UC&D Most Outstanding Project Winner – SR 198; Upgrades & Preservation, MP 6-13

Utah Construction & Design recently recognized Staker Parson Materials & Construction with a 2021 Most Outstanding Project Award, for updates and preservation to State Route 198 in Spanish Fork, Payson, and Salem, Utah.

SR-198 is an older highway that has been added to and modified significantly over the years. It was a particular challenge to take this roadway, realign it with a new lane configuration and create a plan that accommodates the work UDOT has planned.

By keeping the end goal of the project in mind — a safe, pleasant highway for all Utahns to enjoy — estimator Clay Packard and site supervisor Danny Lee were able to work with the Utah Department of Transportation to create a successful, high-quality paving plan. Paving Foreman Jordan Neerings, traffic control foreman Cole Christensen and Danny worked together to implement the plan.

The team used stone matrix asphalt (SMA) wearing course surface that has a longer lifespan than other asphalt wearing courses, so will provide years of pavement life for the community. SMA drains surface water well which leads to better skid resistance for vehicles in wet conditions. The hot plant team and Jordan’s paving crew worked together seamlessly to produce and install the super smooth asphalt without difficulty. And they finished three days earlier than planned with no incidents or injuries!

Use of this material puts into practice our core value to Put Safety First at our job sites and for the citizens driving these roads. The project also added a dedicated bike lane and replaced 48 pedestrian access ramps. Our fantastic partner and subcontractor, WPI, successfully removed and replaced all 48 ramps and met ADA and federal standards. Danny prioritized safety by holding regular toolbox meetings, focusing his topics on work zone intrusion risks from the public.

Clay and Danny both attribute much of the project’s success to their strong partnership with Travis Ackermann’s team at UDOT Region 3. The common goals of safety, quality, and clear communication made handling a unique challenge much easier.

Congratulations to Clay, Danny, Jordan, Cole, WPI, and the entire Staker Parson team on this project!