THE ROAD AHEAD FEATURE: Miami Race Track FEATURE: Recovery in the Workplace COLUMNS: Association News PS: Out & About in Colorado FALL/WINTER 2023: Vol. 19, No. 6 - $4.95
2┃ Colorado Public Works Journal
J O U R N A L Jo Taylor, Managing Editor Advertising, who needs it? YOU do! The Colorado Public Works Journal - jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com 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 FALL 2023┃3 When planning your marketing strategy for 2024, consider partnering with us to help keep your brand and your services at the forefront of the infrastructure industry. Print advertising has a unique advantage over digital ads because they are a physical item that does not disappear at the click of a mouse. This makes them more memorable, creating a longer lasting impression. Print ads found in newspapers, magazines and trade publications allow businesses to reach a wide audience through the readers of the trusted source. Print advertising is a great way for businesses to build brand recognition, consumer engagement and reach new customers who may be less active on line. Companies who advertise with CPWJ are able to target the infrastructure industry and deliver their message via one, or all of our six issues annually. Here are some examples of how we can help: “As the trade association for asphalt pavement in Colorado, we have a long-standing partnership with Colorado Public Works Journal. We do an annual Membership Directory and two magazines a year with them, because there is no better way to touch every segment of our industry.” Tom Clayton CAPA “We count on CPWJ’s expertise to help us develop our annual advertising campaigns to be aligned with the seasonality of our business. From layout to advertisement placement, we trust their knowledge to provide the guidance to give us confidence our advertising dollars are invested in the right place at the right time” Giles Poulson FARIS Machinery If you would like to learn more about how we can help elevate your brand in the industry, contact me at jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com This is also the time of year that we do our mailing list clean up, in an effort to stop waste, save money and deliver to you at the correct address. Do take a moment to check the mailing label and if you need to make a change, know that a co-worker has left the company, or wish to add a new one please let us know so that we can edit our records accordingly. THANK YOU!!
4┃ Colorado Public Works Journal CONTENTS Cover Image: © Immanuel Martinez The Road Ahead: page 21 FALL/WINTER 2023 : Volume 19, No.6 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.6, November 2023 Production: Coterie Press Design: Taylored Graphics 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 : Mental Health Recovery-Friendly Work Places Reduce Stigma 14 : City of Westminster Big Dry Creek Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation 18 : Chasing Millimeters in Miami Sunland Paving Constructioin 21 : The Road Ahead Fall 2023 56 : Industry Insights Mickey Conway 50 : Association News APWA, NUCA, ACPA, CCA, CAPA, RTD, CDOT, HCC, CSSGA 67 : PS! (Parting Shots) Out and About at Events in Colorado 70 : Advertisers Index Our Corporate Partners A supplement to the Colorado Public Works Journal * An Interview with CDOT Region 2 RTD, Shane Ferguson * Local Agency Best Practices - Use of Recycled Materials in Asphalt * Browning Avenue is Dead! Long Live Browning Avenue! * CAPA Adds 14 New Members in 2023 * Local Agency News- CAPA Supports Local Agency Street Funding THE ROAD AHEAD FEATURE: Miami Race Track FEATURE: Recovery in the Workplace COLUMNS: Association News PS: Out & About in Colorado FALL/WINTER 2023: Vol. 19, No. 6 - $4.95
FALL/WINTER 2023┃5 www.cowyacpa.org Much has changed over the last 100 years, but the concrete industry’s message has remained consistent... The advertisement above was originally published by the Portland Cement Association in the July 1928 issue of Colorado Highways magazine.
6┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News E Q U I P M E N T The Vulcan V-Plow Cutting Edge System for BOSS DXT V-plows has been specifically designed for better performance and lasts three times longer than the OEM cutting edge. The cutting-edge system prevents premature and uneven blade wear for BOSS DXT V-plows. The Vulcan nose guards and plow guards include Impervium® carbidefilled hardfacing for improved abrasion resistance. The nose guards and plow guards are welded directly to the cutting edge for durability – and ease of installation. “Our Vulcan system provides users longevity to clear snow and reduce downtime,” said Kent Winter, founder and CEO, Winter Equipment. “Featuring a 1/2”-thick, hardened, boron steel blade, it lasts three times longer while preventing premature and uneven wear.” DOT-rated, Winter Equipment’s Vulcan is best used on concrete, chipseal and asphalt surfaces. For more information, visit: www.winterequipment.com/products/vulcan-v-plow-cutting-edge-system Winter Equipment Announces Vulcan® V-Plow Cutting Edge System for Boss DXT Winter Equipment launches Vulcan® V-Plow Cutting Edge System for BOSS DXT V-plows. JCB has developed a highly productive single-machine pothole and patching repair solution to fix potholes permanently, the first time, without the need for labor intensive repair methods or additional expensive machinery. The Pothole Pro can repair a pothole in less than eight minutes - four times quicker than standard methods and at half the cost of current solutions. The machine’s development has been personally led by JCB Chairman Lord Bamford. JCB Pothole Pro Delivers Rapid Permanent Repair Solution “Potholes are really a scourge; we are fixated on this dreadful problem and I am fixated on finding a solution. We simply cannot allow our road networks to continue to be blighted by potholes,” says Lord Bamford, JCB Chairman. “JCB’s solution is simple and cost effective and fixes potholes permanently, first time. Once the machine has done its job all the contractor then needs to do is just add asphalt.” Tests with contractors and municipalities show the JCB Pothole Pro can complete a pothole repair in less than eight minutes – equivalent to 700 potholes per month. With a 25mph travel speed, the machine can rapidly relocate between sites without additional transport costs. The JCB Pothole Pro is equipped with a planer, with mounted on the machine’s rear skid steer hitch. The planer is 24 in. wide, with up to 4.26 ft. of side-shift adjustment. This allows the operator to plane a full roadway lane from the curb, without repositioning the machine. Hydraulic tilt and depth control provide a consistent depth for larger patches. For more information on the JCB Pothole Pro visit: https://www.jcb.com/en-us/products/wheeledexcavators/hydradig/potholepro.site.
FALL/WINTER 2023┃7 In the future, the eastbound and westbound lanes of the A 43 Autobahn near the city of Münster, Germany, will be separated by a poured in-place concrete safety barrier. The effectiveness and permanence of such construction elements for the passive protection of road users makes them the preferred vehicle restraint system, especially on sections of roads with heavy traffic. The monolithic profile was paved by an SP 25i using the slipform paving method. The use of AutoPilot 2.0 on this project eliminated the need for the paving crew from VSB infra GmbH & Co. KG to set up a stringline for controlling the machine. The automatic 3D control system optimises paving workflows Developed by Wirtgen, the control system enables precise, stringless control of slipform pavers. It consists of a control system integrated in the machine, a base station and a tablet computer that can be used together with the Field Rover survey pole and on the slipform paver. As the system completely eliminates the time and effort usually required for setting up and removing a stringline for conventional machine control, it also reduces the associated project times and costs. Instead of this, the machine is guided along a virtual stringline by satellite-aided navigation. This makes the entire workflow faster, more efficient and, in turn, more cost-efficient. At the same time, it makes the paving of complex geometries such as tight radii or S-bends much easier. ‘This is another project on which we are using stringless paving. We have been using the AutoPilot system since it came onto the market. It saves us so much time that we use it on both of our machines whenever we can.’ says Kay Petersen, CEO of VSB infra GmbH & Co. KG. More working space and on-site safety As is typical for construction projects on major highways like the A 43 Autobahn, the working area offers very little room for the paving crew. Using a stringline in front of the machine in situations like this would limit this space even more. But you won’t find one here, however hard you look! Not unless you take a look at what’s shown on the screen of the AutoPilot tablet. The hand-held control unit displays the course of the virtual stringline and provides precise information to the machine operator at every single point along the predefined track. This also means that there is plenty of free space in front of the slipform paver. Concrete mixers have room to manoeuvre and can drive right up to the paver to deliver their load. The free space in front of the machine brings the paving crew more room to work in and leads to greater safety on the project site. The absence of a stringline also removes the risk of tripping and injuries as a result of falls. Works News E Q U I P M E N T Wirtgen | Stringless concrete paving on the A 43 with AutoPilot 2.0 The 3D control system from Wirtgen increases process efficiency and safety
8┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News U P D A T E S Hosted by the HOYA Foundation, Transportation & Construction GIRL (TCG) Day is an annual event introducing girls to career opportunities in the transportation and construction industries. This year, TCG Day hosted over 1200 girls. Amid the mentorship and educational opportunities, the soft launch of Mortenson and Milwaukee Tool’s co-branded Safety Trailer was a highlight of the event, providing an interactive platform to explore the importance of safety on construction sites as well as the tools required for a secure work environment. At Mortenson, safety is foundational to everything we do, and we are always innovating to keep our employees and project partners safe. A mobile asset that will rotate between Mortenson construction sites, the trailer will not only allow the company to support education and awareness among the next generation of professionals, but the goal is also to use the trailer to ensure our partners and craft team members have ready access to relevant training and proper tool handling. Mobile access to training can provide workers with real-time information and skills they need to avoid mistakes before they happen. The Safety Trailer is part of a broader initiative – Mortenson’s commitment to safety through education and access. Mortenson hopes that by introducing the Safety Trailer and other proactive training initiatives, they will see a decline in incidents and near misses year-over-year. The Mortenson and Milwaukee Tool Safety Trailer marks the beginning of an empowering and transformative journey, particularly as the next generation enters the construction industry. As the construction industry anticipates significant attrition due to retirements in the years to come, it is imperative to train the next generation on foundational concepts and expose new craft members to holistic safety practices. Initiatives such as the Mortenson Safety Trailer set the stage for a future where women and others with previously limited access to industry opportunities play a significant role in the construction industry, supported with the resources they will need to safely thrive. Atlas has opened a new regional hub in Denver as it continues to quickly expand its footprint, while also bolstering its services in the fastgrowing Mountain Region. Atlas will leverage the new hub office to provide client-centric services to public and private customers across the region. The new office also strengthens the company’s position as a major provider of infrastructure and environmental solutions services. Services include Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) / Environmental Solutions / Engineering & Design / Program, Construction, and Quality management. Our team serves both public and private clients across the commercial, industrial, transportation, educational, government and water and power markets. Mortenson and Milwaukee Tool Safety Trailer Launches, Providing Safety Education and Access As part of its mission to provide a community-based approach to improving the design and construction industry, the Northern Colorado Construction Sector Partnership (NOCO CSP) hosted its Construction Con event on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 at The Ranch in Loveland. The event gathered more than 500 high school students and industry professionals from 69 companies for a day of career exploration. The purpose of Construction Con was to introduce students to the construction and design industries through hands-on activities and interaction with industry professionals. The event featured 27 activity stations, including roofing, masonry and electrical engineering displays. Students were encouraged to also engage with industry leaders at the 42 pathway booths to discuss future careers and learn about outlets for starting their professional journey. Feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive. In a survey sent to students and participating companies, 89 percent of students said they were more interested in pursuing a career or education in construction after attending Construction Con, and 97 percent of respondents said they would recommend Construction Con to fellow classmates. Overall, 98% of students considered it to be a positive experience. Through events like Construction Con, the NOCO CSP creates avenues for students to learn about all aspects of the construction industry, as well as change their perceptions of the industry. The Partnership wants students to understand that a successful career can be accomplished through many different educational routes – four-year institution, trades school, apprenticeship, immediate entry into the workforce, etc. – and that there are tangible resources available to help with finding the right pathway. Construction Con Event Provides Career Exploration Opportunities for 500 High School Students Atlas New Location
FALL/WINTER 2023┃9 Works News U P D A T E S Denver International Airport’s East Economy Lot concrete overlay project was the site of an open house on August 22nd hosted by the CO/ WY Chapter of ACPA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). Project representatives from the Denver International Airport and IHC Scott answered questions about the project, and attendees were able to watch IHC Scott crews paving the 5” thick concrete overlay over existing asphalt. Lunch was served and the event was wrapped up with “Concrete Mixers” from Culver’s to celebrate the concrete overlay! The partnership between Terracare Associates and the City of Centennial is unparalleled in its scope and significance as the largest public-private partnership (P3) of its kind in the United States. The City of Centennial’s status as a “Contract City” underscores its commitment to collaboration with the private sector, sharing the risks and rewards inherent in the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure projects. Terracare Associates played a pivotal role in assisting the City of Centennial in its transition from county-provided public works services, and our comprehensive public works services have been instrumental in the city’s growth and development. This remarkable partnership began in 2008 when the City of Centennial transitioned from county-provided public works services to services provided by Terracare Associates, and it has proven to be a resounding success. After diligently serving as the City’s public works field services contractor for nine years, Centennial’s city council made the decision in 2017 to extend the contract, ensuring that Terracare Associates will continue to provide essential public works services for the community for the next decade. City services provided through this partnership encompass a wide range of critical activities, including roadway repairs, snow removal, street sweeping, roadway maintenance, and sign maintenance, all contributing to the wellbeing and functionality of the City of Centennial. This collaboration between the City of Centennial, private industry leader Jacobs, and Terracare Associates has garnered numerous prestigious awards, a testament to its excellence in public-private partnerships. Our extensive experience in public-private partnerships ha s equipped us with a deep understanding of the challenges posed by public expectations. We proactively develop communication strategies tailored to meet the needs of government agencies and a diverse array of stakeholders. Our commitment to professionalism enables us to consistently deliver critical infrastructure projects on schedule while upholding the highest standards expected by our public works clients. For further details on how Terracare can assist you, please visit our website at www.myterracare.com. Iron Woman Partners with RH Borden Iron Woman is proud to announce a new partnership with RH Borden to bring cutting edge technology and services to the water industry. The collaboration between Iron Woman and RH Borden will bring enhanced services and long-term cost savings to municipalities and special districts, in conjunction with our existing pipe maintenance and rehabilitation services. Iron Woman will be a provider of “SL-RAT”, an innovative system that leverages advanced technology to assess pipeline conditions quickly and efficiently, allowing municipalities to assess entire collection systems at a fraction of the time and cost. Advanced assessment data allows smart cities to prioritize maintenance and repairs and measure the functionality of systems over time. Iron Woman will also deploy RH Borden’s manhole assessment technology that utilizes AI visualizations to measure degradation, infiltration, and flow lines. The new technology eliminates confined space entry and provides more accurate data across systems. “We are thrilled to join forces with RH Borden and introduce this technology to our clients. The innovative SL-RAT and data capabilities will enhance our services and provide more efficient and reliable solutions to our partners in the water industry.” Working Together
10┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Recent reports continue to highlight America’s growing problems with substance misuse. Data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reveals 16.5% of the U.S. population aged 12 and older meet criteria for having a substance use disorder (SUD), including alcohol and/or drug use. This amounts to over 46 million individuals in our communities, workplaces, and families. Yet less than 10% of affected individuals seek help; and far fewer receive help for SUD. Why? Traditional methods do not work because of the extreme stigma associated with SUD. This includes perceived and actual judgement of others AND shame from self-stigma by those who need support but are embarrassed or fearful to ask for help. The workplace can provide a safety net for employees struggling with substance misuse and/or suffering in silence. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and behavioral health services embedded in group health benefit plans can provide a path for early intervention. The National Safety Council reports employers spend an average of $8,817 annually on each employee with an untreated SUD. However, hiring employees in long-term recovery positively impacts your workplace: • every employee who recovers from a substance use disorder saves a company over $8,500 on average • workers in recovery are strong employees who experience lower turnover rates, higher productivity, lower healthcare utilization and costs, and decreased absenteeism. • workers in recovery miss 13.7 fewer days each year than workers with an untreated SUD and 3.6 less days than an average employee. Recovery-Friendly Workplaces Reduce Stigma and Remove Other Barriers A promising development that is helping employers to reduce stigma and empower employees to see help is the RecoveryFriendly Workplace movement (also known as Recovery-Ready Workplaces). This movement began in New Hampshire in 2018 to increase employment for those in long term recovery who faced discrimination and barriers to employment. The Health Links® program in Colorado has become a national leader for Recovery Friendly Workplaces. Health Links® is affiliated with the Colorado School of Public Health, Work and Environment. Hallmarks for Recovery-Friendly Workplaces • Stigma reduction - by normalizing the conversation on SUD, empathy and understanding can replace judgment and shame • Acceptance and affirmation of everyone in the workplace creates a sense of belonging which promotes collaboration and teamwork • Flexible policies pertaining to leave and time off to attend recovery meetings and/or physical and mental health care • Peer to peer support and mentoring • Onsite recovery meetings • Ongoing training, resources, and support Action Steps for Employers 1. Undertake a reality check—does your senior leadership team understand the human and financial impact of substance misuse and substance use disorder on your organization? 2. Galvanize leadership commitment – encourage leaders to be visible, vocal, and vulnerable by sharing leverage lived experience stories to reduce stigma and remove barriers to employment 3. Evaluate and share resources, including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), governmental and non-profit social service organizations, as well as 12-step recovery programs. 4. Train managers and first-line supervisors – Building and aligning a cultural framework for recovery-friendly workplace requires that all people managers and first-line supervisors understand the challenges of SUD and the benefits of becoming a recovery-friendly workplace. 5. Educate employees – focus on reducing stigma and promoting active care-seeking for substance misuse with an emphasis on preserving recovery capital, the resources needed for a person to get the help they need. 6. Tap existing resources – employers are encouraged to join forces with state and/or local initiatives. Recovery-Friendly Workplaces Reduce Stigma By Cal Beyer
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12┃ Colorado Public Works Journal CALLING ALL SNOW MANAGERS, FLEET TECHNICIANS & OPERATORS. DON’T MISS THE SNOW & ICE CONFERENCE! Targeted Tracks and Speakers to Help You and Your Teams. Winter Maintenance Supervisor Certification Workshop. Crew & Equipment Management Crew Scheduling & Assigning Jobsite Time Tracking & Field Data Construction Reporting & Analytics 8326 Quivas Way |Denver CO 80221 Office: 720-525-7959 Fax: 303-427-7156 www.chatosconcrete.com DBE, SBE & M/WBE CERTIFIED CEMENTING RELATIONSHIPS SINCE 2003
FALL/WINTER 2023┃13 | KIEWIT.COM JOBS DONE WELL. Kiewit delivers large and small infrastructure projects all over Colorado with unparalleled quality. WWW.DHMDESIGN.COM
14┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Growing populations in the Colorado Front Range have started to create unique challenges for many public works departments. Among these many challenges is the need to replace aging or undersized infrastructure within the urbanized area. The City of Westminster recently completed a substantial project that exemplifies the value of creative thinking, collaboration and strategy in replacing or upgrading infrastructure in the urban corridor. Improvements to Westminster’s Big Dry Creek sanitary sewer interceptor were critical for allowing the city to move forward with planned development, while also providing sustainable and resilient sewer service to Westminster residents. The $32 Millon project was incredibly successful but had plenty of challenges to overcome on the way to success. The Problem The city’s Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility (BDCWWTF) is the primary facility for treating wastewater in Westminster. Two-thirds of the city’s wastewater is delivered to this facility using the Big Dry Creek sanitary sewer interceptor system, with the remaining 1/3 treated at Metro Water Recovery. The interceptor runs from Standley Lake near 100th and Wadsworth to near 128th and Huron. When the line was originally installed, much of the area was undeveloped, and construction through the area was much less complicated. Today, most of the line weaves through neighborhoods and across busy roads. It also crosses through designated open space that is crisscrossed with utility infrastructure. The most challenging of the infrastructure to work around – the raw water supply line for the cities of Northglenn and Thornton. This is the problem that offered the greatest opportunity for collaboration, innovation and unique problem solving. City of Westminster – Big Dry Creek Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation Tamara Moon The Players Westminster was not alone in the development and implementation of the Big Dry Creek sanitary sewer interceptor rehabilitation project. The project was truly a collaborative, multi-agency effort. Design of the project was done by HDR, Inc. HDR’s team was also tasked with assisting Westminster in developing a strong communications plan. The plan developed by HDR established strong lines of communication and education for the public. Project Manager, Rudy Archuleta said, “HDR’s public information plan had a substantial impact to the success of the project. The plan kept communication with the public at the staff level, reducing the need to escalate concern to city management and keep the project moving forward.” The design for rehabilitation developed by HDR was put into action by T. Lowell Construction, Inc (T.Lowell) and C&L Water Solutions (C&L). T.Lowell was the contractor selected to perform the open cut construction, largely through Westminster’s City Park. Images: © City of Westminster
FALL/WINTER 2023┃15 T.Lowell is an industry leader in pipeline construction. Their team, while well-respected as quality contractors, gained further accolades by being flexible and collaborative in the construction implementation timeline. C&L installed the trenchless cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) throughout the remaining portion of the system not previously lined within the last 10 years. C&L successfully navigated dense urban areas and complicated open space access challenges while installing the CIPP. C&L met these challenges and delivered exceptionally. The staff at Westminster, HDR ,T. Lowell and C&L carried out the bulk of the project, however, the work impacting open space and other municipal utilities could not have been accomplished without staff from Northglenn and Thornton. Their open communication, support of the project, and flexibility allowed the project to move forward with minimal interruptions for a timely completion. Communication is the Key One aspect of the sewer line rehabilitation project that the City of Westminster and Rudy Archuleta are most proud of is the robust Public Information Plan that was developed by HDR, Inc. The public information plan was developed as part of the project design work. With such a large portion of the city potentially impacted by the project, Westminster and HDR recognized that to achieve success, communication with the public was essential. The plan developed by HDR utilized a holistic approach to communications. There was a strong consideration for providing communication to the community’s diverse demographics. The plan recommended creation of a unique email address for the project where concerns, questions and suggestions from the public could be gathered and addressed easily. This allowed city staff to quickly respond to the public without worrying about communications getting lost in someone’s inbox. Beside needing to communicate effectively with residents, Westminster and HDR needed a plan to communicate with trail users. The Big Dry Creek trail is a popular hardsurface trail used by commuters in the north area. Effectively communicating detours, particularly through Westminster City Park, was critical for maintaining commuter access throughout the project. For Westminster, developing a public information plan, that cost less than one percent of the overall project cost, offered an exceptional return on investment. When Worlds Collide During the design portion of the project, engineers from Westminster and HDR acknowledged that the open cut portion of the project, running through the Big Dry Creek Open Space would have a direct impact on a critical portion of water supply infrastructure for the neighboring communities of Northglenn and Thornton. As a nod to the idea of exceptional communication, staff from these two communities were involved early in the project, to provide input on constructability, safety and timing. For the municipal staff involved in this portion of the project, timing was the most critical aspect of construction. Plans originally had work through the open space, where the Northglenn-Thornton pipeline would be crossed five times, occurring in the summer. Through discussions and collaboration, it was determined that to protect the pipeline and provide a layer of safety for workers, crossings and relocation of the Northglenn-Thornton pipeline would occur during the winter. Adding an additional layer of challenge to working around the Northglenn-Thornton pipeline was the substantial excavation depths. With much of the trench work done at depths up to 30-feet, T. Lowell, and the three cities had to come up with innovative solutions for supporting a 48-inch concrete pipeline so that working conditions were safe and the risk of damage to the pipe was minimized. Unexpected Partners While discussing the project with Rudy Archuleta, he shared an aspect of the project that offered Westminster a unique opportunity to partner with an organization for the benefit of the larger community. A portion of the open-cut trench line replacement passed through property utilized by the Butterfly Pavilion. This facility is dedicated to educating the public about the smallest animals in the environment and their value in sustaining healthy ecosystems. Westminster staff and consultants recognized the value that working with the Butterfly Pavilion could bring to their project, but also to those visiting the pavilion and utilizing the surrounding trails. Input from Pavilion staff was implemented in the restoration work done on the site. There was a substantial emphasis on combining construction practices with good conservation practices around the Butterfly Pavilion. Activities to protect the surrounding ecosystems during and after construction included relocation of Prairie Dogs, reseeding disturbed soils with native plants, and a commitment to protecting pollinators by utilizing manual control methods of weed control. While collaborative activities are not always the most affordable from both the dollar and time standpoint, they highlight Westminster’s commitment to creating a better environment for the community. The Big Dry Creek interceptor project also highlighted the value to both Westminster and the larger community, when organizations come together and create innovative and sustainable solutions.
16┃ Colorado Public Works Journal 303-287-1966 20100 E 35th Dr, Aurora, CO 80011 WearPartsCo.com Are You Ready? As snowplow season approaches, it is crucial to prepare equipment for efficient and effective snow removal operations. Wear Parts can help you prepare now for the upcoming winter season with the most reliable and durable snowplow parts available on the market. UTV to Highway Size Plows Carbide Inserted Blades Rubber Blades Special Application Blades Mention this ad for up to 10 sets of free mounting hardware with purchase of snowplow blades* *Receive one (1) set of free snowplow installation bolt and nut hardware for every one (1) snowplow blade setup purchased. Limit ten (10) sets of hardware per qualifying customer, offer valid on orders placed and invoiced until 12/31/2023.
FALL/WINTER 2023┃17 When seconds count, Scan to watch exciting construction of Miami International Autodrome, home of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. Since 1979, Sunland Asphalt & Construction has completed projects across the country, ranging from parking lot maintenance to major highways. And yes, even professional racetracks! Let us help you reach the podium when it comes to your paving needs. go with a proven winner! www.SunlandAsphalt.com Littleton, CO 303.791.8300 Phoenix, AZ 602.323.2800 Las Vegas, NV 702.563.6872 Albuquerque, NM 505.998.6629 Tucson, AZ 520.889.7100 Fort Worth, TX 469.647.9402
18┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Sunland Asphalt had the opportunity of a lifetime: pave the Formula 1 racetrack in Florida for the Miami Grand Prix. If you were a football player, this would be the Superbowl. But there was a long road ahead (no pun intended). Selection Process “Winning the project required a multi-step selection process that Sunland would have to navigate.” stated Construction Director, Immanuel Martinez. “This included an initial meeting with the Miami F1 Ownership team and their construction team to discuss Sunland’s experience in paving, specifically withy echelon racetracks. Final interviews included Sunland’s in-depth understanding of the project’s specifications, as well as answering more in-depth questions regarding staffing and equipment availability for construction, construction methodology, different technical scenarios, and crew/equipment capabilities.” Pre-Construction Planning “When it comes to pre-construction planning and coordination for a project of this magnitude, it is quite extensive. There is coordination for Sunland to get all their construction equipment and teams across the country, planning with the design and engineering teams, and coordination with the Hard Rock stadium, Miami Dolphins, and South Florida Motorsports,” said Immanuel Martinez. “The coordination began with the logistics of moving our teams and equipment from Arizona to southern Florida. Sunland partnered with our vendors RDO and Empire Caterpillar to source equipment that was needed from around the country: from Minnesota, Arizona, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. “Sunland also had to coordinate the logistics of flights, transportation, and hotels for our crews. In total, Sunland brought Chasing Millimeters in Miami: Every Paving Contractors Dream Getting the opportunity to construct a Formula 1 racetrack is the pinnacle for any paving contractor. There is no bigger stage when it comes to milling and paving. in over 40 pieces of heavy equipment on 35 different transport loads, 75 internal employees, and 15 technical specialists.” “Once our management team arrived on site, planning the coordination of the construction process commenced. This intricate process included working with the general contractor Moss, South Florida Motorsports, and the Miami Dolphins to plan our milling and paving process while minimizing our impact to the ongoing football schedule of the Miami Dolphins, the extensive bleacher and sit build-out process, and the paddock building expansion that was going to be ready for race day. Not only did Sunland have to coordinate around those obstacles, we also had understood that there are only certain areas on a racetrack where it is acceptable to have a transverse paving joint. This meant that starting points, ending points, and the amount of asphalt tons needed to be precise. In total, Sunland had 35 different iterations of phase maps detailing our paving phase options. The phasing ended up being divided into 6 different phases or days. Each day equated to approximately 1,200 tons.” Sub Selection “As is known within any kind of construction project, the selection of subcontractors is most important. They can often make or break a successful project, and it’s your name on the line. Sunland regularly has a very thorough and extensive sub selection process. We felt confident in that process. Knowing that this project would be on the largest stage for milling and paving in the world, while being held to the highest specifications with the tightest tolerances that leave little room for error, we chose to work with contractors that we worked with previously and helped us achieve this opportunity. These subcontractors were CMT, S3 Arizona, Sitetech, Topcon, AMS Technical Services, Western Technologies, Empire Machinery, and RDO Equipment.” Images: © Mark Taylor at Extreme Arial Productions
FALL/WINTER 2023┃19 Supply Chain Management “When analyzing the supply chain,” according to Construction Director, Immanuel Martinez, “many factors need to be considered. Some of the key items are transport needs, materials, equipment, manpower, and technology. Getting these items locked in early is key. We had equipment coming in from Arizona, Minnesota, Utah, and South Carolina. Having a clear understanding of transport needs and being able to contract with transporters from across the county proved to be challenging, but our management team was able to pull it together and make it happen.” Crew Selection “Paving a Formula 1 racetrack is different from any typical style roadway paving project when it comes to crew selection. On typical roadway construction we would have one crew handling the milling and one crew handling the paving. On this project we were running three milling spreads and three paving spreads in unison. Crews that were used to working independently had to come together to form a large milling crew and large paving crew that all operated as one cohesive team, and at an extremely high level. These crews also had to utilize their technical skills to meet the tightest smoothness, compaction, and uniformity specifications that are rarely required from them. Our crews came together as one large team and performed at the highest level completing the project without needing any rework, meeting all project specifications without hesitation.” Equipment Selection “Equipment selection was based on two factors: what was written in the original specifications and what was available. What we were not able to secure in our own market, we were able to lean heavily on several out-ofmarket dealers. Specifically, RDO Equipment and Empire Machines for key units like: Pavers, Rollers, and Material Transfer Vehicles. The use of rental equipment was also necessary to maintain certain types of equipment written into the original contract.” Construction Survey “With the circuit wrapping 3.3 miles around the Hard Rock Stadium (home of the Miam Dolphins), this proved challenging from the standpoint of line of sight which is crucial for UTS surveying. Our survey crews spent nearly 18 days prior to initial construction on pre-construction topos and carefully planned the layout and process for the construction crews.” Construction: Milling “Milling was specified at +/-2” with the use of the Universal Total Station (UTS) Machine Control. UTS is a high-accuracy dynamic tracking system that uses a laser to track a target on the mill and monitor and control drum elevations with 3D positioning precision. UTS is one of the highest accuracy grade control systems available today. Cleaning behind the milling proved to be a challenge. This was due to the lime rock that was used in the original paving. Our crews used vacuum trucks, power brooms, and blowers to achieve an extremely clean finished surface. Construction: Paving “Crews performed two test passes to help dial in the cohesiveness and material verification. Once the paving started, it was seamless. Feeding the three pavers in echelon were three MTVs for material consistency, as well as helping minimize heat segregating. Each paver was outfitted with Thermal Mapping Systems. Rollers utilized Intelligent Compaction for heat monitoring, pass mapping, and reporting.”
20┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation
FALL/WINTER 2023┃21 A supplement to the Colorado Public Works Journal * An Interview with CDOT Region 2 RTD, Shane Ferguson * Local Agency Best Practices - Use of Recycled Materials in Asphalt * Browning Avenue is Dead! Long Live Browning Avenue! * CAPA Adds 14 New Members in 2023 * Local Agency News- CAPA Supports Local Agency Street Funding
22┃ Colorado Public Works Journal The Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association and the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (CAPA) jointly offer a scholarship program to expand on the asphalt education opportunities for persons involved in the design, construction, quality control and production of asphalt pavement materials or in the management, supervision, or direction of capital and maintenance asphalt projects. The scholarships are available to personnel employed by public work agencies in Colorado, contractors, and consultants. The training opportunity is the “Short Course in Asphalt Technology” taught at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. The course will be held February 26, to March 1, 2024. Applications are available from the CAPA website at www.co-asphalt.com. Over 120 industry practitioners have attended the program through the APWA/CAPA Scholarship. Applications are due by December 1, 2023. For more information, contact Tom Clayton tomclayton@co-asphalt.com 2 / The Road Ahead WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM Introduction We are pleased to partner with Colorado Public Works Journal and provide you with the Fall 2022 issue of THE Road Ahead, CAPA’s news magazine. The publication is full of information on our members, our industry and most importantly our product, asphalt pavement materials. CAPA is laser focused on advancing the use and quality of asphalt pavements in Colorado. We hope this publication sparks an idea, a conversation or a follow-up action that supports you in achieving this mission. Let us know how we can help in that lofty endeavor! Welcome to THERoad Ahead! Thomas Peterson, P.E. Executive Director, Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association tompeterson@co-asphalt.com (303) 741-6150 x152 This week-long course held at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University is the premier asphalt training and education course in the United States. The course focuses on asphalt materials and construction and is being held February 27 to March 3, 2023. The joint APWA Colorado Chapter/CAPA Scholarships provide a stipend for travel and lodging and full tuition covered. For more information or to apply, visit co-asphalt.com/apwa-capa-scholarships. CAPA/APWA NCAT Asphalt Technology Scholarships Nominations due by Friday, 12/2 Tom Peterson ECONOMICAL SUSTAINABLE DURABLE We are pleased to partner with Colorado Public Works Journal and provide you with the Fall 2023 issue of THE Road Ahead, CAPA’s news magazine. The publication is full of information on our members, our industry and most importantly our product, asphalt pavement materials. CAPA is laser focused on advancing the use and quality of asphalt pavements in Colorado. We hope this publication sparks an idea, a conversation or a follow-up action that supports you in achieving this mission. Let us know how we can help in that lofty endeavor! Also, here’s to CAPA’s 40th Anniversary! Thomas Peterson, P.E. Executive Director, Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association tompeterson@co-asphalt.com (303) 741-6150 x152 2 /The Road Ahead WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM Introduction We are pleased to partner with Colorado Public Works Journal and provide you with the Fall 2022 issue of THE Road Ahead, CAPA’s news magazine. The publication is full of information on our members, our industry and most importantly our product, asphalt pavement materials. CAPA is laser focused on advancing the use and quality of asphalt pavements in Colorado. We hope this publication sparks an idea, a conversation or a follow-up action that supports you in achieving this mission. Let us know how we can help in that lofty endeavor! Welcome to THERoad Ahead! Thomas Peterson, P.E. Executive Director, Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association tompeterson@co-asphalt.com (303) 741-6150 x152 This week-long course held at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University is the premier asphalt training and education course in the United States. The course focuses on asphalt materials and construction and is being held February 27 to March 3, 2023. The joint APWA Colorado Chapter/CAPA Scholarships provide a stipend for travel and lodging and full tuition covered. For more information or to apply, visit co-asphalt.com/apwa-capa-scholarships. CAPA/APWA NCAT Asphalt Technology Scholarships Nominations due by Friday, 12/2 Tom Peterson ECONOMICAL SUSTAINABLE DURABLE Welcome to Road Ahead! Tom Peterson CAPA/APWA Partner for Asphalt Technology Scholarships Nominations Due by December 1 WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM 2┃ The Road Ahead
FALL/WINTER 2023┃23 WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM Exciting Plans for the 2024 Conference – February 6-7, 2024 Planning for the 2024 Rocky Mountain Asphalt Conference and Equipment Show (RMACES) is well under way. The theme of the conference is “Road to Adventure, ASPHALT Takes You There.” We have secured a great Keynote speaker, Sidney Smith, a double amputee and a world class adventurer. Registration for Exhibitors opened on October 1, 2023. There are over 40 breakout sessions planned focused on engineering, construction, design, and maintenance of asphalt pavements. The annual CAPA “Best in Colorado” Asphalt Awards Dinner & Program will be held on Tuesday evening, February 6. All registration for exhibitors, sponsors and attendees will be done electronically on the conference website www.rmaces.org. For more information, contact Tom Clayton at tomclayton@co-asphalt.com or Mike Skinner at mikeskinner@co-asphalt.com ROCKY MOUNTAIN ASPHALT CONFERENCE & EQUIPMENT SHOW INDUSTRY NEWS FALL ┃3
24┃ Colorado Public Works Journal WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM LOCAL AGENCY NEWS KaPunk- KaPunk- KaThunk.....KaPunk- KaPunk- KaThunk What is that damn sound that is breaking into my childhood revelry? Revisiting the grand old street of my memories. Browning Avenue, where I rode my banana seat bike to my grade school so long ago… some punk kid in his amped up Corolla, throwing down the base no doubt? Damn annoying is what I would call it. It’s Sunday morning, in Manhattan, Kansas. People going to church or drinking coffee on the porch with the paper...Have some respect! This past week, I took a few extra days to drive Interstate 70 back to the “Little Apple” to see my mother. There are two months (May and October) when I truly enjoy this pilgrimage. When the weather is perfect and the landscapes are works of art. So it was out of sorts that I was so aggravated. What was it that was bothering me so? Then, like a ray of sun through the clouds, it came to me at mile marker 105, ...I drove onto smooth, wonderful, newly overlaid asphalt after the annoying KaPunk- KaPunk- KaThunk of a long stretch of concrete pavement. Hours of dodging chuckholes, spalled joints and nasty bridge decks had fried my nerves. Thank you concrete. Tom Knostman, P.E. Pavement Engineer, Street Department, Streets Maintenance Program (970) 818-1246 tknostman@fcgov.com Browning Avenue is Dead! Long Live Browning Avenue! Failed Concrete Pavement Out, Replaced with Asphalt It is rare that I find a concrete pavement that makes it to its expected life span. But hats off to the Lil Apple cause, by golly, they are determined to get there. Browning Avenue is not the road of my memories, a handsome collector road built in the suburbs back in the 60’s when I was born. Browning is two lanes of 6-inch concrete with welded wire reinforcement that was going to go the distance despite the ride at the surface, KaPunk- KaPunk- KaThunk To their credit, the Streets Department had tried everything to salvage the ride, including full and partial-depth repairs, only to have that concrete fail. In the end, they did what all good road folks do...patch it with hot mix. 4┃ The Road Ahead
FALL/WINTER 2023┃25 WWW.CO-ASPHALT.COM CITY OF FORT COLLINS PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT So as a Pavement Engineer, how would I salvage this road? Rebuild the concrete and have the road down for three to four months at significant cost, or overlay it with asphalt and be back in service in a week. That choice is a no brainer and at a fraction of the cost and carbon release. At my job in Fort Collins, I had exactly this experience. What do you do when a concrete road fails early? West Drake Road had been widened and improved in 1996 with 8-inch plain, jointed (no steel) concrete. Curb with wide 5-foot gutter/bike lanes and medians dressed it out to the thinking of the time, but 20-years later we had spalling joints in the bike lanes and numerous failures at cross joints. We tried Fibercrete repairs in 2014 only to find that the concrete continued to degrade outside the patch, so in 2018, we got permission to close the road, one direction at a time, while we broke out and replaced (with steel) about 15 percent of the road based on engineering judgement. This effort was painful and expensive. We had to close down a directional lane on a 20k ADT road a month and a half per direction, three total months. OUCH! This effort cost us $800K for the half mile or 2.75 lane-miles of pavement, and we only repaired 15 percent of the surface. This is $300K per LM, three times the cost of a 3-inch asphalt inlay at the time. The sad part is that we will need to do it all again in the next four years to deal with a new crop of raveled joints and broken panels. We would have saved money ripping it out and replacing this pavement with asphalt in 2014. In contrast to this costly, ongoing repair debacle, the Fort Collins Streets Department took on a 2.5-inch mill and fill repair of the asphalt pavements on the same road directly to the east in 2023. This, half-mile stretch of composite asphalt was originally built in the early 1980’s and had been resurfaced in 2012 using hot-in-place recycling which returned about ten years of service. This modified, dense graded inlay effort was complete in FOUR working days, using local crews from Martin Marietta and Alpha Milling under a full closure. This quality outcome provides users with a fully resurfaced road, with an excellent ride that will provide 20-years of uninterrupted service with emphasis on milling through unbonded layers, cleaning and tacking the new lift to a sound foundation layer, a highquality dense graded SX HMA expertly compacted and placed with shingled joints to assure long joint quality. This effort was accomplished for a cost of $375K or $170k per lane-mile. A fraction of the cost of the concrete repair with almost no down-time and improving the ride of the entire surface! They say that you can never go home again, but sometimes it’s worth it to realize what you have. (The asphalt option was completed at …) a fraction of the cost of the concrete repair with almost no down-time and improving the ride of the entire surface! FALL 2023┃5
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