was able to be removed in a continuous weekend closure. This method mini- mized impact and hazard to the travelling public.” Performing the work in such a busy and congested section of Santa Cruz has also proven to be a key hurdle. “Maintaining access for the commu-


nity is a primary concern, which is a chal- lenge when the work requires two arterial intersections to be closed to complete it,” Hussar said. “Early in the project it was identified that one of those intersections would be closed for an extended period, heavily impacting the community. Design was revised to restage the project in an effort to minimize that impact.” To date, the project has employed


over 25 subcontractors and vendors with 70,000 manhours worked on the job, which is being built adjacent to Granite’s previously awarded Highway 1 auxiliary lane and bus-on-shoulder project Soquel Avenue and 41st


Avenue in Capitola.


Tat $29 million project that is slated for completion this summer.


Leveraging Technology Both projects have leveraged technology and innovation to help the team meet aggressive schedule and budget goals, according to Hussar. “We are using AutoDesk Build for


project document control. While we’ve been running similar systems for some years, the major benefit to the current project is that Caltrans is using the sys- tem too, improving communication and visibility of project documents,” he noted. “We’re also using GPS modeling for line and grade control, a technology that has seen major advancements in accuracy and user friendliness over the years. It improves efficiency with line and grade layout based on provided survey staking. A single person can quickly locate features of work and their respective elevations


8


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JULY/AUGUST 2025


from a model generated from the design CAD files.” On the adjacent Highway 1 project,


Granite incorporated a unique drone testing initiative as part of a lighting solution for construction of the pedes- trian bridge that crosses the roadway at Chanticleer Avenue. “We had the opportunity to beta test a unique 500,000-lumen tethered light drone for a nighttime bridge deck pour,” Hussar said. “Te drone is connected to a generator so it can fly indefinitely, and


it provides better light coverage with less glare for drivers. It’s an interesting use of drone technology, and we were happy to help test it.”


A Focus on Sustainability Sustainability and recycling have also played a role. Te larger project is utilizing a recycled aggregate base, and the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) contains 10% Re- cycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP), which offers a significant sustainability benefit by reducing the use of virgin aggregate


Granite incorporated a unique drone testing initiative as part of a lighting solution for construction of the pedestrian bridge on an adjacent Highway 1 project.


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