A Race Against the Clock


Oroville Spillways Recovery Project On Track


Photo by The California Department of Water Resources J


ust over a year since it submitted the winning bid on the Lake Oroville Spillways Emergency


Recovery Project, AGC-member contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. is currently on track to complete one of the most critical infrastructure repair projects in California history. Slated to wrap up in December, the


project delivers a vital, long-term fix for the spillways to the nation’s tallest dam. Oroville Dam along with Lake


Oroville and the adjacent powerplant provide drinking water to millions of Californians as well as critical flood control, water storage, recreation and hydroelectric power generation for the Sacramento-San-Joaquin River Delta region. As each milestone has been met


to date, the project has been defined by tight deadlines from start to finish, large-scale challenges and most significantly by a solution-driven owner and contractor team determined to overcome every hurdle and deliver a top-quality project that serves Califor- 16 July/August 2018


nia’s water infrastructure needs well into the future.


AN EMERGENCY START In February 2017, Lake Oroville’s


main spillway was compromised. After the emergency spillway was used for the first time, the hillside below began eroding. As nearly 200,000 people were evacuated, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) began working on an emergency repair plan for both spillways at the nation’s tallest dam. In the beginning of April, eligible


contractors were given a week to turn in their bids for the Lake Oroville Spillways Emergency Recovery Project, which involved extensive reconstruction of the damaged 3,000- foot main spillway and constructing a new emergency spillway. An addendum provided little relief to the contractors, extending the bid period to 10 days. “A 10-day bid period for a project of this magnitude was almost unheard


of,” said Senior Vice President of Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and Oroville Executive Project Director Jeff Petersen. “But DWR provided good information and our team has a strong background in spillway construction, so we were up for the challenge.” Tree of the four shortlisted


contractors submitted bids on April 15, and DWR announced Kiewit as the low bidder at $275.4 million. Less than $2 million separated the two lowest bids. Once the contract was awarded,


DWR and Kiewit faced a lofty goal: ensure a functional 3,000-foot main spillway, which could safely handle flows from winter storms, was in place by Nov. 1, 2017. Achieving this in such a short timeframe would not only be uncommon, it would be remarkable.


A MONTH TO MOBILIZE Kiewit’s resources proved critical.


Within a month of being awarded the contract, the team had mobilized key personnel and equipment from Kiewit’s fleet across the United States California Constructor


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