| I-15 Widening Begins
Nevada broke ground on its first design-build road project, the $234 million, Interstate 15 North widening in Las Vegas. The state is one of the last to use design-build and the innovation comes as Nevada ponders how to fund future road work.
Design-build is expected to shave two years off the I-15 widening. The project calls for expanding a 5.5-mile stretch of interstate from the U.S. 95/I-15 “Spaghetti Bowl” interchange north to Craig Road. North Corridor Constructors LLC, a joint-venture between Las Vegas Paving Corp., and CH2M-HILL, is the design-build general contractor.
The improvements will add lanes, reconfigure a major interchange, reconstruct ramps and add an intelligent transportation system for signs and metering. The project, which was awarded in June, is expected to finish by fall 2010.
“We’re speeding up the process,” says Nevada Dept. of Transportation Director, Susan Martinovich. “Southern Nevadans will get traffic relief sooner with the design/build system that allows actual construction to start while the designing is still taking place.”
The I-15 North design-build widening is one the last major projects to receive state funding approval in 2006. NDOT faces a $6 billion highway funding shortfall, and needs an extra $80 million to continue its roads and highways construction program for fiscal years 2009-10. Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) has pledged to not raise new taxes amid a looming budget shortfall. His gubernatorial predecessor, Kenny Guinn (R), by comparison, approved a $1 billion bond program that fast-tracked work on critical highway infrastructure.
Gibbons has created a task force to study highway financing alternatives. Public-private partnerships and toll roads are being discussed, yet both would require amending the state constitution. A decision isn’t likely until 2009.
Las Vegas Strip Claims another Craft Worker
By Tony Illia
Construction on the Las Vegas Strip claimed yet another worker’s life in April. Electrician Mark Wescoat, 47, of New Jersey, apparently fell 20 to 25 ft to his death April 26. He had been employed by Houston-based Fisk Electric Co., one of hundreds of subcontractors working at the $8 billion, 18.67 million-sq-ft CityCenter complex. The project has had five fatalities within the last 17 months. Perini Building Co., Phoenix, is the general contractor, and Tishman Construction Corp. of Nevada, Las Vegas, is the project manager.
Exactly what happened isn’t clear. Early in the morning, Wescoat was found slumped over a 2-ft wall on the 25th floor of CityCenter’s main hotel tower, which was under construction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Local 357 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are investigating.
Granite Awarded Several Northern Nevada Projects
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| Work began on the second phase of the V&T Railway restoration project. (Photo courtesy Granite) |
Granite Construction has begun the second phase of repair work on the $5.3 million Virginia and Truckee (V&T) Railway restoration project located at American Flat Road in Gold Hill, Nev.
The 4.5-mi railway reconstruction will include a 160-ft tunnel extension, 25,000 cu yds of excavation, 2,000 ft of drainage culverts and slope scaling.
The railway will enhance tourist appeal to Carson City and neighboring towns.
The railway portion linking Gold Hill to U.S. 50 was designed by Manhard Consulting and Geocon Consultants Inc. and is scheduled for completion in August.
Maintained by the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway, the heritage railway is scheduled to run on the entire 21-mile route to Carson City in 2010.
Granite will also begin work on a concrete lid for 2.8 acres of the existing Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor (ReTRAC) spanning from West to Virginia streets.
Project details include placement of concrete girder, wall reconstruction and site work improvements. Scheduled for completion in December, the $8 million project will create approximately 32,400 sq ft of usable retail and entertainment space in central downtown.
Granite Construction was also awarded a rehabilitation project by the City of Reno to renovate twelve neighborhood streets in southwest Reno. Valued at $3.4 million, the street rehabilitation project is scheduled for completion next month.
Las Vegas High-rise Project Mired in Lawsuit
By Tony Illia
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| Sullivan Square, Las Vegas, Nev. |
Las Vegas-based GSG Development filed suit in Clark County District Court against its partner, Harcourt Development of Dublin, Ireland, accusing them of breach of contract in the $800 million Las Vegas development Sullivan Square. It is seeking unspecified damages.
“Since last fall, they promised to fulfill their partnership and not done so, paying in fits and starts, paying some people and not others,” says Kenneth Smith, managing partner of GSG Development. “We have tried to hold this together based on those promises. >>
The project’s development entity, Sullivan Square Harcourt LLC, is a 60/40 joint-venture between Harcourt and GSG, respectively. The two parties formed a joint-venture in 2006. GSG, the project’s managing partner, was responsible for acquiring the land and entitlements, while providing design, development and construction management services. Harcourt, meanwhile, agreed to underwrite all costs in exchange for majority ownership.
The duo broke ground on Sullivan Square, located at Durango Drive and Sunset Road in southwest Las Vegas, last year. The 16.5-acre complex called for eight buildings from 12 to 20 stories tall, totaling 2 million sq ft. The $150 million first phase entails a 20-story high-rise with 159 condominiums. It’s reportedly 80% sold-out. The first homes were scheduled to open in early 2009, with Sullivan Square reaching build-out by 2014.
But construction stalled after only three months and no work has occurred since November. Martin-Harris Construction of Las Vegas is the general contractor.
Subcontractors and consultants that are owed a combined $2 million have filed eight liens and two lawsuits against the project. GSG Development insists that nonpayment isn’t connected with the current housing market downturn or current credit crunch; rather, it accuses Harcourt of trying to oust them from the project.
“We are being forced out of the project,” says John Manly, GSG’s attorney. “We don’t know if they are going to build it or not.”
The firm has sent a letter to homebuyers calling the lawsuit a “last resort” measure. GSG, which launched a new construction management company earlier this year, fears that the project puts its good name at risk.
Crisci Builders Awarded Contract for AMX Offices
Crisci Builders was contracted to complete commercial tenant improvements for the new offices of AMX, a hardware and software solutions provider. The 5,000-sq-ft commercial office project is located at 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway.
Construction began in March and is scheduled for completion this month. JMA is the architect on the $550,000 project. Crisci Builders’ Paul Auzenne is serving as project manager.
Meadow Valley Awarded $57 Million Contract
Meadow Valley Corp. has been awarded a $57 million contract with the Clark County Department of Public Works to widen the I-215 beltway from Charleston to Summerlin Parkway in Las Vegas. The project includes construction of interchanges at Far Hills Ave. and Summerlin Parkway, associated grading and paving, and the construction of storm drains, retaining and sound walls and related items. Work on the project is expected to begin within approximately 45 days and is scheduled to be completed within about 20 months.
CORE Begins Campos Office Building
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| Campos Office Building, Las Vegas, Nev. |
CORE Construction has begun construction on the new Campos Office Building and parking structure at 215 E. Bonanza Road, near Las Vegas Boulevard.
The Nevada State Public Works Board contracted CORE to complete the structure, which will have a concrete foundation pre-cast parking structure and a structural steel office building above it. The three-story parking structure consists of 103,247 sq ft, while the five-story office portion contains 84,814 sq ft.
The project started in March with the demolition of the existing structure, during which masons removed a time capsule that was cemented in the original building constructed in 1954. Once the new building is complete in September 2009, the time capsule will be opened during a dedication ceremony.
SH Architecture, the architect of record, received an AIA Nevada Design Award in 2006 for its work on the Campos building. The parking garage structure and column layout makes the most of site constraints, while sun-shade devices, low-e glazing, low-water use plumbing fixtures and landscaping all work to make for a desert-appropriate design.
United Construction Breaks Ground on Cactus Plaza
United Construction has broken ground on the 17,383-sq-ft retail component of Cactus Plaza. The project is located on the southwest corner of Cactus Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas.
Phase One of Cactus Plaza consists of a 5,353-sq-ft tavern shell on 3.64 acres of land, and includes site work and infrastructure for future development. Future plans include a 12,030-sq-ft retail strip center, bank and a convenience store with gas station. Construction costs for the entire project are approximately $2.7 million, and Phase One completion is slated for July 2008. Tierra Development is the developer on the project and Marc Lemoine Architecture is the architect of record.
To submit news items and press releases, please email to: scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com
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