In 2010, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began working on the Bangerter Highway, and now — nearly a decade and a half later — the end of the multi-project endeavor is in sight. The 24-mile six-lane Bangerter Highway runs west through Draper, Utah, before turning north and proceeding through …

Utah is a state on the move — economically, demographically, and physically. And one of the top officials charged with keeping all those things in motion touts the human element over schedules and deadlines.

Carlos M. Braceras, PE, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), joined the …

United States Highway 85 (U.S. 85) travels from the Canadian border in North Dakota to the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, through the country's Mountain and Northern Plains states. In Colorado, this regional highway serves as a major conduit for interstate commerce, the movement of goods and services, and …

The Las Vegas Strip is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, with millions visiting each year. Much of that tourist traffic goes through the I-15/Tropicana Avenue interchange, which is located at the heart of the resort corridor and serves as the gateway to the Las …

In the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S., the construction sector continues to benefit from a surge in job creation, outpacing the general economic expansion. At the same time, the broader picture reveals a labor market stretched uncomfortably thin.

Over the past year, employment growth in the construction industry (up …

Improvements to Colorado Highway 115, from Colorado Springs to Penrose, will increase safety on this roadway by adding passing lanes, reconstructing a bridge, and rebuilding cracked and distressed pavement.

“That stretch of road was falling apart and in bad need of repair,” said Wayne Pittman, Resident Engineer with the …

Interstate 10 (I-10) is a 2,500-mile southern transcontinental highway that runs from Jacksonville, Florida, to Santa Monica, California. One of the many cities I-10 traverses is Tucson, where the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has made a series of improvements in recent years to widen and rebuild the route to …

Just south of the Colorado city of Durango, in the Grandview area of La Plata County, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is nearing completion of the region's first full interchange. The U.S. 550-U.S. 160 Connection South Project is part of long-range planning for enhanced mobility for the entire southwest …

An area east of the Strip on the outskirts of downtown Las Vegas has had multiple traffic-related issues. In this area, I-515 takes a big curve to the west, known as the Charleston Curve. The Charleston Curve has been notorious for high levels of traffic and a high number of …

Valley Metro, the regional public transportation agency providing coordinated transit services to residents of metro Phoenix, recently opened the $401.3 million Northwest Extension Phase II project, adding 1.6 miles of light rail to connect Mesa, Tempe, and downtown Phoenix to areas northwest of the city near the redeveloping Metrocenter …

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has undertaken two bridge replacements on NM 566 in McKinley County, one on a rural road near Church Rock and one north of that community. The bridges were in poor condition, and the new construction will bring them up to current standards.

New …

When Utah-based contractor BHI was awarded a project for a 3-mile stretch of canal essential to the irrigation around the largest city in Uintah County, in the northeastern part of the state, they knew that extensive excavation and backfill would be on the cards and that it would require the …

The City of Wheat Ridge is a municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, located just west of Denver and part of the Denver/Aurora/Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wadsworth Boulevard (State Highway 121) serves as a main corridor through Wheat Ridge and as a major thoroughfare for the Denver metro area, with an …

The Phase II buildout of Sundance Park in Buckeye, Arizona, actually included multiple, continuous phases of construction.

The 38-acre expansion added a fishing lake, sports fields, and other amenities to the existing 30-acre park. Due to funding challenges, the work was divided into four different Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contracts …

It began like many other days – moving dirt.

Las Vegas-based Morley Grading was tasked with removing 14,000 cubic yards of material as part of a large warehouse construction project. Specifically, this family owned earthworks contractor was tasked to move, quantify, and crush all of the stockpiled material – and …

When the Mormons first arrived in Utah in the mid-1800s, they found a beautiful state. As they settled in the valley area around current-day Provo – 40 miles south of Salt Lake City – they were concerned about flooding from the Provo River. The methods used to prevent the flooding …

In late August, the new Curtis Street Bridge over Interstate 80 in Laramie, Wyoming, opened to vehicle traffic – significantly earlier than scheduled. The $10.6 million Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) project began construction this past spring and was expected to be completed in late September. However, contractor Reiman Corporation …

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) announces the winners of the 2023 National Design-Build Project/Team Merit Awards. A total of 62 projects from across the United States were submitted for consideration in 10 different categories. The submissions underwent evaluation by a panel of industry experts.

“With the continued growth of …

Construction at the Chemistry-Physics building on the University of Arizona’s main Tucson campus involved renovation with historic preservation and building a new facility. Started at the peak of supply chain delays, both parts of the $42 million project needed to tie together without disrupting the busy campus.

To accomplish that …

Aiming to reduce motor vehicle crashes and closures along steep and curvy Interstate 70, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has embarked on the $250 million West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lanes Project.

“The purpose of this project revolves around safety and operations,” says John W. Kronholm, Resident Engineer with …

Three state department of transportation (DOT) projects in Arizona and Utah won regional awards in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition, created by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The competition recognizes DOTs for making a difference in their …

Interstate 80 traverses the entire continental United States. The route runs from San Francisco to North Jersey, just outside New York City. Interstate 215 runs through Utah and includes a three-quarters loop around Salt Lake City and its suburbs. The two interstates cross in Eastern Salt Lake City. The Utah …

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is expanding Interstate 17 (I-17) to help traffic flow across the state.

I-17 runs north–south through Arizona from Flagstaff to Phoenix. The nearly 146-mile interstate, which was completed in 1978, has been deemed a key commerce corridor by the state.

“This is a critical …

Sometimes, opportunities arise in unexpected ways. The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) I-80 Rock Springs project might not have happened if an accident had not occurred. The project will improve connectivity in the area, encourage development, increase accessibility, and provide extra routes for commuters.

The Association of General Contractors (AGC) and Construction Risk Partners recently honored this year’s best new and renovation construction projects with Build America Awards at the AGC Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Build America Merit Awards were also presented to construction companies at the convention.

“These awards are designed …

Idaho Springs, Colorado, located approximately 30 miles west of Denver, was once a mining town. Today, the city of nearly 1,800 people is a great place to go whitewater rafting, hike trails, and more. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is in the middle of a project along the frontage …

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado (ACEC Colorado) recently honored engineering firms from across the state at the organization’s annual Engineering Excellence Awards program. The highest honor, the Grand Conceptor Award, was presented to ME Engineers of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, for the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. …

The West Davis project is the most significant infrastructure project currently taking place in the state of Utah. Biggest in terms of cost and scope, the project involves building a new 16-mile, 4-lane divided highway. It will significantly impact commuters traveling through Davis County, which is just North of Salt …

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the United States. Infrastructure needs to keep up with population growth or traffic will be slowed. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is working on the I-10: SR85 to Verrado Way Improvements project to ensure sufficient capacity for motorists in the city …

One way to get to Las Vegas is via Interstate 15 (I-15). The major highway, which begins near the Mexican border in San Diego County and stretches to the Canadian border, was in need of an upgrade. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is working on a project on a …

Located in Central Wyoming, Casper is on the North Platte River and saw its population grow during the pandemic when many people chose to relocate to less populated and lower cost areas. Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is in the middle of a project to help traffic continue to flow …

To build awareness of the need to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry, Construction Inclusion Week (CIW) was formed in 2020 by six construction companies: McCarthy Building Companies, Gilbane Building Company, DPR Construction, Turner Construction Company, Mortenson, and Clark Construction Group. …

Denver and Colorado Springs are the top two most populated cities in the state of Colorado. Interstate 25 is the most direct and fastest way to travel between the two cities, which are 70 miles apart. This interstate is the site of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) longest …

Needing to replace a set of bridges on Interstate 15 in Cedar City, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) came up with an innovative plan to keep traffic moving by building one bridge offline, using it during construction and then sliding it into place southbound.

“This was a fun project,” …

Over 100 contractors, six years of construction, and various site issues – including a recently discovered underground coal mine – have created numerous challenges for the $520 million Northwater Treatment Plant project north of Golden, Colorado. However, continuous improvement lean principles throughout design and construction led to quick, coordinated solutions, …

The Nevada Department of Transportation’s (NDOT) $40 million Interstate 515 Viaduct Rehabilitation Project is nearing completion. When complete, it will boost travel through downtown Las Vegas.

“Any viaduct or elevated freeway structure needs extra maintenance and care,” says Justin Hopkins, Public Information Officer for NDOT. “This project is …

Winding through the steep, scenic Virgin River Gorge in northwestern Arizona, Interstate 15 carries large amounts of truck and commercial traffic. At almost 50 years old, the Virgin River Bridge No. 1 – one of seven bridges crossing the river in Arizona’s 29-mile stretch of I-15 – needed rehabilitation to …

Maintenance might not be your favorite thing to do, but this minor inconvenience can help you avoid major headaches in the future. Good maintenance practices not only keep the machine running at peak performance, but they also minimize downtime from repairs that come from ignoring key maintenance requirements. Here are …

WINNIPEG, MB — Evolution Wheel is a manufacturer of heavy-duty skid steer tires. The EWRS-HS series solid skid steer tire is the hard surface version of the EWRS-AT series all-terrain tire. The solid EWRS-HS skid steer tire is ideal for surfaces like concrete or asphalt.

Evolution Wheel spends a lot …

The phrase, “having it all” often implies the need to acquire wealth, power, and status. Not so, for Lance Latimer who, instead, saw it as a goal for the breadth of expertise he envisioned for his company, Alpine Civil Construction based in Conifer, Colorado. His vision started with a stringless …

It doesn’t matter how much aggregate is produced in a day if it is contaminated or not sized correctly. Though screen media is a minor cost when compared to larger equipment in a quarry or mine, it is a crucial part of any operation’s profit machine. One unexpected break and …

The global upheaval of the last few years has undoubtedly rocked the construction industry – and stories of labor shortages driven by COVID-19 abound. Add to that an aging workforce further stressed by current conditions, combined with a lack of skilled replacements, and the current struggle makes sense.

But beneath …

The needs of the project owner have always defined the parameters of a construction job, but all signs are pointing to owners playing a bigger role in the use of technology on their projects in the future, especially as we begin to see federal funds put to work on transportation …

While America’s transportation infrastructure continues to be one of the country’s greatest historical accomplishments, as well as the lifeblood of the American economy, the system itself continues to have serious challenges during the last two decades.

This is mainly due to the rise in traffic congestion which has ensnarled hundreds …

Most people in the construction industry will say that on any given work site, there is always an amount of waste that could have been avoided. Whether it be poorly handled materials, re-work, weather damage, or working from out of date documents, there are plenty of ways that humans can …

The town of Taos, New Mexico, and neighboring Taos Pueblo – which is designated as both a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Site – attract thousands of visitors each year. Currently under construction is one of the largest road projects in Taos history – the New Mexico Department …

As droughts and growing population affect water security around the globe, desalination becomes an increasingly important option. In communities searching for sustainable, long-term solutions, new technology can increase the efficiency of water treatment efforts.

Initially developed in the late 1950s, reverse osmosis (RO) desalination evolved into the leading desalination process. …

In 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) began the I-70 Westbound Mountain Express Lane project. With the project nearly wrapped, those involved view it as a success.

To get to the Rocky Mountains, Denver metro residents turn to I-70. The interstate experiences huge spikes in traffic on the weekend …

Architecture is an experience, one of time and place, purpose, and point of view. At the United States Air Force Academy, just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the architectural experience is one of exceptional order as the fundamental footfall on a path to excellence. Perhaps the finest collection of Mid-Century …

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) $776 million Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project in Phoenix will increase capacity and improve safety.

“This is ADOT’s largest urban freeway reconstruction project,” says Amy Ritz, ADOT I-10 Broadway Curve Project Manager. “The benefits of this project include reduced travel times …

Many of the most famous structures of ancient times were constructed from a material we often think of us as modern. The workers who built them needed a material that could be shaped into blocks and other forms more easily than carving from stone. Finally, someone concocted a mixture of …

Located 25 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, Tooele County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Area growth needs corresponding infrastructure growth to enable locals to move freely. Hence, the Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) Midvalley Highway Project.

Tooele County has the Great Salt Lake …

With the Las Vegas area rapidly growing, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has started the final phase of the $579 million, 13-mile U.S. 95 Northwest Corridor Improvement Project.

“This project has increased high-occupancy vehicle lanes and improved connectivity,” says Brian L. Boedigheimer, Supervisor III and District I, Construction …

The future is looking bright for the construction industry, with project pipelines full and the promise of infrastructure spending infusing the industry with confidence and optimism. But as we face another year of supply chain issues and crippling workforce shortages, it’s possible that our industry’s biggest challenge could be too …

Like its world-famous neighboring city, North Las Vegas continues to see robust physical and economic growth. Much more than a suburb, North Las Vegas is in fact its own city, and indeed the fourth largest city in the state of Nevada. Home to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which draws …

A heavily traveled route, U.S. 550 experienced congestion and had neared its expected service life, so the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) launched the last corridor project, which is referred to with slogan “Keep Moving 550.”

“U.S. 550 is a corridor project to add capacity and correct some roadway …

In Colorado, U.S. Highway 50 – a coast-to-coast highway that runs from Maryland to California – is a major traffic corridor serving the lower midsection of the state. U.S. 50 provides a vital linkage between the Western Slope, lower Front Range, and the Arkansas Valley, and connects the City of …

In October 2020, when construction manager Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) began work on Reunion Rehabilitation Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, they faced material and labor shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also needed to complete the three-story, 51,000-square-foot facility in just one year, working through the Phoenix …

Colorado’s rural Manzanola School District features a historic junior/senior high school built in 1925, the first credited building by architect Temple Hoyne Buell, who eventually designed more than 300 buildings in the state.

But with asbestos in multiple places, a lack of heat in most classrooms, and the school …

In recent years, Colorado has become home to many “transplants” – that is, people who are not native to the state moving there and establishing roots. While it’s one thing to move your life, it’s another to move an entire business. With some determination and hard work, that’s exactly what …

When the Porter Rockwell Bridge project in Bluffdale City, Utah, is completed, it will mark the sixth and final segment over the course of six years to create Porter Rockwell Boulevard. Residents in the area will greatly benefit from the project.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), in coordination with …

The most important job of infrastructure is to allow traffic to flow reliably and safely. An 18-mile stretch of Interstate 25 in Colorado – known as the “the gap” – was failing at these two tasks. To remedy this, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is engaged in the I-25 …

Nothing, including infrastructure projects, occurs in a vacuum. The I-17 Bridge Reconstruction Project at Central Avenue in Phoenix – managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) in association with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) – will have multiple ripples that impact infrastructure in the area.

The project involves …

Through the desert air and rolling rocky terrain lies the town of St. George, Utah. The area, nicknamed Utah’s Dixie, offers a stunning view of Zion National Park and the Pine Valley Mountains in the distance.

Located between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, locals joke that St. George is …

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has many priorities across a complex transportation network that boasts nearly 7,000 lane miles and currently requires an estimated $53.3 billion in capital expenditures through 2040. Right now, one key focus is the $129 million reconstruction of the I-10 and Ruthrauff Road interchange in …

Often derided as eyesores or environmental risks, areas such as capped landfills, depleted mines and spent gravel pits are finding new life as areas designed to benefit the general public. Noted examples of this effort include Butchart Gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, which turned a depleted limestone quarry into a …

Colorado is known for the Rocky Mountains and for skiing. When residents of the Denver metro area want to get to the Rocky Mountains, they use Interstate 70. As the Denver Metro area has grown by over 10 percent between 2010 and 2020 – or nearly 300,000 people – I-70 …

Even though the $170 million Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant Phase III expansion in Gilbert, Arizona, required 4.5 miles of new underground piping, 249,000 cubic yards of excavation, 92,100 cubic yards of backfill, and multiple new technologies, the most critical focus was simply maintaining plant operations throughout construction.

“This plant is …

A stunning bridge is rising 170 feet in the air, crossing Pinto Creek near Miami, Arizona, adjacent to the north to an aging and functionally obsolete bridge.

“The bridge will ensure decades of reliable transportation for the general public as well as commercial traffic from nearby mines,” says Garin Groff …

This month, a $33.3 million project to improve safety and traffic flow at one of the busiest traffic interchanges in Las Cruces, New Mexico, reached the halfway mark of its estimated 18-month construction schedule. The I-25/University Avenue Project, led by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), has been underway …

In Colorado, rapid economic expansion and population growth in communities along Interstate 25 are escalating the need for a modernized highway system with greater capacity and mobility options for residential and business areas as well as freight transport and tourism destinations.

To meet these pressing demands, the Colorado Department of …

The $579 million, 13-mile, multiphase safety and capacity upgrades to the U.S. 95 Northwest Corridor in Las Vegas are moving closer to completion, as construction of the state’s second longest bridge nears finishing.

“The U.S. 95 Northwest Corridor from Washington Avenue to Kyle Canyon Road is one of the fastest …

Commuters expectations for infrastructure are pretty simple: arrive at the destination safely and quickly. So, most infrastructure projects address one or both of these issues. The I-15 Express Lanes project in Northern Utah will focus on speed. However, the project is also expected to help the environment by encouraging a …