2024 CSE A AWA RDS


Granite Wins CSEA High Hazard Award for Bridge Replacement Project


T


he Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Mt. Vernon bridge replacement project in San Bernardino, CA, was a high-hazard, $43.5 million undertaking with


significant potential to disrupt rail service and truck traffic. Spanning three years and requiring 70,000 worker hours, the


project included the removal and replacement of an historic viaduct, 13 acres of yard expansion, and new infrastructure such as truck parking, administrative buildings, and production tracks. As the general contractor, Granite Construction overcame


a variety of challenges on this highly complex project that re- ceived AGC of California’s 2024 Construction Safety Excellence Award for “Safety on a High Hazard Project.” Silica dust, heat, and the need for work to take place near rail lines were just some of the challenges that Granite overcame through effec- tive planning, coordination, and innovative safety solutions. A few of the major safety solutions the team delivered on


this project included: • Controlling site runoff.While perimeter storm protection measures were identified early on, there was a large volume of on-site collection and containment required during peak rain events. Granite worked closely with the design team to determine the potential of peak ru off and establish


8


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024


mitigation requirements. The project team shifted the phasing and sequencing of grading and trenching during the rainy season in order to keep open trenches on the high side of potential flooding, among other solutions.


• Silica Dust protection.Due to the many concrete and asphalt chipping and hand-grinding efforts on this project, Granite took extra measures to ensure the safety of workers around the silica dust that resulted. Worker training on silica dust, daily safety walks, reviews of task hazard analyses and other measures minimized complacency throughout the project.


• Identifying and mitigating unknown structures and utilities. Granite had no single point of contact for the


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28