Caltrans Director Cindy McKim joined construction industry professionals for the 2011 Caltrans “Excellence in Partnering” awards, which recognizes contractors who put into action what they learned from the Caltrans’ Partnering Program to deliver successful highway projects throughout California.

Caltrans provides free training for the construction industry, city and county transportation agencies, consultants, and small businesses who work on Caltrans projects.  The training includes practical tools and tips, such as problem- solving and dispute resolution.  Those who effectively used tools to deliver transportation projects were recognized today.

“These projects provide excellent examples of how Caltrans partners with its contractors to deliver quality projects safely and efficiently,” said McKim. “Effective partnering also results in lower costs, shorter construction schedules and fewer disruptions to the traveling public.”

The Gold award winners are the following:

• O.C. Jones and Company and C. C. Myers Inc. for the Interstate 205 Widening Project in San Joaquin County: this $92.1 project widened the roadway from four to six lanes while installing new sound walls, drainage and “weigh in motion” systems.
• Flatiron Construction for the State Highway 238 Widening & Rehabilitation Project in Alameda County: this $103.5 million project widened the roadway from four to six lanes while constructing three new bridges and 12 retaining walls.
• Granite Construction Co. for the State Highway 40 Pavement Rehab Project in San Bernadino County: this $45 million project rehabilitated 30 lane miles of roadway, 36 bridge approaches and placed 22,000 tons of shoulder backing material.
• The Las Vegas Paving Corp. for the Interstate 15 Mountain Pass Project in San Bernadino County: this $64.9 million project which rehabilitated a truck descending lane and roadway with on-site materials.

The Silver award winners are the following:

• Granite Construction Co. for the State Highway 76 Improvement project in San Diego County: this $22.3 million project widened and realigned 1.3 miles of roadway over an environmentally sensitive area.
• O. C. Jones and Sons, Inc. for the Interstate 80 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) project in Solano County:  this $28 million project constructed 8.7 miles of new HOV lanes, installed a new concrete median barrier and rehabilitated the existing roadway.
• Granite Construction Co. for the Interstate 80 Rainbow Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Project: this $25.5 million contract rehabilitated concrete on 9.6 lane miles I-80 on the western approach to the Donner Summit.
• The Griffith Co. for the Interstate 10 High Occupancy Vehicle project in Los Angeles County: this $16.2 million project replaced pavement with rapid strength concrete while constructing new approach slabs and drainage over 40 weekends.

The Bronze award winner is:

• Teichert Construction for the State Highway 4 Construct Highway and Bridges Project in Calaveras County: this $25.6 project constructed four new concrete bridges and 2.4 miles of roadway.

For more information on the Caltrans Partnering Program and free training workshops available to contractors, visit www.CaltransPartnering.com or contact program coordinator Ken Solak at 916-654-6020 or ken_solak@dot.ca.gov.