GRANITE

Granite Serves as Construction Manager on Phase 4 of the Highway 101 Widening Project and General Contractor for Segments A and C

By Brian Hoover, EditorPhotos provided by Granite Construction and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments

Granite Construction (Granite) was named the Construction Manager for Phase 4 of the Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Project in the fourth quarter of 2018. As Construction Manager, Granite has partnered with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) to participate in the preconstruction and design phase of the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Montecito project, the fourth and final phase of the 16-mile Highway 101 Santa Barbara to Mussel Shoals project. Phase 4 was split into five segments that are designated A through E on the 11- mile project. Segment A represents the southernmost segment in Carpinteria, with E representing the northern-most segment in the City of Santa Barbara.

Aerial view of John Deere Dozer pushing material to a Cat excavator in the proposed new HOV lane alignment on Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Project.

Granite’s $4.1 million construction management contract covers all five segments and related parallel projects for preconstruction services. Granite has and continues to work closely with Caltrans on all segments of Phase 4 to prepare budgets, build schedules, conduct constructability reviews, and analyze risk and opportunities for innovation, among many other responsibilities. All five segments are expected to cost approximately $900 million by completion in 2026, pending funding.

View of Segment 4A (Carpinteria): Crew working in the new highway median, excavating dirt to build the new concrete pavement travel way.

Granite was awarded the construction contracts for Segments A and C of the Highway 101 project. Larry Camilleri is the regional vice president and manages Central California operations for Granite. “Segment A has been under contract since April, and we just started Segment C at the beginning of November. So, Granite has two of the anticipated 5 major highway projects currently under contract as we speak,” says Camilleri. “As the builder, we help the owner, Caltrans, optimize the design schedule and reduce the overall cost of the project. Construction contracts for segments B, D and E have not yet been awarded.”

Segment A of Phase 4 is a $80 million contract, and Granite began construction in April 2020 on a 30-month schedule. Granite’s scope of work on Highway 101 includes the rebuild and addition of three miles of new high occupancy vehicle lanes, on- and off-ramp improvements, construction of new sound walls, bridge improvements, and enhancements to local streets and intersections. The Carpinteria Project, as it is commonly referred to, widens Highway 101 to six lanes from 0.22 miles south of Bailard Avenue in the City of Carpinteria to north of Carpinteria Avenue in the County of Santa Barbara. “Segment A adds a peak-period continuous access HOV lane in each direction for approximately three miles in the City of Carpinteria,” says Camilleri. “These new lanes will tie into the third lanes that were recently added to the south and upcoming lane addition projects in the north.”

Above: Granite asphalt paving crews placing hot mix asphalt to strengthen the existing shoulder before switching traffic in Stage 1.

Segments B through E will also reconstruct North and South Padaro, Cabrillo Boulevard, Evans, San Ysidro and Sheffield Road interchanges and replace and widen several creek bridges and undercrossing structures. The Carpinteria Project will replace existing pavement, widen shoulders and improve ramps from Casitas Pass Road to north of Santa Clause Lane. Additionally, Granite will self-perform underground utility work primarily made up of storm drain installations.

The Carpinteria project (Segment A) also includes approximately 64,000 cubic yards of excavation, 55,000 tons of aggregate, 29,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt, 39,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete pavement, and 14,300 linear feet of concrete barrier. Hot-mix asphalt and aggregate materials will be provided by Granite’s nearby Santa Paula Hot Plant, Bee Rock Quarry and Gardner Facility. “Having control of the aggregate and asphalt supply chain has allowed us to optimize both the concrete and asphalt mix designs to reduce cost on the project,” says Camilleri. “Additionally, all of the materials are coming from within Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, which allows for a reduction in the carbon emission footprint by reducing vehicle miles traveled on the corridor.”

Segment A of Phase 4 in the city of Carpinteria will include the replacement of bridges over Franklin and Santa Monica Creeks. The bridge replacements are being done to accommodate the addition of a new third lane in each direction on Highway 101 and to improve water flow in the creeks. “We are working above two creeks, and our schedule is built around seasonal work windows that are governed by regulatory permits issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife,” continues Camilleri. “This can be a challenge, but with proper scheduling and adherence to our detailed plan, it should not be an issue.” Crews are working both day and night with the work that requires lane closures being done at night. Construction activities that can be accomplished safely behind K-Rail are typically done during daytime hours. “This is a multi-shift project that never sleeps, it is active from Sunday night through Saturday,” says Camilleri.

Above: Granite concrete paving crew placing concrete for the new median and HOV lanes.

Granite was also awarded Segment C, located in Santa Barbara County in the communities of Summerland and Montecito, and represents roughly a $100 million contract. The Summerland contract (Segment C) began in November and will add a peak-period carpool lane in each direction of Highway 101 for 1.7 miles. Granite will also install a new bridge at the Evans Avenue Undercrossing that connects the freeway bridges. This section will also be accompanied by a pedestrian bike lane and highway lighting improvements. Granite will construct new freeway bridges at the Sheffield Drive Interchange as part of the Segment C Summerland Project. They will also build a new right hand on- and off-ramp on the southbound side of this section while implementing improvements to the northbound ramp. Additional work will include replacing the Wallace Avenue on-ramp and construction of both retaining and sound walls. Greenwell Creek will also be enhanced with drainage improvements near the freeway.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Carpinteria and Summerland projects. “We have faced a few challenges so far including a five-month overlap between the work being done by another contractor on Phase 3 and our work on Phase 4. We were working in close proximity with another firm, and that presented a challenge in terms of sequencing and coordination of lane closures,” says Camilleri. According to Camilleri, SB1 funding increases the volume of transportation work which creates more competition for labor resources. “The resource pool on the central coast is a bit different than working in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or the Bay Area,” continues Camilleri. “Operators, laborers, masons, carpenters, and other tradesmen aren’t as plentiful. That means we are actively recruiting talent from inside and outside of the area and doing everything we can to attract labor resources. Completion of all phases of the Highway 101 corridor is scheduled some time in 2026, and contingent on funding, so we will be out here working for several years. We encourage anyone interested to contact our offices.”

Camilleri believes that his construction management team should have the schedule, plans, specifications, and cost agreed upon soon to kickoff Segment B by June 2021. He also forecasts that Segments D and E should be ready for delivery in 2023. “There are so many individuals that deserve credit and should be recognized for their hard work and dedication on this Highway 101 Phase 4 project. Bill McGowan is our project manager; he and I worked hand in hand on the pursuit team to secure the Construction Manager contract with Caltrans,” says Camilleri. “Bill has also been and remains extremely active in the preconstruction services contract. He deserves much credit for our ongoing success.”

Camilleri also recognizes construction manager John Van Lenten as a leader and contributor to the successful progress of the work out on Highway 101. “John was also on the pursuit team and is leading the construction and estimating team for Granite as our Construction Manager on the job,” says Camilleri. “Now that we have multiple segments underway, and as we work to get other segments under contract, he will continue to lead our talented construction team, and we are thankful for his leadership abilities.”

In conclusion, Camilleri applauds the great partnership and working relationship that Granite has been fortunate to forge with Caltrans and SBCAG. “I want to emphasize just what a win/win the CMGC process is for both the owner and contractor. It brings the builder into the fold during the preconstruction and design phases. This ultimately provides a reduction in the overall cost and corridor schedule,” concludes Camilleri. “The collaboration also adds innovation to the design and optimizes and streamlines a construction schedule that ultimately delivers a project sooner than a typical bid/build project. It also provides reduced risk for the owner and allows the contractor to hit the ground running with common goals and a head of steam going into construction.” For more information on Phase 4 of the Highway 101 Project, please visit SBROADS.com, or visit Granite’s website at graniteconstruction. com/careers or call their Watsonville headquarters at (831) 724-1011. Cc

Above and right: Granite crews excavating dirt for the new HOV lane and installing pipe for a creek diversion in Stage 1.