Four Corners 12, June 16, 2024

Jacobsen Celebrates Milestone at University Of Utah

Jacobsen Construction and the University of Utah recently celebrated its work on the new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine building — valued at $185 million — with a beam “topping off” ceremony for the new teaching, training and research facility.

Jacobsen Construction, the lead contractor of the project, hoisted the final beam into place on the new building on June 4, alongside Spencer Fox Eccles (the school’s namesake), University of Utah President Taylor Randall and other university officials.

The building is scheduled to open in 2026.

“Getting to this point has been the result of a lot of methodical planning and hard work by everyone involved in the project,” said Chris Field, vice president and project executive of Jacobsen Construction. “It’s a milestone well worth celebrating. A lot of work remains, but we already have a glimpse of the university’s brilliant vision taking shape, step by step, and it’s inspiring to be a part of it.

“This is really your day,” Field told the craftworkers who were there to celebrate. “A day to honor your craftsmanship, your dedication and your hard work … This milestone was the perfect occasion for celebrating the fine work of the SME Steel Contractors team and all of our jobsite partners moving this impactful project forward.”

The design partners on this project are Salt Lake City-based VCBO Architecture and Yazdani Studio, a national firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

The new building encompasses 211,457-sq.-ft. and will consist of a high-tech anatomy lab, tailored classrooms, an advanced simulation center, collaborative spaces and conference auditoriums that will serve the 500-plus students in the university’s prestigious medical program.

see UTAH page 6

Jacobsen Construction conducted a milestone event with a “topping out” ceremony at the new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah.

Jacobsen Construction CEO Gary Ellis (L) and Spencer Fox Eccles celebrate new construction of the School of Medicine at the University of Utah on June 4, 2024.

CDOT Breaks Ground On I-25 North Express Lanes Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation held a ground breaking ceremony to officially kick off the next I-25 North Express Lanes Project segment, Mead to Berthoud.

“This six-mile project will expand and enhance I-25, from Colorado Highway 66 in Mead and connect to the newly built portion of I-25 just south of CO 56 in Berthoud, making travel safer, more reliable and efficient in northern Colorado,” said CDOT Northeast Colorado Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. “Once complete in 2028, this project will complete the last missing link on I-25 and will be the first time there will be more than two lanes of I-25 from Denver to Fort Collins in both directions.”

The event took place at the north end of the project limits — off of Colorado Highway 56 at I-25. Representatives from CDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and Colorado Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer were in attendance and gave remarks to celebrate the start of the next improvements to I-25.

CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew talked about the importance of this partnership. “I would like to recognize all of the partnership to get this project moving quickly and the incredible work of the CDOT Region 4 team, who have delivered many segments of this project efficiently and effectively. This link will ensure a consistent ride for both drivers and Bustang, making mass transportation even more attractive to pas-

connections, we're advancing safety, trip reliability, freight efficiency, and reducing emissions.”

Mayor of Mead Colleen Witlow added what this project will mean for her community. “As the Mead Mayor and a proud member of the North I-25 Coalition for the past 10 years, I am not just a representative, but also a fellow community member who shares in your excitement and pride,” she said. “This segment is more than just a road improvement; it is a testament to our collective vision and shared purpose.”

This project will:

• Reduce congestion, vehicle accidents, fatalities and greenhouse gas emissions;

sengers and making Northern Colorado more attractive to people who work in Denver and beyond.”

The first phase of the project includes constructing additional width on the northbound inside shoulder. Drivers should anticipate increased construction activity in the area. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2028.

Ralph L. Wadsworth & SEMA Construction are the construction managers for this project.

Kirkmeyer, who was on the Weld County board of commissioners when a lot of the planning for I-25 ramped up, is excited.

“After 50 years and 4 million more people in Colorado and with help from county and city

leaders and the business community, Colorado’s Main Street — I-25 — gets a much needed ‘makeover’— finally,” she said.

During construction, two lanes of traffic on I-25 will be maintained in each direction during peak travel times, but drivers can expect overnight lane closures in the area. In addition, lane and shoulder widths will be minimized. The speed limit will be reduced.

“I'm thrilled to return to Colorado to celebrate the groundbreaking of Segment 5 of the I-25 Corridor project, a project that will benefit the region and nation,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “By eliminating the bottleneck between Mead and Berthoud and enhancing multimodal

• Improve trip reliability and freight efficiency;

• Increase user choice by adding an Express Lane in both directions;

• Improve aging infrastructure;

Specific corridor improvements include:

• Widen the inside roadway shoulder to 10 ft. and the outside roadway shoulder to 12 ft. (both are currently 4-ft. wide);

• Fully reconstruct the I-25 and Weld County Road 34 interchange;

Fully reconstruct bridges along this section of I-25, including:

• Weld County Road 32;

• Weld County Road 34;

• I-25 over Great Western Railway;

• Weld County Road 38;

• I-25 over Valley Road. 

Epiroc Opens Tucson Competency Center for Surface Mining

Epiroc, a productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, announced the inauguration of its Competency Center for Surface Mining in Tucson, Ariz.

This milestone marks a significant strategic advancement for Epiroc USA, with the establishment of a 28,000 sq. ft. rebuild center to provide advanced support for surface mining customers, thereby fostering business growth in the region.

The Competency Center serves as a hub of excellence, delivering world-class aftermarket support, training and specialized technical assistance tailored to exceed industry benchmarks. Services offered range from machinery remanufacturing to planned component replacement programs, along with streamlined logistics and distribution for machine parts and consumables.

tional excellence and innovative data and automation technologies, Epiroc is committed to investing in its people, workplace culture, and sustainability goals. By supporting future talent and fostering the well-being of local communities across Arizona and the USA, Epiroc aims to make a lasting

The Rebuild Center, housed within a new 28,000 sq. ft. facility, is equipped with cutting-edge resources tailored to meet the evolving needs of the industry. With four rebuild bays capable to accommodate four Pit Viper 271 rotary blasthole rigs simultaneous-

ly, and 1,500 sq. ft. of advanced office space, the center embodies efficiency and stands as an example of innovation and excellence in the heart of Arizona. In addition to opera-

impact on the mining industry’s sustainable development.

The significance of this achievement was highlighted by Jon Torpy, president and general manager of Epiroc USA, who said, “The opening of the Competency Center underscores our dedication to investing in the future of mining. By providing customers with advanced technical assistance to extend fleets’ longevity, we are contributing to the industry’s sustainable development. This marks a major step forward in our mission at Epiroc, ensuring swift, efficient solutions to support mining operations.”

For more information, visit www.epiroc.us.  (All photos courtesy of Epiroc.)

The Competency Center serves as a hub of excellence, delivering world-class aftermarket support, training and specialized technical assistance tailored to exceed industry benchmarks.

CDOT photo

(L-R): Heather Paddock, Colleen Witlow, Shailen Bhatt, State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, Shoshana Lew and Abra Geisler, project director for North I-25, break ground on the project.

With four rebuild bays capable to accommodate four Pit Viper 271 rotary blasthole rigs simultaneously, and 1,500 sq. ft. of advanced office space, the center embodies efficiency and stands as an example of innovation and excellence in the heart of Arizona.

Contractor, Officials Come Together to Honor Job Well Done

Challenges

“Generally, every utility that feeds the hospital was running through the footprint of this site,” Field said in an interview with Engineering News Record. “Crews spent about one year and $40 million relocating those critical utilities to ‘make a fresh site.’ That work, along with much of the structural concrete, is now complete. The silhouette of the building is becoming more visible as the steel continues to rise up. It’s literally ... touching three buildings.”

Executing the project on an active campus is another current challenge for Jacobsen and its trade partners. Continuous noise and vibration monitoring and regular meetings with managers of adjacent buildings help reduce impacts to the critical health care activities. Onsite crews maintain a constant vigilance of redirecting and keeping pedestrians away from the site.

“At the end of the day, we’re a guest on the campus,” Jacobsen told ENR. “We’re tasked to further its mission … which is health care and research.”

Eccles is one of Utah’s leading philanthropists and a dedicated University of Utah supporter. Funds from a landmark $110 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation provide support for medical education programs and cardiovascular research. Eccles is chairman and CEO of the two foundations.

“I have long believed that no state or region can become truly great without a world-class medical center at its nucleus,” Eccles said. “When completed, this facility will help ensure the university provides the highest quality medical education for the doctors who serve Utah and the entire Intermountain West.”

The eight-story facility is nestled on the hillside in the heart of the University of Utah Health campus and will replace the old School of Medicine facility that was built in the 1960s.

The eight-story facility is located on the hillside in the heart of the University of Utah Health campus and will replace the old School of Medicine facility that was built in the 1960s.

The new building encompasses 211,457-sq.-ft. and will consist of a high-tech anatomy lab, tailored classrooms, an advanced simulation center, collaborative spaces and conference auditoriums.

“This innovative new building will be the cornerstone of our University of Utah Health campus, embodying the extraordinary and generous legacy of the Eccles family and their foundations, a legacy that has enriched the University of Utah for over 70 years,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine will propel the U forward, as a world-class integrated academic medical institution. I want to specifically thank Spence Eccles, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything he has done for the U.”

Work on the project began with the ground breaking in October 2022 and the installment of the first structural steel started in February 2024.

“This facility will advance innovation in medical education,” said Michael Good, CEO of University of Utah Health and senior vice president of Health Sciences. “It will enable us to be a model for the nation in educating medical students who will pursue excellence in patient care and the medical sciences.”

University of Utah Health is the only academic medical center in the Mountain West, providing patient care for nearly 10 percent of the geographic area of the continental United States. The construction of the medical education building is expected to drive the evolution in the medical school’s history and be used across three primary areas: education, research and clinical care.

“This iconic new building anchoring our University Health campus, reflects the remarkable, generous legacy of the Eccles Family,” Randall said. “Their remarkable gift is already enabling our Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine to move further forward as a world-class integrated academic medical institution.”

The new School of Medicine facility will use education, training and research to prepare the next generation of health care providers. 

(All photos courtesy of Jacobsen Construction.)

Utah Construction Crews Repairing 62 Bridges This Summer

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will perform maintenance on 62 Salt Lake County bridges tthroughout the summer to address the impacts of recent severe winters and help keep them in good shape.

“The last two winters have been really hard on our bridges,” UDOT Region Two Director Robert Stewart said. “These maintenance projects allow us to get the most out of these bridges, which not only saves us money, but gives drivers a better commute every day.”

Many of the bridges under construction in Salt Lake County this summer are nearly 40 years old. This summer’s bridge maintenance work will cause traffic delays. The work includes:

Airport Bridges

Crews will extend the life of 19 bridges throughout Salt Lake County with several rehabilitation projects en route to Salt Lake

International Airport. This includes bridges over I-80, Bangerter Highway, Redwood Road, SR-201 and SR-202. Drivers should expect ramp and bridge closures throughout the summer to accommodate this work. The work is expected to be completed in late summer 2024.

3200 West Bridge Deck Replacement

Later this summer, crews will demolish the two bridge decks on SR 201 at 3200 West and replace them with new, smoother driving surfaces. Drivers should expect delays of more than 30 minutes on SR 201 during peak travel times, as traffic will be detoured off and back on the highway via the 3200 West on- and off-ramps. 3200 West under the bridge is scheduled to be closed for approximately six months during construction. Construction is expected to start this summer and will require approximately six months to complete. Drivers are encouraged to take I-

80, I-215, Redwood Road, 3500 South and other alternate routes to avoid delays.

I-15 Bridge Work

UDOT will be repairing bridge decks and fixing potholes on 32 bridges on I-15 in Salt Lake County from 400 North to 11400 South. UDOT crews also will replace the joints on six bridges in that area as well.

Drivers should expect overnight and weekend lane closures through fall for these repairs.

Bangerter Bridge Repairs

Crews will be repairing bridges on Bangerter Highway between California Avenue and the airport. Bangerter will be reduced to one lane in each direction to accommodate this work. 

St. George Utah photo

UDOT will be repairing bridge decks on 32 bridges on I-15 in Salt Lake County.

UTAH from page 1

New Mexico Officials Invest $96M for Statewide Projects

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One currently has 128 active projects with 28 local entities in the amount of $96,815,364. In total, District one works with 24 local entities including 15 School Districts or Universities, the Alamo Navajo Chapter, El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (EPMPO), Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MVMPO), South Central Council of Governments (SCCOG) and Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments (SWNMCOG).

Counties

• Doña Ana County has a total of 27 agreements: $14,110,080;

• Grant County has a total of six agreements: $4,463,458;

•Hidalgo County has a total of two agreements: $832,500

• Luna County has a total of 5 agreements: $7,414,011;

• Sierra County has a total of six agreements: $3,195,846;

• Socorro County has a total of seven agreements: $6,514,543.

Municipalities

New Mexico Department of Tranportation photo

District One currently has 128 active projects with 28 local entities in the amount of $96,815,364.

• City of Anthony has a total of five agreements: $3,044,776;

• City of Bayard has one agreement: $1,539,977;

• Village of Columbus has one agreement: $1,100,173;

• City of Deming has a total of five agreements: $8,642,326;

Rocky Mountain Transit & Laser... RDO Expands Construction Technology Services in Utah

RDO Equipment Co. has finalized an acquisition of Rocky Mountain Transit & Laser, expanding the construction technology solutions, service and expertise available to customers out of the eight John Deere construction and Wirtgen Group stores across Utah (Idaho and Wyoming, too) acquired by RDO in December 2023.

“Construction technology is evolving faster than ever and so are the ways contractors are learning to use it to their benefit,” said Adam Gilbertson, RDO’s senior vice president of field technology and innovation. “RDO is committed to staying ahead of the curve by finding the right opportunities to invest in our technology teams and knowledge, and that’s exactly the opportunity we saw in Rocky Mountain Transit & Laser.”

All Rocky Mountain Transit & Laser team members have accepted positions within RDO, adding decades of collective experience in construction technology to the RDO team. The Rocky Mountain Transit &

Laser locations in Salt Lake City, Utah, (and Las Vegas) will now be RDO construction technology stores, where customers will have access to solutions from leading manufacturers like Topcon.

“These team members are pioneers in construction machine control technology and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to our team and build on what they have accomplished,” Gilbertson said.

Gilbertson said the acquisition best positions RDO to serve the evolving needs of construction customers in the Mountain region.

“As RDO stepped into the role of being the John Deere construction dealer for the Mountain region, it was a priority to add the technology component so we can provide the full range of tech solutions these customers need,” Gilbertson said. “We’re excited by the opportunities to partner with customers on a new level in this region.”

For more information, visit www.rdoequipment.com. 

• City of Elephant Butte has a total of seven agreements: $4,262,669;

• Village of Hatch has a total of two agreements: $773,067;

• Town of Hurley has a total of five agreements: $1,632,500;

• City of Las Cruces has a total of 16

agreements: $6,685,000;

• City of Lordsburg has a total of five agreements: $768,157;

• Village of Magdalena has a total of three agreements: $831,826;

• Town of Mesilla has a total of six agreements: $1,769,163;

• Village of Santa Clara has a total of three agreements: $5,861,795;

• Town of Silver City has a total of three agreements: $4,230,815;

• City of Socorro has a total of five agreements: $11,649,672;

• City of Sunland Park has a total of two agreements: $2,395,000;

• City of Truth or Consequences has a total of two agreements: $335,227;

• Village of Williamsburg has a total of four agreements: $2,464,311.

Universities

• New Mexico Tech University has a total of two agreements totaling $2,281,124. 