PUBLIC WORKS COLORADO J O U R N A L ACPA: Awards 2023 FEATURE: National Western Energy FEATURE: Worker Well-being COLUMNS: Association News PS: Out & About in Colorado SPRING/SUMMER 2023: Vol.19, No.3 - $4.95
2┃ Colorado Public Works Journal
The Colorado Public Works Journal - jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com J O U R N A L THE EDITOR REMEMBER that Colorado Public Works Journal can now be read online, on your phone, tablet or other mobile device. Please go there, take a look and let us know what you think at coloradopublicworksjournal.com PUBLIC WORKS COLORADO NEWlogo_CPWJ:Layout 1 8/22/17 3:30 PM Page 2 SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃3 Thanks to being on the board of Women of Asphalt Colorado, I was fortunate to attend ConExpo in Las Vegas this year. This once in every three year event is everything you have read about and so much more. From those who attended this year and in the past, it really is quite an overwhelming event. In 2023 they had over 140,000 visitors, 3M square feet of exhibitor space and over 2000 booths to visit. In fact the word ‘booth’ does not best describe the nature of the interactive exhibits and displays all vying for attention. From actual concrete wall demolitions, to a Robot making coffee machine, caricaturists (thank you BOMAG) and machines and equipment galore, it was quite the wow factor. Being aware of what is being offered in our industry not only available in our state but across the world was mind-blowing. Just when you thought you had seen it all, you turned a corner and saw some more. If you get the chance to go in 2026, go and see for yourself, you will be glad you did. Back to Colorado with a bump on the concrete runway and we immediately started work on this issue which highlights all the best in concrete projects and awards around the state. We also have an insight to a career spanning 40 plus years in concrete, find out who on page 14. In this issue we welcome for the first time the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC) who we have recently partnered with to help expand their reach in the public works arena. HCC are focused on helping small and diverse business owners to thrive in construction, by way of offering educational opportunities, legislative support and networking events with likeminded companies. Learn how you can get involved on page 58. Women in Construction week went by far too quickly with many events being held across the state. Here in Denver alone I think I attended six and three of those were in one day! See where CPWJ were on page 59. Remember, if you would like us to attend your event, you only have to ask. If you would like to advertise with us, highlight your company, your people, it is all possible. This is what we do we keep the industry connected, by telling your stories. Contact me today and see how I can make that happen. Jo Taylor, Managing Editor
4┃ Colorado Public Works Journal CONTENTS Cover Image: Castle Pines Parkway National Western Energy Center- page 22 MAILING LIST MAINTENANCE - COVID UPDATE Working from home and miss seeing your copy of CPWJ? No problem, send us your address and we will have your copy of CPWJ mailed to your home address rather than to your office.You may resume delivery to your office at any time. Please take a moment to let us know of any co-workers who may have moved on and no longer need to be on our mailing list. THANK YOU for helping us. SPRING-SUMMER 2023 : Volume 19, No.3 COLORADO PUBLIC WORKS JOURNAL (ISSN 1555-8258) is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November CPWJ is published by Coterie Press Ltd., 5 White Birch, Littleton, CO 80127 tel: (303) 933-2526 coloradopublicworksjournal.com Managing Editor: Jo Taylor, (720) 360-6737 jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com Editor: William Taylor (303) 933-2526 news@coloradopublicworksjournal.com Volume 19. No.3, May 2023 Production: Coterie Press Design: Violet Cruz, William Taylor Printed by: One Stop Printing Subscription, Mailing Services and Accounting info@coloradopublicworksjournal.com Subscription $30.00 per year in the USA Periodicals Postage Paid in Denver, Colorado. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Coterie Press Ltd., 5 White Birch, Littleton, CO 80127. Contents copyright © 2023 by Coterie Press Ltd. All rights reserved Colorado Public Works Journal is an independent publication designed to be of service and interest to those providing civil services related to infrastructure construction and maintenance and allied fields, including government officials, heavy/civil contractors, engineers and architects, distributors, dealers and manufacturers of equipment and materials, and providers of services to government agencies and the construction and development industry Colorado Public Works Journal accepts no responsibility or liability for the validity of information and articles supplied by contributors, vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies. Opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers of CPWJ. 06 : Works News Equipment 08 : Works News Updates 10 : Works News People 14 : Industry Insights Ralph Bell 18 : Worker Well-being by Cal Beyer 27 : ACPA Awards Excellence in Concrete Paving Awards 2023 48 : Association News APWA, ACEC, RTD, CDOT, CAPA, ACPA, CCA, CRMCA, HCC 59 : PS! (Parting Shots) Out and About at Events in Colorado 62 : Advertiers Index Our Corporate Partners
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6┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News E Q U I P M E N T Dynapac North America Partners with Southwest JCB in Arizona and Colorado April 5, 2023: Dynapac North America is pleased to announce the addition of Southwest JCB to their dealer network. The Arizona and Colorado markets have been underserved for Dynapac for some time and through this partnership will bring Dynapac back to the forefront. The two Southwest JCB locations, Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ will have the complete line of Dynapac products, soil and asphalt rollers, pavers as well as light compaction equipment. “We are extremely excited to be representing Dynapac, a well-recognized industry leader in the paving and compaction equipment space, in two of our Tier One markets Denver and Phoenix,” said Nic DiPaolo, General Manager for Southwest JCB. “We feel this will bring great value to the current and growing Southwest JCB customer base.” Southwest JCB has provides equipment to the southwestern United States for more than 30 years. They have built a philosophy around a customer orientated culture year after year. The company promotes strong relationships with employees, customers and vendors. Trust, integrity and quality remain the driving force today. “At Dynapac, we pride ourselves by partnering with the right people who share the common culture and goals as we do,” said Jim Bansen, Sr. Director of Dealer Sales Schwarze unveiled its 100% electric M6 Avalanche EV sweeper and Channel Development. “By partnering with Southwest JCB in this market, we will be able to provide our products and services to those who haven’t had local access to the brand for a few years.”With over 200 dealer locations in North America, the addition of Southwest JCB will help customers in previously underserved markets with quality Dynapac equipment, parts and customer service. Huntsville, AL, March 22, 2023: Schwarze Industries, a leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial sweepers, unveiled its 100% electric M6 Avalanche EV prototype sweeper at the CONEXPO-CON/ AGG 2023 in Las Vegas, NV. It’s clear that electric sweepers present a great opportunity for the sweeping industry going forward - with their superior efficiency and zero emissions offering significant benefits for both operators and the environment alike. Unsurprisingly, many companies are beginning to explore the possibilities electric sweepers offer to reduce operating costs and environmental impact. As companies continue embracing this new technology in increasing numbers, it looks like we are on our way to seeing an industry revolutionized by electrification! The most apparent expected advancement is a decrease in the cost of electric sweeper machines. Whereas current models are still relatively expensive due to battery costs, the prices are projected to go down substantially with advances in battery technology and increased production. Governments worldwide are implementing EV policies such as tax credits and subsidies that can further reduce purchase costs. These incentives could make electric sweepers much more attractive than traditional diesel models. Another development for electric sweepers is improved efficiency via faster charging times and longer operating ranges. As battery technology continues to improve, manufacturers are finding ways to increase the range per charge and shorten charging times. New technologies such as solid-state batteries are being developed, which promise even better performance than existing models – meaning faster charging times and greater range per charge for drivers of these vehicles. As electric vehicles become the norm, electric street sweepers are bound to take over traditional diesel machines that burn fossil fuels. In the near future, electric street sweepers will be less expensive and more efficient, and Schwarze is excited and promises to be at the forefront of this journey. To stay informed about the development of sweeper electrification and Schwarze’s sustainability commitments, please visit http:// www.schwarze.com/electric.
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃7 Works News E Q U I P M E N T NAPA Earns 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award GREENBELT, MD—The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) has been honored with the 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for demonstrating exemplary commitment and dedication to leadership in energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR program. “As we accelerate historic efforts to address climate change, publicprivate partnerships will be essential to realizing the scale of our ambition,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I applaud this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for working with EPA to deliver a clean energy future that saves American consumers and businesses money and creates jobs.” NAPA is working in partnership with EPA ENERGY STAR to develop resources to enable asphalt mixture producers and paving contractors to better understand their energy performance and decrease greenhouse gas emissions from their facilities. Such efforts include: • Promoting ENERGY STAR partnership among NAPA members, with six becoming ENERGY STAR partners in 2022; • Developing an Asphalt Plant Energy Performance Peer Exchange (APEX) program to share best practices and develop resources supporting energy management at asphalt plants; • Publishing The Road Forward, an industry-wide vision for producing and constructing net zero carbon emission asphalt pavements by 2050; • Supporting the development of an ENERGY STAR asphalt pavement plant energy performance indicator tool to assist asphalt mix producers measure and benchmark the energy performance of their plants; and • Including a provision in the Product Category Rules for Asphalt Mixtures that allows Environmental Product Declarations for Asphalt Mixtures to include information about a company’s ENERGY STAR accomplishments (section 8.3.2). “NAPA’s commitment to sustainability has taken on new prevalence with The Road Forward, and the APEX Program will be a key component for achieving those goals,” said President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE. “Already, our partnership with ENERGY STAR is providing value by enabling NAPA members to learn best practices for managing and reducing energy consumption at asphalt plants throughout the country.” Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies. These efforts are essential to fighting the climate crisis, protecting public health, and creating a clean energy future for everyone. Winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. Revolutionary Electric Distributor Unveiled at CONEXPO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA MARCH 14, 2023 Rosco, a LeeBoy company, displayed the new electric Maximizer 2 Distributor in Booth C31731 at CONEXPO 2023. The machine is designed to give users consistent, reliable heat for spraying emulsion, but also do so in a way that helps contractors reduce their carbon footprint. “We wanted to take the proven performance of our Maximizer 2 Distributor and enhance it for current and future market demand,” Chris Broome, Senior Product Manager at LeeBoy said. “A lot of what you see on the Electric Maximizer 2 is a result of the proven performance the industry is familiar with, engineered for electric heating.” The Electric Maximizer 2 features a 13KW generator that powers two 6000 Watt heating elements that maintain the heat of the material inside the tank. The machine does not require an additional battery, and has proven performance with the generator that is being used as it is the same generator featured in the LeeBoy 8520 asphalt pavers. “This machine was specifically designed to reduce the use of diesel and help contractors lower their carbon footprint,” Broome said. “We are taking power off of the engine and converting it into electricity for the two heating elements.” Flameless, Reliable Heat = Improved Productivity.....Not only is this flameless heat reliable, it will also help contractors improve their productivity each day. “With flame type burners, whether they’re propane or diesel, you can’t heat while you’re driving and one of the big bonuses with the Electric Maximizer 2 is you’ll be able to run the generator to heat or maintain heat while you’re driving to the job site,” Broome said. “This will all but eliminate the downtime needed to heat material once you’ve arrived at the job site.” Once the truck is powered off for the night, the machine is plugged into 240 VAC (50 Amp) single phase shop power. The electric elements will maintain material temperature without the use of diesel. “The material temperature is thermostatically controlled so it’s only heating when it needs to, keeping the material at the target temperature at all times” Broome said.
8┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News U P D A T E S Douglas County Develops an App to Adopt a Road Do you have just two days in 2023 to help your community? Gather your friends or neighbors and adopt a road for litter pickup. Douglas County’s road adoption process is now online and easier than ever. The Adopt-A-Road program in Douglas County was established more than 25 years ago with the goal of keeping our roads clean and safe. A dedicated group of volunteers already has 59 road segments covered for litter pickup, but there are still 53 that would benefit from your time and attention. Individuals and organized groups are invited to visit our webpage for more information about the program, search for adoptable roads, register to volunteer and log their progress. Children who are at least 6 years old may also participate. One adult supervisor is required for every eight participants between 13 and 17 years of age, and one adult supervisor is required for every four participants between 6 and 12 years of age. PUEBLO, Colorado (Tuesday, April 4, 2023) – CS Wind America, the No. 1 wind tower manufacturing company, is hosting a groundbreaking expansion ceremony at the world’s largest wind turbine tower manufacturing plant. The three-phase construction plan to expand the existing site will span 900,000 square feet when completed and will employ 1,500 people. With the addition of 850 new jobs, the expansion will make the plant one of the largest employers in Pueblo, Colorado. CS Wind, based in South Korea, invested in the site after purchasing it from Denmark-based Vestas in August 2021. Focused on empowering innovative clean energy solutions, CS Wind is the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, specializing in onshore When you adopt a road, you agree to pick up litter from both sides of the adopted roadway for one year. Each roadway section ranges from 1 to 3 miles. At the end of one year, you’ll have the option to renew your commitment. Your name or group’s name will be displayed on a sign along your adopted road. For your chosen cleanup days, the County will provide orange trash bags and safety vests. County crews will also pick up and dispose of the full orange trash bags. Each year, community volunteers also help beautify our parks and open spaces, give company and assistance to older adults in our community, ensure an enjoyable experience at the Douglas County Fair and so much more. Your County appreciates you! Groundbreaking for Expansion at World’s Largest Wind Turbine Tower Manufacturing Plant tower manufacturing from start to finish. Additional investment in the facility is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which includes tax incentives for clean energy projects. President Joe Biden passed the IRA in part to “build American clean energy supply chains” and “create clean energy jobs,” both of which CS Wind is doing by expanding this facility. Leading design and construction of the expansion is Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture and construction firm, with offices in Denver, across the country and around the world.
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃9 PERMANENT PAVEMENT REPAIR MATERIAL UniquePavingMaterials.com Todd Mellema 303-935-2485 todd@dissco.net ALL WEATHER SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE IN BAGS & BULK Works News U P D A T E S Celebration year for CAPA as it marks 40th Anniversary. Brannan Wins an ICE Award! SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY JULY 28, 2023 To celebrate CAPA’s 40th Anniversary we have made plans for a mid-summer steak fry to showcase our achievements and recognize those that were instrumental in our accomplishments over the last 40 years. This event will be hosted by CAPA Member, JCB-Southwest which is located at 5050 East 58th Avenue, Commerce City 80022. Parking will be on the east side of the building and in the lot adjacent to the building. This is a NO COST event. Registration is open by using this link. As part of our celebration we are asking for donations of items to be given away as door prizes, such as event tickets, scale models of equipment gift cards, outdoor/ recreational items. For more information contact Mike Skinner. Below is the original CAPA logo from 1983 CAPA was formed in 1982 to promote and publicize the use of quality asphalt in the state of Colorado and to encourage fair methods of contracting. Here is some of the history of CAPA. • CAPA incorporated in 1983 as a Trade Association with the State of Colorado named the Colorado Asphalt Producers Association • Original Office: 3801 E Florida Ave, Ste. 400, Denver Brannan was been awarded the 1st place CCA ICE award in the category of Private Owner Project Under $6M, for their Costco Wholesale Distribution Center project in Aurora, CO. This project included the paving scope of the 2021/2022 expansion of Costco’s Distribution Center in Aurora. 8.5” of hot mix asphalt was installed in three lifts using two lower lifts at 3-inch thick each, and a 2.5-inc top lift. Customized mix designs were produced from scratch for this project to adhere to Costco’s asphalt specifications. Excellent coordination from the GC, Southeast Industrial, was taken on this project to keep Costco’s facility open and running the entire length of the expansion. This included managing Costco’s site truck shipments and subcontractors to ultimately execute an aggressive construction schedule resulting in a high quality finished product. This project was delivered on time, including paving through winter conditions while taking special care for temperature specifications. The use of a Warm Mix Additive, Evotherm M1, to asphalt mixes was critical on this project to achieve quality compaction at the lower ambient paving temperatures. The Costco Distribution Center in Aurora was finalized after the General Contractor installed three separate vertical expansions, and Brannan Sand & Gravel paved over 40,000 tons of asphalt. Left to right: Gunther Anderson: Project Manager - 8 years with Brannan. Colby Black: Commercial Superintendent – 9 years with Brannan. Jimmy
10┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News P E O P L E Iron Woman Congratulates Shaun Egan! Congratulations go out to Shaun Egan, Iron Woman’s CEO, for receiving the Community Advocate Award at the recent Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC) Annual Awards Banquet! Shaun has shown unwavering support and mentorship for the minority and disadvantaged business community. He has given away more than $1M in shares of Iron Woman to create employee owners and supported employees through generous life benefits, including a homebuyers assistance program. Shaun has been a continuous advocate for healthy communities through support and partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Denver Mental Health Center, and Open Flow, a 501C3 Shaun created to support clean water for disadvantaged communities. His support of the HCC legislative committee has been extremely valuable to HCC and the construction industry. Iron Woman is proud to have Shaun as a leader, mentor, and friend. This award is well deserved! CCA’s Moses Alvarez Appointed to Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission Congratulations to CCA’s Moses Alvarez who has been appointed by Governor Polis to represent CCA on the Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission. His appointment was approved by the State Senate last week. Moses replaces Jim Moody who served on the Commission since its inception in 2018. On May 25, 2018, Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 18-167 into law, which was initiated and supported by CCA. This bill created a true one-call before you dig system in Colorado and included the creation of the Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission (Safety Commission), effective August 8, 2018. Phil Hull Joins HDR “HDR is pleased to announce that Phil Hull has joined our Colorado Construction Services Team as a Director of Operations in the Denver office. Phil’s role involves growing our construction management group into new markets over the short and long term while strengthening relationships with our existing clients. He is also continually monitoring the industry for innovative changes and adapting new tools to improve HDR’s construction management practices and workflows. In addition to his business development work, Phil will directly support our heavy infrastructure teams across Colorado. He will be directly involved in our Front Range projects, including bridges, highways, pedestrian corridors, tunnels, rockfall and slope stabilization, lighting, and safety improvements.
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃11 Works News P E O P L E Cheryl Cheney is Colorado Women’s Day Unsung Heroine Cheryl Cheney has been nominated and awarded with the Colorado Women’s Day Unsung Heroine award highlighting her work at Brannan and her volunteer service efforts here in our community. In her more than twenty-five years with Brannan Companies, Cheryl has worked as a Project Administrator and a Contract Administrator. She has also served on several committees to help plan corporate functions and develop processes and procedures designed to improve Brannan’s ability to provide their customers with the best possible products, services, and value. Outside of her work with Brannan, Cheryl loves to volunteer in the community. She has worked with organizations that help to brighten the days of children battling life threatening illness or injuries, helped in the political areas by recruiting and helping people seeking to benefit their communities through election to public office, and continues to serve as City Council appointed member of the City of Arvada Building Code Advisory Board. Cheryl’s current community service efforts are focused on saving the lives of dogs and cat in high kill shelters in New Mexico by helping Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue find them foster families and getting them adopted into loving homes here in Colorado.” Brooke Smartz was awarded the designation of ACI Fellow On Sunday, April 2, at the 2023 ACI Spring Concrete Convention held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, in San Francisco, CA. Brooke Smartz was awarded the designation of ACI Fellow. Smartz was one of 20 people receiving the designation of Fellow for her years of service to the American Concrete Institute. Smartz is a Market Manager for Holcim in Denver, CO, USA and has held a variety of technical and marketing roles at Holcim during her 25-year career, having been actively involved in sustainability, product development, and market introduction of blended cements. Smartz is Past President (2009) and Board of Director (2006-2009, 2015) of the ACI Rocky Mountain Chapter and held several officer terms for the ACI Intermountain Chapter (1999-2003). She is also a member of the ACI New Mexico Chapter. She created the ACI Rocky Mountain JC Roumain Scholarship to honor her mentor in sustainability and to encourage student involvement in the industry. She is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and former voting member of ASTM International. Smartz received the 2017 ACI Chapter Activities Award. She also received the 2017 ACI Rocky Mountain Chapter J. Robert Florey Award for “long-term commitment to the JC Roumain Scholarship Fund and Outstanding Leadership.” ACEC Colorado Bestows Highest Honor The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado (ACEC Colorado) honored David Merritt, PE (AECOM Technical Services – Denver) with the association’s highest honor as the winner of the Orley O. Phillips Award. This annual award is granted by the ACEC Colorado Past Presidents’ Council to an individual employed by a member firm and who has made significant contributions to the profession, the Council and its programs. Merritt has more than 40 years of experience in water resources planning and management for various communities, including more than 30 years’ experience working on salinity control issues on the Colorado River, both with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and as Colorado’s technical representative to the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum Workgroup. Throughout his career, Merritt has served on many boards, committees and commissions in the water arena, including the Colorado River Water Conservation Board and ACEC Colorado Water Resources Committee. In 2016, he received the ACEC Colorado George Washington Award for outstanding service to the community, the progress of Colorado and the advancement of the public image of consulting engineering as a profession. Currently, he is serving his second term representing the West Area on the ACEC Colorado Board of Directors, his first term on the Colorado Engineers Political Action Committee, and second term as board liaison to our Government Affairs Committee.
12┃ Colorado Public Works Journal www.cowyacpa.org CO/WY Chapter—ACPA @COWYACPA CONCRETE: THE SUSTAINABLE PAVEMENT SOLUTION With a LONG LIFE OF 30 OR MORE YEARS with minimal maintenance, concrete pavements are economically sustainable and cost efficient. Concrete pavement’s lighter color MITIGATES URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS and can help offset global warming. Smooth, rigid concrete pavements REDUCE VEHICLE FUEL CONSUMPTION. As concrete pavement ages, it ABSORBS CARBON DIOXIDE, helping to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃13 *Offer of 0% is for a loan term of 24 months which offer is only valid from April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023 on new compact (compact track loaders, compact wheel loaders, micro/mini excavators, skid steer loaders) and small (backhoe loaders, telehandlers, small track type tractors, small wheel loaders) Cat® machines sold by participating Cat dealers to customers in the USA or Canada. The credit of up to $500 USD for a minimum 2yr/1000hr CVA purchase can only be applied toward the purchase of a qualifying Cat Customer Value Agreement (CVA). Purchases (both machine and CVA) and machine delivery must occur during offer period. Offer subject to machine availability and credit approval by Cat Financial. Not all customers will qualify. Amount of the CVA credit cannot exceed the price of the qualifying CVA. CVA must include a minimum 2yr/1000hr Preventative Maintenance Parts Kit, TA1 Annual Inspection, signed CVA contract, and Product LinkTM. Amount of credit towards CVA is the same for all models. Offer may change without prior notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. Additional terms and conditions will apply. Contact Wagner Equipment Co. for details. 0% PERCENT. $0 DOWN. 0 HASSLE. + $500 USD TOWARDS A CAT® CVA* What do you get from Wagner Equipment Co.? Everything you need. Like expert advice and hands-on support. And around-the-clock access to Genuine Cat® Parts. Plus, you get rock-solid savings on Cat compact equipment. SCAN TO SEE ALL YOU CAN SAVE WagnerEquipment.com/buynow CALL: 303-681-6221
14┃ Colorado Public Works Journal INDUSTRY INSIGHTS feature by Sean O’Keefe After more than 43 years in the industry, Ralph Bell of Castle Rock Construction Company (CRCC) finds himself slowly winding down a prestigious career in concrete paving. Having graduated from the Missouri School of Mines, Bell was working for a predecessor firm, Irving F. Jensen Company, an Iowa concrete paving contractor when one of the four Jensen brothers, Erik Jensen, proposed starting a Colorado division. In 1981 Bell was one of a handful of employees that followed Erik a little further west and he’s been here ever since. “I’ve always loved building things,” says Bell who has been at the helm of Castle Rock Construction Company of Colorado since the LLC was formed in 2002 as a partnership between ownership and a core group of long-term employees. “I enjoy the satisfaction of a successful bid and seeing it to fruition through the efforts of a team of professionals committed to hard work.” Today, CRCC is a recognized leader in Colorado’s concrete paving industry. CRCC offers a full array of construction services associated with roadway construction including earthwork, demolition, and removal of existing roadways, underground utilities, and curb & gutter construction. “CRCC is a mid-size company of about 125 full-time employees. We have been happy to maintain that position while we have watched several local competitors be acquired,” says Bell of CRCC’s market disposition – not status quo but rather quietly confident. “We are advocates for concrete pavement, and sincerely believe concrete is the best long-term investment transportation departments can make in their roadways.” As Bell recalls, when he arrived in 1981 Colorado was very much an asphalt state. Almost nothing was paved in concrete. Having spent more than 40 years building the state’s market for concrete, Bell has seen a lot of change. He is most proud of the fact that the projects he helped build in the 80s and 90s have stood the test of time and still meet everyday demands 30+ years later. “There have been ebbs and flows in the market, but concrete paving can truly last a lifetime. We can look back at the work CRCC did long ago that is still performing well. Concrete does require maintenance, but as a long-term investment, it’s hard to beat,” says Bell. Though there have been countless assignments in Bell’s career, noteworthy mentions in CRCC’s portfolio include Colorado US 36 Boulder Turnpike, Pena Boulevard, several sections of I-225, and numerous other assignments for CDOT and transportation departments across Colorado. “Change is always about finding a better way of doing things. Today we use more environmentally friendly concrete mixes, recycled aggregates, and local aggregates to reduce the impacts of hauling. With the right perspective, challenges become opportunities,” says Bell. He points to a series of formative innovations that have reshaped the industry in the time he’s been involved. The development of Dowel Bar Inserter Pavers replaced basketwelded assemblies as the primary means of laying down concrete roadways about 20 years ago. This introduced tremendous efficiency. Innovations in mix compositions have led to increased ride quality, which has been something of a sticking point with consumers in the past. “Concrete overlays have become more common over the last 10 to 15 years as well,” adds Bell of the process of roto milling an asphalt surface and spreading a 6- to 8” layer of concrete over it. “Those projects are also starting to prove their long-term value through consistent performance. This is a case of trying to help transportation departments spend their money wisely. We’ve done “I enjoy the satisfaction of a successful bid and seeing it to fruition through the efforts of a team of professionals committed to hard work.” Ralph Bell, Castle Rock Construction Company
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃15 8- to 10” concrete overlays on both I-25 and I-70, which is also a big step for the industry.” Asked about the challenges concrete paving faces today, Bell shares that like everything else in the built environment, the workforce challenge is the first thing that comes to mind. “Though CRCC’s workforce expands and contracts seasonally, we are generally stabilized by loyalty. However, finding qualified people is an industry-wide challenge,” says Bell. It’s a familiar refrain among building industry employers. “We are trying to reach people at the high school level to get them interested in careers in construction. The industry is well compensated and there is incredible room for advancement. I believe that once young people experience the joy of building, they will be hooked on it, the way most people in construction are.” Certainly, personal passion is the initial motivation for every successful career in construction or otherwise. To be fair, however, there is more to the workforce deficit than simply interest. Bell, like many involved in construction before the world was dominated by technology, finds that younger people today don’t want to work the way predecessor generations did. “The construction industry spent years trying to bend younger people to our way of doing things. We need to change that attitude and blend them into what we do. At CRCC, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to optimize human resources through technological advances,” continues Bell of the conundrum. “Currently we are working with GPS, robotics, and other model-based spatial systems that integrate data-driven mechanical automation with human know-how. Things like self-driving trucks will eventually be more efficient. Once people don’t feel fulfilled driving a truck anymore, they won’t.” The changing dynamics of human resources aren’t the only issue on the horizon. Bell wonders about material availability as well. “This is a tough industry. In concrete, you are always being asked to do more with less. Quarries and aggregate pits are getting harder and harder to reach. So, getting materials continues to become more of a challenge,” he forecasts. “CRCC is already working with recycled concrete. Now we are exploring using recycled tires and other possibilities.” As the sun starts to set on his career, Ralph Bell is being recognized for his contributions to concrete paving in Colorado. He received a 2023 Pioneer Award from the Colorado Contractors Association. Back at CRCC, Ralph has moved into a transitionary role. His daughter, Amy Brooks, who is qualified by both education and experience, has taken control of CRCC’s day-to-day operations. Meanwhile, Ralph is enjoying hot-rodding a 1952 Studebaker pickup in his garage. “I’m a big believer that there can only be one boss, and Amy is it! CRCC is in great hands.”
16┃ Colorado Public Works Journal GLOBAL RESOURCES WITH A LOCAL TOUCH With a new look comes the power of a global team of experts, innovative solutions, more personalized products, and access to state-of-the-art technology that helps us solve problems like never before. But that doesn’t mean we lost our personal touch. We’re as committed as ever to the communities we serve - and that means partnering with local distributors who are just as committed as we are. monroetruck.com In Partnership With Denver: 303-295-2885 Greeley: 970-353-4918 www.ojwatson.com
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃17 800-646-6636 Honnen.com @honnenequipment WELL-EQUIPPED FOR YOUR ROAD BUILDING SUCCESS TOP-CLASS PAVERS: FOR ALL APPLICATIONS Offering five paver classes from mini to highway class maximizes clarity, giving you the assurance you need to perfectly meet all challenges in road construction with the optimum paver. ECONOMICAL AND EFFECTIVE COMPACTORS The compactor’s job is to produce a high-load bearing capacity. Hamm compactors achieve this through maximum productivity and quality, combined with low consumption and comfortable operation. MILLING MACHINES DESIGNED FOR TOP PERFORMANCE The demands on our roads are constantly on the rise. Wirtgen’s innovative and modern milling technology plays an important part in ensuring cost-efficient rehabilitation of roads without burdening the environment.
18┃ Colorado Public Works Journal “You Can’t Fix Mental Health With Duct Tape” but Man Therapy Can Help You by Cal Beyer images @ CDOT
WINTER 2023┃19 SPRING-SUMMER Introducing Man Therapy “Mental health and suicide prevention are serious topics. Nationally, men account for almost 80% of all suicides. Yet, reaching men with public health information and getting men to seek and accept help continues to be challenging.” Man Therapy (www.ManTherapy.org) is a pioneering behavioral health program created in 2011. Man Therapy is an innovative approach developed by a marketing and advertising agency in Denver named Grit Digital Health. The Colorado Public Health provided funding from a grant to reduce suicide risk in working aged men. The purpose of Man Therapy is to break-down barriers to men seeking care for mental health challenges. Research identified three goals for the Man Therapy campaign: 1. Seeking help cannot be viewed as weak and unmanly 2. Men want access to tools to let them fix it in their own way 3. Help seeking needs to move upstream so men will reach out for help before a crisis Using Humor to Break Down Stigma Man Therapy has a colorful website with short, humorous videos to lure men and the women who care about the men in their lives (spouses, partners, girlfriends, siblings, and mothers) to dig deeper on the website for resources. The tagline for Man Therapy is “therapy how a man does it.” The Man Therapy website features a fictional therapist known as Dr. Rich Mahogany. He is described as a combination of “part-football coach, part-drinking buddy and 100 percent action hero.” Dr. Mahogany is a caricature of a “shrink” trying to be cool using “man-nerisms” and “dude speak” to explain why it is ok to have feelings. Research shows humor is effective at breaking down the stigma associated with mental heath and suicide prevention. Humor can effectively penetrate the hard outer shells of men who were frequently seen as hesitant, if not outrightly resistant, to talking about mental health. The Head Inspection Check (https://mantherapy.org/head-inspection/question) This self-service tool is a 5-minute “mental health check-up from the neck up”. This is an 18-question assessment that allows visitors to the Man Therapy website to complete a mental health screening with privacy. There are two additional questions that apply to either Veterans or First Responders. The results are shown immediately in a written summary. The results are accompanied by one of three video responses unique to the responses: low, medium, and high risk. Man Therapy Works The campaign has been extremely successful connecting with hard-to-reach males. Research has been conducted demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach. A 4-year CDC-sponsored clinical study in Michigan demonstrated Man Therapy helps reduce suicide among working-age men. In short, Man Therapy has been proven to reduce stigma and provide a pathway for men and those in their support network to seek and accept help. Examples of Most Popular Man Therapy Videos of Manly Mental Health Tips The links to the videos below are provided to help you or your organization get a jumpstart using Man Therapy. • Intro to Man Therapy & Dr. Rich Mahogany: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=EhH7SjbxsgU • Head Inspection Checklist: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5LWr5miZR7k • Feelings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rueaskjq4i0 • Breathing: https://www.mantherapy.org/tips-and-testimo nials/breathing • Cooking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3cH_ SCNkWw 2022 Videos Sponsored by Hensel Phelps (Greeley, CO): 1. Dr. Rich Mahogany’s Advice for Handling Depression and Anger: https://youtu.be/FKHtJ02WtVQ 2. Dr. Rich Mahogany’s Advice for Dealing with Stress: https://youtu.be/GtWC3bYfW9A 3. Dr. Rich Mahogany’s Thoughts on Substance Abuse: https://youtu.be/TRidDON9NVg Author Biography: Cal Beyer, CWP, SCTPP is Vice President of Workforce Risk & Worker Wellbeing for Holmes Murphy. He’s been dedicated to construction risk and safety management since 1996. He was director of risk management and safety for a paving contractor in the Pacific Northwest from 2014-2020. He serves on the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the Lived Experience Advisory Committee of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Cal helped to launch the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Contact Beyer at cbeyer@ holmesmurphy.com or 651/307-7883.
20┃ Colorado Public Works Journal
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃21 | KIEWIT.COM JOBS DONE WELL. Kiewit delivers large and small infrastructure projects all over Colorado with unparalleled quality.
22┃ Colorado Public Works Journal More than an obligation, infrastructure is an opportunity. It’s a chance to make a mark, to show with lasting action that deeds matter more than words, people matter more than money, and diversity, in all forms, matters more than almost anything. At the National Western Center, energy is no exception. In fact, it’s the centerpiece of an iconic campus modernization program aimed at embracing an ethic of regeneration for the site itself. “The Sewar Heat Recovery and Central Utility Plant has to be one of the most inovative things I have ever worked on,” says Maggie Karlos of Saunders Construction. As the Project Manager for an innovative new thermal energy recovery system now serving the revitalized National Western Center campus in Denver, Karlos believes she has her hands on one of the most important projects of her career. “This system will supply 90 percent of the heating and cooling for more than a million square feet of vertical constructions using thermal energy drawn from wastewater.” Though sourcing thermal energy from either water or wastewater is not entirely new technology, doing it at this scale is certainly significant; not only as an accomplishment but in terms of what it means for the future of energy diversification and resiliency. Thermal energy exists in the water running through the sinks, toilets, showers, and appliances of buildings and homes during everyday use. After it is used that water maintains a stable temperature as it travels through One To Remember Tomorrow is here – introducing The Delgany Interceptor the sewer pipe to the wastewater treatment plant. The system captures thermal energy from the Delgany Interceptor wastewater pipeline and transfers it to clean water distribution pipes that take it to buildings at the National Western Center campus, including CSU Spur. “This system is part of National Western’s Central Utility Plant. At about 9,000 SF, the CUP is a relatively small, unassuming building, but inside there is about $15 million worth of complex heavy mechanical and electrical systems,” continues Karlos. The second of three consecutive contracts on the National Western Center campus under Saunders’ purview, the source of the energy is a 25-foot-deep, wet well at a nearby utility hole where wastewater is pulled out of the system. The wastewater is circulated through biosolids separation equipment (SHARC) within the CUP where plate and frame heat exchangers transfer heat from the wastewater to outbound pipes that serve the campus’ energy district. “Rather than each of the many buildings in this complex having independent heating and cooling systems, using a District energy system, warm water is pumped through a closed-loop network of pipes from the central plant to each building simultaneously,” Karlos shares. “The benefits include energy efficiency, a low carbon footprint, low operations costs, and reliable, resilient energy during outages. Using local, recycled energy, this project is going to eliminate the emissions equivalent to 6.6 million passenger vehicle passenger miles every year. So that’s a tremendous win. But that’s not all, there are huge wins for the community as well.” For starters, there is the obvious benefit of using a recycled, renewby Sean O’Keefe
SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃23 able, and local energy source rather than burning fossil fuels. This reduces air population while decreasing natural-gas dependence and installs an energy recovery system that isn’t subject to the price fluctuations of the global economy. There is also significant improvement at the sight line. “The wet well is fed by a 72-inch sewer main that ran along the bank of the South Platte, adjacent to the site. It was almost seven feet tall,” Karlos shares. “That huge pipe, which was an eyesore and probably didn’t smell good, was taken below grade. This allowed an entire segment of the riverfront landscape to be returned to the community. Just as important, when we consider the partnership between the City and County of Denver and Metro Water Recovery this project becomes a precedent for inter-organizational cooperation on a legal level as well.” Indeed, cooperation seems to be a must for most infrastructure improvements. In 2015, the National Western Center Master Plan established ambitious sustainability objectives for the forthcoming campus rejuvenation. Among them, the desire to restore the site propelled the City and County of Denver to approach upstream water and sanitation provider Metro Water Recovery about the possibility of relocating the pipeline below grade. At the time, Metro Water Recovery was working on regulating the temperature of clean wastewater (effluent) that they were returning to the South Platte, post-treatment. Their investigation was focused on drawing thermal energy from the pipeline as a means of cooling the effluent, which is better for the flora, fauna, and wildlife within the river’s ecosystem. In adding the possibility of using the extracted thermal energy to heat and cool a campus of buildings, the wheels were set in motion for what is sure to become a benchmark in wastewater rights. “What is interesting about the relationship between Denver and Metro Water Recovery is that they established legal agreements that guarantee future flow rates so there is always an energy source for the campus and also assure that the biosolids, which become a commodity are rightfully returned to Metro Water Recovery,” says Karlos. The complexities don’t end there. The project was delivered under a multi-layered financing process known as a Design Finance Build Operate Maintain (DFBOM) whereby EAS Energy Partners built and now operate the system through an agreement with the National Western Center. EAS is comprised of CenTrio Energy, the largest core-competency district energy operator in North America, AECOM Technical Services Inc., and Saunders Construction. Partners in the district energy system and its future users include the City and County of Denver, CSU Spur, and the National Western Stock Show. And behind it all — Metro Water Recovery is providing thermal energy at no cost. While the idea of free energy certainly ought to sound appealing to entities that own and operate a campus full of facilities, Karlos reminds us that though the CUP is small what’s inside is something more than intricate. For Karlos, like many project managers, the fun is in putting together the puzzle.
24┃ Colorado Public Works Journal “A lot of intense piping and equipment coordination on this job,” she says. “We started building in the spring of 2021 right after COVID when all the material shortages and supply chain issues consumed the industry. There is a submersible pump inside the wet well that had a 52-week lead time. Getting all the materials, subcontractors, equipment, and expertise on-site at the exact right moment took months of planning.” The ability to construct such a system in such a small space was significantly enhanced by prefabrication processes and the use of Saunders’ Virtual Design and Construction technology. “Beneath the slab, the piping looks like spaghetti, Karlos adds. “Detailed BIM planning and coordination allowed U.S. Engineering to pre-fabricate segments of 16-inch diameter pipe that came to the site in lengths of up to 30-feet long. Honestly, I’ve never seen pre-coordination on this level before.” Asked about the biggest challenge throughout the whole of it, Karlos reveals simply turning on the system was the most tedious process. “There were a lot of firsts here. There wasn’t an instruction manual or a vendor’s representative to walk us through it. So, start-up and commissioning were probably the biggest hurdles to jump,” she says. “We reached out to several operators in overseas markets for lessons learned and spent about 5 months planning the start-up sequence on the backend of a 12-month build. Beyond all of that, this system connects to various buildings, existing and new, built by others. Each of those situations involved supplemental coordination.” In building the work, Karlos takes pride in building relationships. The Delganey Interceptor offered plenty of opportunities for that. Between the ownership group’s many sub-participants, from the DFBOM and Metro Water Recovery to the stakeholder tenants, the list of invested interests is long. “Our weekly Owner Architect Contractor meeting regularly had 50 people or more in attendance.” It’s easy to see wastewater energy recovery as a bright new frontier in the battle to save the planet from man-made climate change. As the Delganey Interceptor is already proving — wastewater heat recovery is achievable. When combined with a District system, it has the capacity to provide reliable, clean energy to independent building assets. “In this case, we had a 72-inch main to draw heat from. That isn’t going to be available everywhere. However, that doesn’t mean other campus systems can’t implement something similar,” she adds. “It’s very scalable. I can imagine a future tax credit for drawing thermal energy from wastewater that will make it more economically feasible for smaller scale projects.” As the tours begin, educators, facility owners, and even an international delegation for the Society of Military Engineers have all made their way to the Delganey Interceptor for a look at the near horizon of renewable energy. “I think that the coolest thing about this system is that right now it is heating and cooling more than a million square feet on this campus. As more buildings are added in the years to come, the system just becomes more and more efficient, cost-wise,” she finishes. “It’s not just the power of it, but the level of cooperation among so many that make this project one I’ll always remember.”
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