California 6, March 24, 2024

Griffith Company Tends to San Diego County Bridges

(Caltrans) $27.7 million I-8

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

The California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) $27.7 million I-8 Pavement and Bridge Rehabilitation Improvement Project in San Diego County — from El Cajon Boulevard to Marshall Avenue — began in November 2022 when crews from the

Griffith Company broke ground at the 125/94 connector to execute the work.

“This project will extend the service life of several bridges along this stretch of Interstate 8 in East County by replacing aged pavement, installing concrete railings, sign replacements, landscaping enhancements and other road-enhancing features,” said

Hayden Manning, a public relations officer of Caltrans District 11. “The result will give motorists a smoother ride, support efficient goods movement, reduce future maintenance and construction efforts, and ensure safe travels for all interstate motorists.”

The 6-mi. work zone started at the corner of La Mesa and Spring Street and will pro-

ceed on a linear basis to the end point at the corner of El Cajon and Mollison Avenue, passing through two interchanges — one at SR 125 and another at SR 67. I-8 has four lanes in each direction.

The Griffith Company expects to deliver the project this summer.

see GRIFFITH page 8

The Griffith Company is making progress on the California Department of Transportation’s

Pavement and Bridge Rehabilitation Improvement Project from El Cajon Boulevard to Marshall Avenue.

Caltrans Engineer Urges Women to Enter Construction

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

More and more women are entering the ranks of the construction industry — including heavy civil construction — and in honor of International Women’s Day that was celebrated on March 8, Janelle Clanton, a transportation engineer with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 11 that covers San Diego and Imperial Valley counties, sat down for a Q&A discussion.

Born and raised in San Diego, Clanton, 28, while officially a transportation engineer, on the work site takes on the role of Resident Engineer/Structure Representative, which has her involved in daily construction activities, working with general contractors to ensure that projects are delivered on-time and onbudget and are solidly built.

Clanton feels right at home on bridge and road construction sites, but unlike many who have family that are or were employed in the sector, there was no guarantee that construction would be her career choice. It was an appreciation for math and being good with numbers that attracted her to engineering and brought her into the construction orbit.

Clanton graduated from San Diego State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, a four- to fiveyear program. Her introduction to construction began during her third year of university when Caltrans District 11 brought her on board as a Student assistant, a role she fulfilled for 1.5 years. The DOT, recognizing good talent, hired her as a full-time employee upon graduation.

The rest, they say, is history, and Clanton who is very at ease on construction sites and the building process, was on her way to a bright future within Caltrans and serves as a role model and inspiration for other women to follow in her footsteps.

In the Q&A below, Clanton recounts her journey to construction, her fascination with it, and why women should look upon the sector as a rewarding career choice.

CEG: When did you realize that you had a flair for math and numbers and logic and desired a career that would play to your strengths?

Clanton: My dad, with all of his five children, would always quiz us with quick math problems and fast thinking while we were growing up. I would say all of us have a flair for math and numbers, but I wanted to make a career out of it because it came more naturally to me all throughout grade school than other subjects like history or biology. I like to think that I’ve always been a logical person, so these strengths made engineering an easy choice.

CEG: What led you to study engineering

and in particular, civil engineering? Did any of your professors have any experience in construction and with general contractors?

Clanton: When I was applying for college, I hadn’t completely made up my mind about what I wanted to major in. I had thought, at many points in my life, that I might want to be a math teacher or something like that. Instead, I researched different careers for people who like math, and engineering came up over and over again. Civil engineering seemed like the obvious choice for me because other engineering disciplines didn’t interest me as much when I was looking into what they all did. Civil engineering has so many options career-wise. A few of my professors had currently or previously worked in construction or with general contractors and introduced the concepts of construction in our classes.

CEG: What led to you becoming a student assistant with Caltrans and did you have a feeling that you would be asked to join the DOT? Since you were hired, how would you describe your experiences and what are some of the projects that you have worked on?

Clanton: I took a class in college — Surveying — which I like to think I did pretty well in. I worked hard and so at the end of the semester I asked one of the professors if I could list him as a reference for future job applications. He said yes, and also mentioned that Caltrans’ Surveys department was looking for a couple of student assistants to help out one of their engineers. I went through the interview process and luckily got the job. I’ve worked hard since then and had my fingers crossed that Caltrans would want to hire me full-time (luckily, I got that opportunity). Since my start, I have worked

am constantly learning new things, relearning things that I haven’t seen for a few years, and also teaching others with less experience than me. All of that contributes to the knowledge and abilities I now have and use every day, and I’ll continue to add to that knowledge for the rest of my career.

CEG: To what extent are you still learning about heavy civil construction and how would you describe your work on job sites and with general contractor teams and design and engineering firms?

in surveys, structure construction, district (roadway) construction, bridge design and geotechnical services on a variety of projects. I’m definitely not a designer, but something about construction – seeing the work and progress from start to finish, and being a part of it — has been the most fun for me so far.

Some of the projects I have participated in are: The Gilman Drive Overcrossing Arch Bridge over I-5 (near UCSD); the Roadway Compaction Grouting Emergency Project on SR 52 (near Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa); the Mid-Coast MTS Trolley Extension over I-5 (near UCSD/La Jolla), which included two stand alone bridges, one multi-span bridge, multiple retaining walls and a tunnel; the I-8 / SR 67 Bridge Deckon-Deck Emergency Project on I-8 (in El Cajon); and the I-8 Multi-Mile CRCP Construction (in Imperial County from El Centro to Yuma).

CEG: Your knowledge of construction materials, stress points for infrastructure, construction techniques, ability to read construction plans and administer them continues to improve. Is this a combination of information you learned in classes and on the job sites?

Clanton: College, while giving me a great base of knowledge at the beginning of my career, definitely could not teach anyone everything they need to know about how to do their job. Caltrans is great about offering job-specific training and I’ve also done my fair share of on-the-job training with colleagues who have more than 30 years of experience. In my position, we deal with so many different types of construction materials and techniques that you do have to put in the work to fully understand some of them. I

Clanton: As I mentioned, I learn every day! In my current position, I am somewhat of a middleman between designers and general contractors, and it’s up to me to make sure that the project plans are being interpreted and implemented correctly. Sometimes, I get it wrong, or have to consult others — including designers, colleagues or the contractor themselves. Nobody knows everything and the most important thing is getting the project completed on-time, on-budget and correctly. In order to do this, there has to be a good working relationship with all parties.

CEG: As a woman, are you accepted in an industry that is still male dominated to a large extent?

Clanton: I’ve never had any issues as a woman in engineering/construction. Caltrans is quite diverse, and is a great workplace — I’m treated the same as any of my male colleagues. I’ve encountered other women throughout the different disciplines of engineering, within Caltrans, and through general contractors. There are many women within positions of authority, and we keep the projects running smoothly.

CEG: Would you encourage women to consider engineering and construction, be it as laborers, equipment operators, and project management? When you studied engineering, were there many women taking courses?

Clanton: Absolutely! Many women I’ve met who are in engineering or construction are doing really well, and enjoy what they do (myself included). That there are fewer women in engineering/construction than men just means that we need more women! I’ve had plenty of colleagues and a few supervisors who have been women, and each of them have been great at teaching, collaborating and getting things done. Although I’m only 6-plus years into my career, I’ve had the pleasure of introducing new hires and mentoring them to the best of my ability. When I was studying engineering, there were definitely more women in engineering majors than I had expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Since I’ve graduated, other women that I’ve spoken to have had similar experiences.  CEG (Photo courtesy of Caltrans.)

(L-R): Daniela Gomez, Carlos Guzman and Janelle Clanton, of Caltrans.

AGC of California Installs Its Newest Officers for 2024

AGC of California officially installed and recognized its 2024 executive leadership during the Installation and Awards Gala on Feb. 2 at the Fairmont San Francisco.

The elected officers, along with AGC CEO Peter Tateishi, make up the eightmember Executive Committee of AGC of California, the largest statewide construction association in California. The association is marking its 104th anniversary in 2024.

Steve Rule: President

Turner Construction Company

AGC of California President Steve Rule has more than four decades of experience in the construction industry, including more than 35 years with Turner Construction, where he is a vice president and construction executive. Rule has been active in AGC of California for many years and has served as chair and vice chair of the San Francisco Bay Area District board of directors, chair and vice chair of building contractors in 2017 and 2018, AGC of California treasurer in 2019- 2021 and president-elect in 2022 and 2023.

Pat Kelly: President-Elect

Granite Construction Company

Pat Kelly is the California Group strategy manager of Granite Construction Company. He has held numerous operational roles at Granite Construction Company during his more than 40 years with the company. Kelly’s current role includes managing the strategic planning process for Granite Construction Company’s California operations, as well as Granite Construction Company’s Illinois region and tunnel division. He has held several leadership roles within AGC of California and previously served as treasurer, chair and vice chair of the Inland Empire District board of directors, chair and vice chair of Highway & Transportation and chair of the Awards Committee.

Allison Otto: Treasurer Otto Construction

Allison Otto is the president and chief executive officer of Otto Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1947 by her grandfather. Otto joined the firm in 2000 and played a significant role in its growth and success over the next two decades, including successfully leading the completion of the $83.2 million SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity project. She has served in various capacities during her leadership with AGC of California, including serving on the Construction Education Foundation (CEF) Board in 2018, as vice chair of the Delta-Sierra District board of directors from 2020 to 2021 and as chair in 2022.

Not pictured is Brandon Pensick, vice president, Utility & Infrastructure.

Matt Seals: Vice President, Building

Seals Construction Inc.

Matt Seals is president of Visalia-based Seals Construction Inc. During his 23-year tenure, he helped grow the company, taking on numerous high profile multi-million-dollar projects throughout the region. Seals is actively involved in his community, sitting on local boards and committees including the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Visalia Unified School District Facility Advisory Committee and others. He is active in AGC of California, currently serving as vice president of building contractors. Seals was involved in the Emerging Leaders Program from 2019 and 2020 and was a board member of the Construction Education Foundation (CEF) board from 2014 to 2022.

Ural Yal: Vice President, Highway & Transportation

Flatiron Construction

Ural Yal brings decades of heavy civil infrastructure experience to AGC of California. Since 2019, he has served as vice president and district manager of Flatiron Construction’s Southwest Division, where he oversees projects in Los Angeles and surrounding counties.

Key projects in his portfolio include the Automated People Mover at LAX, the largest construction contract in the history of the city of Los Angeles and improvement projects on State Route 710, Interstate 5 and the new Redlands Passenger Rail Project. Yal has been a board member of the Los Angeles District and vice chair of the Highway & Transportation Division since 2021.

Brandon Pensick: Vice President, Utility & Infrastructure

Ferreira Construction Company

Brandon Pensick is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years in the underground construction industry. As senior vice president of Ferreira Construction Company since 2013, he manages operations, ensures efficient resource allocation and oversees project objectives and performance standards. He played a crucial role in establishing Ferreira Construction Company’s West Coast presence and continues to lead business development, planning and coordination for the California offices. From 2020 to 2023, Pensick actively served on the Los Angeles District board of directors and on the Highway & Transportation group in 2021.

Henry Nutt III: Vice President, Specialty Contractors Southland Industries

Henry Nutt III has more than 35 years of experience in construction. He has risen from an apprentice to a preconstruction executive at Southland Industries. Nutt is also an author, educator, international keynote speaker and a passionate advocate for the future workforce in the construction industry. He has been involved in AGC of America’s Diversity & Equity Steering Committee since 2016, as well as AGC of California’s Task Force and DE&I Steering Committee and served on AGC of California board of directors in 2023.

Dina Kimble: Immediate Past President Royal Electric Company

AGC of California Immediate Past President Dina Kimble is president, chief executive officer and partner of Royal Electric Company, which she joined more than 20 years ago as a project manager. Kimble has served on the state board of directors, Executive Committee and the CEF Board. Her leadership roles at AGC of California include building chair and vice president, 2018 treasurer, 2019 vice president, 20202021 president-elect and 2022-23 president. 

AGC of California photo

AGC of California’s 2024 officers include (L-R) Henry Nutt III, vice president, Specialty Contractors; Ural Yal, vice president, Highway & Transportation; Dina Kimble, immediate past president; Steve Rule, president; Pat Kelly, president-elect; Matt Seals, vice president, building; and Allison Otto, treasurer.

4191

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1997 Burroughs Ave

San Leandro, CA 94577

510-568-5000

PIRTEK SFO

121 S. Maple Ave #4

South San Francisco, CA 94080

650-532-9200

Crews Replacing Bridge Deck Surfaces to Extend Service

Construction crews began at the El Cajon overcrossing, followed by the Marshall Street overcrossing.

“The project is replacing the surface bridge decks to ensure a smoother road surface and install new concrete railings to enhance safety further,” said Manning. “New lane markings/striping is also being implemented. Landscape improvements are being made on adjacent banks near these projects, and these will prevent further erosion that may occur over time. We’re also utilizing Polyester Polymer Concrete [PPC]. The overlay material is designed to protect bridge decks and reduce long-term maintenance costs, reducing impacts on the traveling public and exposure for highway workers. In addition, landscaping will be updated to improve erosion quality improvements and new rail installations.”

Construction Scope

To this point, the Griffith Company has completed three out of six stages of construction on the project, consisting of bridge deck rapid strength concrete (RSC) pours for a 4.5-in. overlay and overhang replacement, approach slab replacement and jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) conform replacement on approximately half of the freeway. The remaining work consists of the same scope of work on the remaining half of the freeway, as well as replacement of the previously removed 4,500 ft. of center barrier and an overhead sign structure.

“This work is being completed in stages,” said Janelle Clanton of Caltrans’s structure construction division. “Because the deck overlay requires the existing polyester concrete surfacing to be removed prior to placement of new/additional deck rebar, it cannot be completed in a typical overnight shift and instead needs to be completed behind k-rail barriers. This means that traffic needs to be

detoured, either by utilizing smaller lanes or by shifting traffic into the median temporarily.

“The existing bridge deck surfacing [polyester concrete] has been removed by micromill,” she added. “The existing bridge overhang and barrier has been removed after installation of falsework and a protective cover to prevent any debris from falling. This is especially important because we have a road, sidewalks and railroad tracks underneath. We have coordinated the work closely with the rail owners to ensure that there are no issues.”

The old concrete is being removed to the contractor’s yard, and a majority of the debris has been broken up using a crusher system.

“Removal of the existing polyester concrete surfacing can be done fairly quickly

[within one overnight shift], however, sometimes there are remnants of the material which need to be removed with means such as hand tools, which can add time,” said Clanton.

The new deck lanes are not being opened to traffic after they cure.

“[This is] because we are completing a deck pour as well as replacement of approach slabs and of the JPCP conforms,” said Clanton. “We have been able to complete a lane within an 80-hour-long closure, but that is not the standard for the project. Most work is completed behind k-rail barriers over weeks or months, especially due to the other non-bridge work being completed on the project.”

The concrete pours on the decks are based on one bridge deck pour, one approach slab pour, and two JPCP pours per-lane.

“Polyester polymer concrete takes approximately two hours to fully cure after placement,” said Clanton. “The polyester concrete lift will be a minimum of 1-inch thick and will be placed on top of the 4.5 inches of RSC bridge deck concrete.”

For the deck work, crews are using concrete mix trucks and pumps, micromills, excavators, backhoes, loaders, rollers and forklifts.

Concrete railings are being installed throughout the project.

“We have already completed the railing installation on one side of the bridge, and will be placing the center railing within the next month or so,” said Clanton. “The barrier/railing needs to be completed after almost everything else has been, so we have had to make sure that all other portions of the work are done and ready to go.”

The railings are cast-in-place using forms.

Equipment-wise, crews are using steel forms, concrete trucks and concrete pumps. For the barriers in the center of the freeway, a slip-form/extrusion method will be used.

Approximately 150 ft. of concrete roadway on either side of the bridge is being replaced in order to conform the profile of the roadway to the new bridge deck, which is higher than before.

Griffith is replacing one overhead sign structure, as well as a few sign panels, on existing posts in the area.

“The removal of the structure has already been completed using a full freeway closure for eight consecutive hours,” said Clanton. “A crane was used to remove the truss, then the posts. Eventually, the remaining concrete post foundations were removed to 5 feet below the ground. To replace the sign, the cast-in-drilled holes sign-post pipes will be drilled/poured, then another full freeway closure will be used and a crane will place the sign structure.”

The concrete pours on the decks are based on one bridge deck pour, one approach slab pour and two JPCP pours per-lane.

To this point, the Griffith Company has completed three out of six stages of construction on the project, consisting of bridge deck rapid strength concrete (RSC) pours for a 4.5in. overlay and overhang replacement.

Because the deck overlay requires the existing polyester concrete surfacing to be removed prior to placement of new/additional deck rebar, it cannot be completed in a typical overnight shift and instead needs to be completed behind k-rail barriers.

Construction for the project began in November 2022 and is expected to be complete this summer.

GRIFFITH from page 1

see GRIFFITH page 10

Construction Progresses With Upgrades Along Interstate 8

The remaining work consists of the same scope of work on the remaining half of the freeway, as well as replacement of the previously removed 4,500 ft. of center barrier and an overhead sign structure.

GRIFFITH from page 8

The work on the landscaping enhancements has not begun.

The Griffth team includes General Foreman Kyle Litten, Area Superintendent Woody Daigle, Project Manager Brittney Gomes, Project Engineer Michael Martin and Area Manager Brad Olson.

Subcontractors include SoCal Traffic for traffic control; BC Traffic for roadway signs; G&F Concrete for concrete demolition;

Select Electric for electrical work; Cooper Engineering for center concrete barrier; Dees Burke for bridge barrier; and ACE Fence for MGS and chain link railing.

Figures for the demolition and excavation debris have not been finalized.

“The removed concrete from the existing roadway and center median barrier was crushed to be reused as Class 2 aggregate base on other projects,” said Clanton, who noted that the amounts of new materials are still being tabulated.

This project will extend the service life of several bridges along this stretch of Interstate 8 in East County by replacing aged pavement, installing concrete railings, sign replacements, landscaping enhancements and other road-enhancing features.

The Grifith company is meticulous about maintenance, ensuring that immediate repairs are done rapidly and that the routine maintenance schedule is strictly adhered to.

The company purchases and rents equipment from local and regional dealerships.

The financing includes $20.6 million in federal funds and $4.1 million from SB-1.

The project was designed by Maintenance Engineering/Bridge Asset Management and SM&I Design and Analysis, with extending the

service life of the infrastructure as a priority. Safety for the traveling public and construction workers is “priority number one” for Caltrans. Measures to achieve this include reducing the speed limit to 55 mph in the construction zone, placing advanced warning traffic signs, placing reinforced concrete barrier and having California Highway Patrol and freeway service patrol on-site, as well as a tow service.  CEG

(All photos courtesy of Caltrans.)

Skanska Concludes Pilot Program of Volvo EC230

Skanska, a leading construction and development firm, has announced the completion of a 90-day pilot program using the Volvo EC230 Electric excavator on the Purple (D Line) Extension Transit Project in Los Angeles, at the South Yard of the La Brea station.

Skanska’s use of the zero-emissions equipment was among the first to pilot the Volvo excavator in North America. The goal of the trial was to test the capability of a battery-powered excavator to perform the necessary construction work, particularly in relation to its diesel-powered counterpart. The study further advances Skanska’s mission of reducing embodied carbon emissions on its jobsites and Volvo’s goal of making fossil-free machinery more accessible in the United States.

The excavator was used to load trucks of export construction material from a stockpile. Results of the 90-day trial indicate that the Volvo EC230 Electric performed the necessary activities as intended while keeping the pace of work on schedule. The results noted in the initial findings indicate reduced

emissions and lowered costs. The unit reduced carbon per hour by 66 percent (34 kilograms) and saved an estimated 74 percent in cost per hour ($15.15).

There were additional benefits from a health and safety aspect. The electric excavator generated much less vibration and noise than a diesel-powered version. Not only does this create a less exhaustive and better working environment for the operator, but it also results in less construction noise for the surrounding community. 

The excavator was used to load trucks of export construction material from a stockpile.

Skanska photo

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