Watsonville, CA-based Granite Construction Incorporated announced December 18 that it was selected by Caltrans as the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) for the estimated $410 million Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Project, and for the estimated $113 million Cosumnes Bridge Replacement CM/GC Project in Sacramento County.
“This CM/GC negotiated work aligns perfectly with Granite’s footprint and our portfolio of services. Importantly, this type of procurement allows project owners the opportunity to select a contractor based purely on qualifications and the value they can add to the project delivery process,” said James H. Roberts, Granite president and CEO, in a news release, adding that his company plans on pursuing more than $4 billion in CM/GC work in 2019 across the nation, including nearly $1 billion in California alone.
The CM/GC procurement method involves working with the contractor during the design and planning phases. It can also offer a lower risk profile for both the contractor and the owner, while increasing the overall value to taxpayers.
The Highway 101 Project is the final phase of a larger program to increase safety, mobility, and provide congestion relief along US 101 in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. This 10.9 mile-long project adds one HOV lane in each direction on US 101 between the City of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. This will result in a six-lane freeway within the project limits. The added lanes are proposed part-time HOV lanes that will operate as general-purpose lanes during off-peak periods of weekdays and on weekends.
The Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project is being designed, permitted, and constructed in several phases. Caltrans says Phases 4A through 4E have been identified, with an initial focus on phases 4A, 4B, and 4C. Phases 4A through 4C are fully funded. Phase 4A is expected to begin construction in mid-2020 with construction in phases 4B and 4C following by 12 to 18 months.
The timing for phases 4D and 4E is largely dependent on funding. Caltrans District 5 is the lead agency for the project, with Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) as the primary project sponsor.
The Cosumnes Bridge Replacement Project is located on State Route (SR) 99, in Elk Grove, CA. The project includes replacing four bridges, relinquishing an underpass structure known as McConnell Underpass, and rehabilitating the bridge deck/barrier railings on an overcrossing.
The Road Repair and Accountability Act (SB 1) is the landmark transportation infrastructure bill signed by Governor Brown in April 2017. The bill invests $54 billion over the next decade to improve roads, freeways and bridges in communities across California. These funds are designed to be be split equally between state and local investments.
