Seismic Upgrade Work Moves Ahead at Naval Dry Docks

Seismic upgrades to Dry Dock No. 4 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Ore., have been completed. USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) was docked for its extended refit period on May 11 after a testing and recertification of the dry dock. Seismic mitigation work continues at PSNS & IMF’s Dry Dock 5 and at the Trident Refit Facility Delta Pier in Bangor, Ore.

“This seismic mitigation project is a huge undertaking with a lot of moving parts,” said Capt. Jip Mosman, commander, PSNS & IMF. “The Navy is working as quickly and safely as possible to return our dry docks to full functionality, and I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved thus far.” The facilities were temporarily closed by the Navy in January following a seismic assessment. A joint venture of Kiewit-Alberici SIOP MACC was awarded the $75.35-million contract for the repairs of Dry Docks No. 4 and No. 5 in February.

Port of Oakland AimsTo Increase Container Flow

The Port of Oakland has undertaken an ambitious project to increase container flow by widening a key roadway used to access the marine terminals. Last month, the Alameda County Transportation Commission awarded a $193-million contract to Bay Area-based Ghilotti Construction Co. for the 7th Street Grade Separation East Project. The work includes widening traffic lanes, heightening the underpass’ clearance and updating seismic standards. The effort is the first phase of the $718.8-million Global Opportunities at the Port of Oakland (GoPort) program of projects to improve truck and rail access to the port.

USACE Project Will Protect Shorelines of Calif. Cities

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered a partnership agreement in May with the cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach to protect the shorelines of the Southern California beach cities. The San Diego County Shoreline Protection Project will involve constructing a 50-ft-wide protective berm along 7,800 ft of shoreline in Encinitas and building a 150-ft-wide protective berm along 7,200 ft of shoreline in Solana Beach. More than 1 million cu yd of sand will be placed on the two beaches as part of the project. The initial construction cost is about $50 million with a 65/35 cost share between both cities. Construction is expected to begin this fall.

Caltrans to Upgrade Vincent Thomas Bridge

Caltrans has kicked off an effort to upgrade the Vincent Thomas Bridge connecting the San Pedro neighborhood to Terminal Island on State Route 47. The estimated $706-million project would replace the bridge’s entire deck on the 1,500-ft span as well as the its seismic sensors. The agency is holding public meetings to determine the staging options of the project and is scheduled to draft an environmental document to be completed by the end of the year. Construction on the project is slated to begin in 2025 and is expected to take two years to complete.

Hawaii DOT Director Is Confirmed By State Senate

Hawaii Dept. of Transportation (HDOT) Director Ed Sniffen was confirmed by the state senate in April. His leadership team includes Tammy Le, deputy director for administration; Dre Kalili, deputy director for harbors; and Robin Shishido, deputy director for highways. Ford Fuchigami will serve as deputy director for airports after Gov. Josh Green nominated the former deputy director, James Kunane Tokioka, to lead the Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Landslides Disrupt Rail Service in California

Commuter rail services between Los Angeles and San Diego were suspended on June 4 due to landslides and falling debris between San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Metrolink officials said the indefinite closure impacts service for the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and BNSF Railway service was also affected. Rail traffic was suspended in April due to a landslide near Metrolink’s San Clemente Pier Station. Prior to that, the lines were suspended for six months due a landslide further south.

Cal Poly Humbolt Housing Gets Underway

When completed, the Cal Poly Humbolt’s $200-million Student Housing Project will increase the school’s student housing by 50%.
Rendering courtesy Cal Poly Humbolt

Cal Poly Humbolt held a groundbreaking in May for the school’s $200-million Student Housing Project, a 314,000-sq-ft residence hall complex that will house 964 students on the campus in Arcata, Calif. The project is being built by the design-build team of Sundt Construction and SCB Architects. The building is slated for occupancy in 2025, increasing university-owned student housing by nearly 50%. The project is the first of the school’s polytechnic expansion.

Caltrans to Widen Roadway

Caltrans awarded a $29-million contract to widen a section of Highway 1 in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Granite Construction in May. The project will involve the construction of four retaining walls, one soldier pile retaining wall and a 650-ft-long box girder pedestrian bridge over the highway at Chanticleer Avenue. Work is slated for completion in December 2024.

Jacobs Lands Navy Contract

Jacobs won a $249-million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award to perform multidiscipline architecture-engineering services for the U.S. Navy across the Southwest. The eight-year contract involves work for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and other areas of responsibility.

Skanska Extends Boulevard

Skanska recently completed the $46.8-million Green Tree Boulevard extension in Victorville, Calif. The 1.5 miles roadway extension from Hesperia Road to Ridgecrest/Yates Road, connectsthe communities of Victorville and Apple Valley. It also included the construction of a 600-ft-long bridge over the BNSF railroad, the widening of Ridgecrest Road and bike lanes throughout the length of the project.

AES Acquires Solar Facility

AES has purchased the 2-gigawatt Bellefield solar plant and storage facility currently under construction in Kern County, Calif., from Avantus LLC. The project is the nation’s largest permitted solar project with integrated storage. The transaction includes a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a corporate customer for Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to be completed next year.