ConDig (15-May–23)  Civil contractor and construction materials producer Granite Construction has secured a $65 million preconstruction contract to upgrade the Parks Highway in Alaska.

Under the deal with Alaska DOT & PF and its designer Michael Baker International, Granite will realign six miles of the existing highway as it traverses a mountain range between Fairbanks and Nenana, Alaska.

Granite’s work includes mass earthwork cut to fill/waste approximately 3 million cubic yards to flatten curves and grades, constructing new passing lanes, upgrading existing passing and truck climb lanes to meet current design standards, and improving drainage through ditching, new culverts, and replacing existing culverts.

The preconstruction services phase of the contract will run from early 2023 through summer 2025 to accommodate right-of-way acquisition, permitting, and design completion. The construction phase is slated to start in the fall of 2025 and finish within the 2027 construction season, according to Granite. 

“Our equipment fleet, craft and management resources, and capacity are well aligned to construct this mass-earthmoving project efficiently,” said Granite vice president of Alaska region operations, Derek Betts. 

“The Alaska Region team looks forward to working collaboratively with the Department, Michael Baker, and local stakeholders to minimize impacts and deliver this project on or ahead of schedule.”

In April, Granite secured a $126 million contract for the construction of buildings and infrastructure that will support the relocation of U.S. Marines to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz, Guam.