April 4, 2022

The project location was on SR-44 between the SR-191 Greendale Junction and FR-094. Work was performed by Staker Parson Materials & Construction, UDOT, Wall Consultant Group, CIVCO Engineering, Jones & DeMille Engineering, and Coughlin Company

The Midvalley Highway involved 4.5 miles of roadway. The project included a new two-lane freeway, a new interchange at I-80, and a direct connection to SR-138 in the Tooele Valley.

The project called for ten miles of I-80 SMA overlay and an experimental single 6-inch lift of HiHMA mixed design for the Wendover port of entry. In all, the team placed 41,836 tons. They rotomilled the freeway in both directions to a depth of 1.5 inches and paved back a 1.5-inch depth of SMA with a PG-70-28 binder. That accounted for 41,459 tons.

The project location was on I-15 from MP-27 to 44 (New Harmony to the Toquerville exits). The elevation change from the bottom of the project to the top of Blackridge was just under 2,000 feet. Southbound semi-trucks had difficulty slowing down, and northbound semi-trucks had difficulty gaining speed back after slowing down.

The roadway was rough with considerable cracking, and the asphalt was thin (1.5-inches to 5-inches). Due to budget constraints, the asphalt could not be removed and replaced with a 4.5-inch overlay. The team used a profile mill with a maximum depth of 1-inch to improve smoothness. Next, they applied a scrub seal to help fill the cracks, and then they used a spray paver to apply a 2-inch SMA overlay.

Andersen Asphalt always puts a focal emphasis on which treatments will be most effective. The longevity of the surface treatment is a very high priority. In coordination with the city engineer, public works director, and assistance from third-party engineering, our team determined which roads would benefit most from AP4 Surface Treatment.

Each spring, the West Jordan Streets crew coordinates with the Capital Projects Group to mill and overlay selected streets throughout the city. The milling operation is contracted with outside parties, although West Jordan provides the trucks and drivers to transport the asphalt millings. The Capital Projects Group also contracts other work, such as lowering utilities and substandard ADA ramp replacements.

The Strawberry Sheep Creek project is a 23-mile segment of the 31.9-mile route that connects US-6 to US-40 through the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This project is one of the most rewarding projects our company has worked on during the past two years.

Mark Morrison began his career 55 years ago in 1967 field testing soil densities and testing Portland Cement Concrete Cylinders in the lab. Mark developed a keen interest in civil engineering, began his career in civil engineering, and became a registered professional engineering in Utah.

UAPA is proud to recognize Eagle Mountain, Utah, as a recipient of UAPA’s Friend of Industry award. We recently spoke with Zac Hilton, Streets and Stormwater Manager for Eagle Mountain, about the city and the award.