Throughout the project, issues arose on the project that required re-design and or additional work. Even so, HPI performed more than $1 million of added work, and still completed the total project approximately six weeks ahead of schedule.

A final hurdle came in the form of a new aircraft arresting system, which had a six-month delivery schedule, which could have affected the construction challenge. Despite these challenges, HPI still managed to have the system installed and fully operational by the time the runway was opened.

Concrete Pavement Restoration (CPR) — Gold

Project: Martin Luther King Boulevard Rehabilitation, Denver, Colo.

Contractor: Villalobos Concrete

Owner/Engineer: City and County of Denver

Martin Luther King Boulevard, from Colorado Blvd to Quebec St is a two centerline mile stretch of urban arterial that was constructed in concrete approximately 70 years ago. The 2010 rehabilitation project focused on three areas; replacing selected panels as necessary, perform partial depth concrete repairs as needed and performed a surface grind to improve IRI values. The stretch of arterial is approximately 70,000 SY of concrete pavement and treatment costs averaged $32/SY.

The project relied on field design for the bulk of the work which kept design costs low and enabled to use a higher percentage of available funding for construction. Approximately 1/3 of the pavement was fully replaced and the entire surface was diamond ground. the IRI was improved by 15%. It is estimated several decades of pavement life was added to this 70+ year old pavement section.

County Roads — Gold

Project: County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 52, Unbonded Overlay, Clay County, Minn.

Contractor: Shafer Contracting Co. Inc.

Owner/Engineer: Clay County Highway Department

The key to the success of this project was an experienced and knowledgeable contractor. From the bottom to the top of the organization, the contractor’s personnel were concerned about the quality of the finished product.

They were on top of the schedule, accounted for weather delays, and always looking ahead to the next operation. Test results for water/cement ratio, aggregate quality, and gradation were all in the incentive ranges, and the exceptional ride quality also received a significant bonus. The contractor also showed innovation on this project as he grooved the striping into the plastic concrete after seeing a picture in a Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota’s newsletter.