Unlike traditional Project Delivery, where the owner must handle separate projects, U.S. 89 Farmington to I-84 was the first Progressive Design-Build Project in Utah built by Oak Hills Constructors. Oak Hills Constructors is a joint venture between Sterling Construction’s subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth and Granite Construction.
In Progressive Design-Build Projects, the owner manages only one contract with a single point of responsibility. The designer and contractor work together from the beginning as a team, providing unified project recommendations to fit the owner’s schedule and budget. Any changes are addressed by the entire team, leading to collaborative problem-solving and innovation. While single-source contracting is the fundamental difference between design-build and traditional contracting methods, equally important is the culture of collaboration inherent in design-build.
The $348 million, three-and-a-half-year project is expected to be completed in September, and the results are nothing short of amazing. Here is a recap of the project.
Company: Oak Hills Constructors
Name of Project: U.S. 89 Farmington to I-84
Location: Layton, Utah — The project begins in Farmington, Utah, along U.S. 89 and heads north through Fruit Heights City, Kaysville City, Layton City and South Weber.
Start Date: February 14, 2020
End/Completion Date: September 2023
Tons of Asphalt Placed: 224,000 TN ½ INCH 64-34 HMA, 48,000 TN ½ INCH 64-34 FINE GRADED HMA
Key Project Team Members:
- Horrocks Engineers
- Baker Engineering
- WSP
- Raba Kistner
- Whitaker Construction
- Brinkerhoff Construction
- BHI Construction
- Comers Concrete
- Harper Concrete
Project Overview: The U.S. 89 Farmington project will improve safety and mobility on U.S. 89 and at connections with local cross streets by:
- Widening U.S. 89 to three lanes in each direction from Main Street in Farmington to State Route 193 in Layton;
- Adding interchanges and bridges over U.S. 89 with on/off ramps at 200 North/400 North, Oak Hills Drive, Gordon Avenue and Antelope Drive;
- Adding bridges over U.S. 89 at Nicholls Road and Crestwood Road; and
- Completing a three-mile extension of the existing Gordon Avenue to connect it to U.S. 89.
The project will also improve connections between U.S. 89 and Main Street, S.R. 193 and Interstate 84. Some sections of new frontage roads will be constructed to improve access to existing frontage roads and local streets. These improvements will help local traffic access the new interchanges and cross efficiently. The frontage roads will include shared shoulders that will also function as a parallel bicycle route.
Challenges: This project was scheduled and started right when the COVID pandemic began. That brought unique challenges and unexpected benefits. Two lanes of traffic in each direction had to be maintained. With COVID and many people being at home, there were not as many cars on the road; some daytime work was able to happen.
The traffic lights needed to remain in place until functioning interchanges were completed. The lights at 400 N. and Oak Hills Dr. had to be relocated temporarily until the bridges were built. One intersection had over a dozen traffic switches; everything had to be reconstructed while traffic was still moving.
Another unique challenge was making sure there was clear communication with the multiple municipalities and stakeholders involved in this project. For the first time ever, Facebook was used as a way to communicate what was happening and allow for public feedback.
In addition to the roadwork, there were utilities that had to be replaced, and there was a major focus on the pedestrian aspect of this project. When completed, U.S. 89 Farmington to I-84 will ensure traffic moves smoothly and cyclists and walkers have a safe place to move throughout their community.
