Four Corners 4, February 25, 2024

February 25

Utah Opens Largest Highway Project Ahead of Schedule

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) celebrated the opening of all lanes on the new 16-mi. West Davis Highway with a community fun run/walk/bike event.

Crews and residents had an opportunity to see the benefits of the largest construction project in the state — valued at $750 million — with a community-filled occasion. More than 2,500 people joined elected officials and UDOT representatives on the 2-mi. event on the project’s new road and trails.

The project was constructed by Farmington Bay Constructors, a joint venture of three companies: Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction and Staker Parson Materials and Construction. Ames is a noted earth-moving company, according to Rex Harris, UDOT project manager.

When construction began in May 2021, UDOT officials estimated that all lanes of the new highway (SR 177) would be open

see UTAH page 6

Arizona Receives $95M for Interstate 10 Expansion Project

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently announced that the state will receive a $95 million INFRA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for major improvements to widen Interstate 10.

The grant was awarded to improve the safety and conditions on the 26-mi. stretch of I-10 located entirely within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Community.

The I-10 corridor is a main corridor for all Arizonans, with parts of this project area seeing up to 120,000 vehicles daily. This 26-mi. stretch of the I-10 is the only remaining “gap or unimproved section of the I-10, which creates bottlenecks and traffic delays for all who travel this section of the I10.”

The overall project adds a third lane, meaning the freeway will have three lanes both ways between Arizona’s two most populous cities. It also includes the reconstruction of the I-10 bridges over the Gila River and six interchanges. The federal grant is a competitive funding award through the U.S. Department of Transportation INFRA Grant Program.

The grant will contribute to the construction of the section of the project from just south of Casa Blanca Road to just south of State Route 387. Construction on I-10 is scheduled to launch in early 2024, with the first work including the removal and replacement of the Gila River bridges over I-10.

Corridor Improvements

Adding a new general-purpose lane in the east- and westbound directions, extending the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane on I-10 from Loop 202 to Riggs Road and improving interchanges and crossroads will increase capacity and access. This improves safety by reducing congestion and travel times and lessening detoured traffic on the Gila River Indian Community.

Key improvements include:

• Replacing I-10 bridges over the Gila River will maintain a state of good repair by modernizing this key infrastructure;

• Building new and improved traffic interchanges creates safer crossings for farm equipment, bicyclists and pedestrians and boosts connections and quality of life;

• Installing fiber optic infrastructure within ADOT Right-of-Way will allow for the installation of sensors, cameras and other highway safety-related technology.

Obtaining funding for this project was a top priority for Hobbs, the Gila River Indian Community, the Arizona Congressional delegation and the Arizona State Legislature, and was made possible through coordination between Hobbs, GRIC Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

This grant represents a unique partnership of governments, involving state, federal, tribal and county governments in the planning and development of the grant to address the safety and infrastructure needs in Arizona and within the Gila River Indian Community.

Project Funding

“The I-10 serves as a major connector for the entire state and I am thrilled to announce that we have secured the funds necessary to ensure it remains a gateway for generations to come,” said Hobbs.

“By securing this investment, we are not only improving our state’s infrastructure, we are propelling Arizona’s economy forward, ensuring a prosperous future for all. I want to thank Governor Lewis for his tireless advocacy and our federal partners for helping make this possible.”

“The announcement,” said Lewis, “is the culmination of a

year-long effort to obtain the final funding necessary to complete this critical part of the state’s and the community’s transportation network. When we learned last year that Arizona would not be receiving a federal grant for this project, I immediately contacted Governor Hobbs, and together we rolled up our sleeves and got this new grant proposal together, focusing largely on the importance of this road to our community and we presented it together to Secretary Buttigieg, a first in our state, and probably in the entire country. I want to personally thank Governor Hobbs for her partnership in this effort and the Department of Transportation for its understanding and commitment to historically disadvantaged communities in Indian Country, such as ours. I also think it is very important to thank our allies and partners in the State Legislature who provided critical additional funding to help fill the gap and advocated right alongside us in Washington for this new grant.”

— one of the largest ever in transportation infrastructure in a tribal community — will be a gamechanger for the Gila River Indian Community and is a testament to the leadership of Governor Lewis.”

“I-10 is an infamous thoroughfare in Arizona notoriously known for its delays and traffic,” said Rep. Raùl Grijalva. “This federal funding is a long-term investment that will benefit our state by making certain this corridor has the capacity to serve Arizonans. I’m proud to have supported this funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will continue to support economic investments that provide modernization, accessibility, and sustainability to our transportation network.”

This 26-mi. stretch of the I-10 is the only remaining “gap or unimproved section of the I-10, which creates bottlenecks and traffic delays for all who travel this section of the I-10.”

“I’m proud to secure these funds for I-10’s expansion through my bipartisan infrastructure law,” said U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, coauthor and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law. “I promised Arizonans I’d do the hard work to deliver real results, not lip service —today’s investment is one of many more to come for Arizona from my bipartisan infrastructure law,”

“ADOT is excited to receive this funding and to work on this critical project,” said ADOT Director Jennifer Toth. “The federal grant dollars are critical for expanding the principal roadway between Phoenix and Tucson. The project will deliver the best infrastructure to improve drive times and enhance safety. We thank the Gila River Indian Community for their tremendous partnership and collaboration, along with our federal, regional, and local partners.”

The grant, funded through investments from the bipartisan infrastructure law, provides necessary funding for the southernmost segment of the 26-mi. stretch and completes funding for the upcoming expansion of I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande.

The grant funding will be added to the $692 million in state of Arizona funding appropriated for the project and a $221 million contribution from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) through Proposition 400. The total project cost is estimated at just over $1 billion.

“Too many of us have spent hours stuck in traffic on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson,” said Sen. Mark Kelly. “And for decades, residents and tribal members have been impacted by major bottlenecks preventing them from fully accessing jobs, housing, schools and health care. Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these delays will be a thing of the past. I’ve fought to secure the funding for this expansion since I came to the Senate, and it was a top priority of mine when negotiating that law. This project will reduce congestion, improve shipping and make I-10 safer. This investment

Key Commerce Corridor

As the principal roadway between metro Phoenix and Tucson for commuters, crosscountry travelers, and commercial traffic, I-10 is a Key Commerce Corridor for Arizona and the United States. The freeway provides a vital link for freight traffic from the ports of southern California and for international commerce, with a significant amount of freight transported along the route daily. The proposed improvements will boost the reliability of freight traffic in the corridor. 

(All photos courtesy of ADOT.)

The grant was awarded to improve the safety and conditions on the 26-mi. stretch of the I-10 located entirely within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Community.

Crews, Officials Celebrate Project With Local Fun Run

by summer 2024. That timeline was shortened because of the diligent work of contractors working on the project and the new West Davis Highway opened several months early.

“There has been a concerted effort to open up this new highway as soon as possible because we know it will immediately make a huge difference in people’s lives,” UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras said. “People need different options to get where they want to go in the way they want to get there, and this project represents our commitment to accomplishing this mission.”

“Farmington Bay Constructors Joint Venture, with Ames Construction as the managing partner, began construction of the four-lane divided highway in 2021,” Ames Construction said in a statement. “Designed to relieve congestion in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, the project involved construction of new northbound and southbound lanes, five freeway-style interchanges, 21 roadway bridges and four pedestrian bridges. The corridor stretches from I-15 in Centerville City to SR 193 in Syracuse City.”

The West Davis Highway is a 16-mi., four-lane divided highway designed to improve access to and from western Davis County. The highway runs from I-15 near Glovers Lane in Farmington to the future extension of S.R. 193 and 4500 West in West Point.

The West Davis Highway is expected to reduce delays by more than 30 percent on local roads west of I-15. Six new interchanges have been built to connect to I-15 and local roads:

• I-15/Legacy Parkway in Farmington;

• 950 North in Farmington;

• 200 North in Kaysville;

• 2700 West in Layton;

• 2000 West in Syracuse;

• Antelope Drive in Syracuse;

In order to move people as well as vehicles, West Davis also has added nearly 10 mi. of new trails and now connects several existing regional trails, such as the Emigration Trail with the Legacy Parkway Trail. These new trails provide additional opportunities for recreation users as well as bicycle commuters, helping them get where they want to go.

Much of the material for the project came from gravel pits at the base of the mountains where the rocky granular material is more suitable than the clays existing on the project site.

“We had another project that is closer to the mountains, U.S. 89, that we’re doing a lot of construction on turning it into a freeway facility,” Harris said. “It’s in a more

rocky area and it’s an export job so they have excess material that needs to come off the project. We worked out a deal to acquire 800,000 yards to come off that project.”

The project, located along the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains, came with several challenges, including a “finite” amount of land to work with. Much of that land is environmentally sensitive and also saw a great deal of new home construction.

UDOT worked with numerous government agencies, as well as homeowners, over nine years to come up with an alignment that met UDOT’s purpose and needs while at the same time minimizing the impacts to

When construction began in May 2021, UDOT officials estimated that all lanes of the new highway (SR-177) would be open by summer 2024. That timeline was shortened because of the diligent work of contractors working on the project

both the “bugs and bunnies, residents and homeowners.”

Another issue contractors encountered was that the project site was actually once submerged beneath the Great Salt Lake, which means the soil, largely clay, is soft and pressable.

The project also is preserving 1,100 acres of wetlands near the Great Salt Lake to help safeguard the environment.

The West Davis Highway is one of several projects planned to upgrade the transportation system in northern Utah to meet current and future needs. This is especially important because the number of homes in

Davis and Weber counties is expected to increase by 65 percent by 2040.

Finish work on the West Davis Highway will continue into the summer with occasional lane closures while crews complete weather-dependent tasks like additional paving, seeding and other punch list items.

A future phase is planned to extend the highway to 1800 North in West Point. Long-term transportation plans detail extending the West Davis Highway through Weber County and connecting back to I-15. An environmental study to extend West Davis to 1800 North in West Point will begin in spring of 2024. 

UTAH from page 1

UDOT photo

The project was constructed by Farmington Bay Constructors, a joint venture of three companies: Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction and Staker Parson Materials and Construction.

Rep Paul Cutler photo

More than 2,500 people joined elected officials and UDOT representatives on the 2-mi. event on the project’s new road and trails.

UDOT photo

Resurfacing Project On Colorado Highways Commences

The Colorado Department of Transportation has begun improvements along U.S. 34 and U.S. 36 in Estes Park.

Construction crews from Simon started the project on Feb. 19. The project is focusing on resurfacing 4 mi. of roadway and provide other safety improvements for the busy tourist town. The anticipated completion date of the project is fall 2024.

During the first phase of the project, a retaining wall will be constructed to protect the roadway from erosion due to the river on U.S. 36/Moraine Avenue, just east of Riverrock Circle.

The single lane closure is expected to be in place until early May. Two-way traffic will be restored during the next phase of the project. There will be a 24/7 single alternating traffic pattern with temporary traffic signals to guide motorists through the construction zone.

Benefits of constructing the retaining wall include:

• Enhanced road stability: The retaining wall will significantly reduce erosion along U.S. 36, ensuring the roadway remains stable, maintaining structural integrity during periods of high-water flows;

• Safety improvements: By reinforcing the road, the project will create a safer travel experience for motorists by minimizing the risk of road collapse or unexpected road surface irregularities;

• Long-term cost savings: Investing in a retaining wall now will mitigate the need for frequent, costly road repairs in the future, due to ongoing erosion issues;

• Environmental protection: By reducing the impact on the surrounding land and habitat, it helps preserve the natural

cause of the road damage, the retaining wall will reduce the likelihood of future road closures for repair work, leading to fewer traffic disruptions and delays;

The second phase of the project will begin mid-spring when the retaining wall work is completed and is expected to be completed by fall 2024. This includes paving U.S. 34/Big Thompson Avenue from the intersection with U.S. 36/North Street Vrain Avenue to Mall Road. Additional work includes Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades, that include curb ramp installation, at the intersection of U.S. 36 and Mary’s Lake Road and on East Elkhorn Avenue, from Big Horn Drive to Virginia Drive. Curb ramps are a small but important part of making sidewalks, street crossings and the other pedestrian routes that make up the public right-ofway accessible to everyone.

During this phase, motorists can expect traffic shifts, single alternating lane closures and sidewalk detours at various project stages. Work for this phase will include both daytime and nighttime work depending on the location crews are working in. For daytime work the hours range from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and nighttime work will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

beauty of the Big Thompson River area;

• Resilience against extreme weather: The structure will provide added protection against erosion from the river and the effects of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall or snowmelt, ensuring the road remains passable and safe during such conditions;

• Minimized traffic disruptions: By addressing the root

Deseret Tree Worx Turns to Empire Crane for New Magni

To cap off 2023, Empire Crane Company’s Syracuse, N.Y., branch completed a sale of a used 2022 Magni RTH 6.35 with attached Westtech Woodcracker to Deseret Tree Worx, a tree service company based in Utah.

The sale was finalized at the end of December and was promptly delivered at the beginning of January.

Though Empire Crane is based in the northeast, the company has made many sales of used machines over its 22-year existence to all corners of the country and even outside the United States. This sale was no exception, as Empire sales manager Mike Baron made the journey out west to ensure a smooth transaction and delivery, as well as to train members of Deseret Tree on how to operate their new machine.

“I had a great time going out to Utah to meet Nick and his coworkers to go over their new Magni rigged up with a Woodcracker,” Baron said.

“This unit will definitely provide some added versatility for the services they offer. The Magni and Woodcracker combo can

In order to maintain safe infrastructure, asphalt roads need to have their top layers milled and resurfaced every 10 to 15 years. This extends the life of the road and creates a safer surface for motorists traveling this corridor. As an additional safety improvement, the damaged and aging guardrail in some locations will be replaced.

For more information, visit https://www.codot.gov/projects/us34us36resurfacing 

handle essentially anything you throw at it.” The combo has become popular with Empire’s tree service customers as more and more have seen its capabilities in clips posted on social media, in turn leading to more sales. Empire currently has more than half a dozen units in stock now across its branches, in addition to the Woodcracker attachment, with more on order to be delivered over the course of 2024. 

Empire Crane photo

Empire Crane delivered a Magni America RTH 6.35 with a Westtech Woodcracker attachment to Deseret Tree Worx in Utah.

CDOT photo

Crews are resurfacing the highway on U..S 34A from N. St. Vrain Avenue to Mall Road and U.S. 36A from Highway 66 to W. Elkhorn Avenue.