DENVER-Granite Construction Inc. and the joint-venture team of Granite Construction Co. and Ames Construction Inc. has been awarded a $231-million design/build contract by the Colorado Department of Transportation to reconstruct approximately 10-miles of US 36 outside of Denver. The joint-venture team will be responsible for constructing a managed toll lane in each direction, reconstruction of the general purpose lanes and associated new retaining walls, sound walls, lighting and signage.

Granite booked its 50% share, or approximately $115 million, into backlog during the first quarter of 2012, according to a prepared statement. Project design will begin in April 2012, with construction starting in August. Project completion is estimated for spring of 2015.

Reconstruction work also includes replacement of five bridges and widening of two additional bridges.

"The US 36 Express Lanes Project will bring more transportation options and mobility to the region," John Schwab, CDOT project director, tells GlobeSt.com. "We had some of the best teams in the country competing for this project. Ames/Granite was determined as the best fit based on its ability to combine an aggressive schedule with extended length and additional elements, providing the best overall value for the project budget.”

According to the CDOT website, US 36 between Denver and Boulder opened as a toll road in 1951. The toll road bonds were paid off early and the tolling infrastructure was removed in 1968. When it was built, this four lane road had only one interchange between Denver and Boulder. In response to rapid population growth, there are now 10 interchanges along US 36 between I-25 and Boulder, says the website. However, the number of main through-lanes has remained at four.

Granite Construction has been busy lately. The joint venture Old Pueblo Trackworks, comprising Granite and RailWorks Track Systems, was just recently awarded a $56 million contract by the City of Tucson, AZ to build the first federally-funded streetcar project in more than 60 years, according to a prepared statement. The new four-mile electric light-rail system will provide transportation through the city’s main corridor. The project consists of new concrete streetcar guideways, 22 covered stops for accessibility, the reconstruction of existing roadways, including the modification and replacement of water systems and other associated utility improvements. That project will serve more than 100,000 people who live and work along the streetcar corridor. Work is underway and is expected to be completed by summer 2013.

Instant Insights /

Granite JV Gets $231M Design/Build Project Contract

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