Jordan Road Reconstruction - Centennial, CO

Project Focus
This project reconstructed a 2.2-mile section of Jordan Road, an important arterial cog to the continued economic development of the City of Centennial and Unincorporated Arapahoe County. It provided much needed improvements to an existing dangerous two-lane facility already carrying 12,000 vehicles per day. The newly constructed road provides two through lanes northbound and southbound, as well as left and right turn lanes at the intersections. It was very important that the existing traffic, including a relatively high percentage of heavy trucks accessing the some 75 businesses in the adjacent commercial/industrial areas on the north half of the project and the residential areas on the south, flowed "normally” during construction.

The Contractor discovered over 70 previously unknown utility conflicts during construction. Each interfered with the work area and the construction schedule. Extreme cooperation was required by all project team members to respond "continuously" to the consequences of the utility conflicts and to reallocate resources to mitigate schedule delays.

Project Details
Construction & Innovation
The Contractor modified a Guntert & Zimmerman 850 Paver with automatic dowel bar inserter (DBI) to allow the insertion of dowel bars while slipforming monolithic curb and gutter, a method not previously used in Colorado. The Contractor also configured the GZ paver to allow for an "on-the-fly" switch from monolithic curb to regular vertical edge, minimizing setup time and improving the overall paving schedule.

The Owner invited the ACPA and contractor members to participate in a pre-bid constructability review. The dialogue was useful in providing input on construction methodologies, sequencing and other quality and value issues.

Quality
The project ended up being built in many more "small" pieces than originally required due to the numerous utility conflicts and the subsequent changes in paving plans. This made it very difficult to achieve optimum smoothness; however, the Contractor still received smoothness incentive for the project. These conditions made providing a smooth ride very challenging. The Contractor required graded and compacted track lines even though the project specifications did not require density control outside the paving limits.

The Contractor ordered and used an extraordinary 20' straight edge, overlapping at 10', to "find" and correct any high spots in the plastic concrete and ensure the final surface was free from any vertical deviations and obtained optimal smoothness. The Contractor also used a process that minimized large blockouts in the traveled way, lowering over 40 manholes and 30 valves in front of the paver and then raising to final grade behind the machine placement. The Contractor, to improve smoothness through intersections, accelerate construction and minimize user delays, used a combination of High Early Strength (HES) concrete, along with close coordination of the preparatory removals, excavation and subgrade reconditioning to complete intersections in rolling 10-day windows.

Public Relations
Monthly public progress meetings during construction, supplemented by the other public relations requirements of the Contract, was a new and innovative approach for Arapahoe County to gain public acceptance. The casual traveling public, as well as the adjacent property owners along the corridor, were provided frequent, well-publicized opportunities for involvement. This minimized most of the misunderstandings and complaints typically associated with a project of this nature.

The Contract required a Public Information Manager (PIM) to conduct monthly meetings, prepare informational fliers and press releases and to support a PIM hotline. The project team created a distribution database of businesses and other stakeholders impacted by the construction. They then used this database to mail, hand deliver or e-mail update information regarding changes, closures and project status. The Contractor also used variable message signs to inform the public of closures and switches.