will also provide stunning visual relief, with an illuminated glass clock-tower rising three-stories above the brilliantly designed shops and landscaping. “This will be a significant expansion for Riverdale City,” said Rob Moore, president of Big-D Construction, who will serve as construction manager and general contractor for this project. “It is designed to renovate a neglected corner of Riverdale into one of the most recognized neighborhoods in the city,” he said.

“This project will become a new focal point for those visiting Riverdale,” said project co-owners, Homer and Phidia Cutrubus.  “As you drive down Riverdale Road, heading west over the bridge, you will be overcome by new beacon of what Riverdale is becoming: a place for families to work, shop, eat and play.”