Background

This project is a Caltrans State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) roadway rehabilitation 3R project located in the downtown business district of the City of Yreka. The roadway is currently in fair to poor condition by International Roughness Index standards, and the rehabilitation strategy is to reconstruct the roadway to current design standards, including considerable ADA improvements. Utility relocations and heavy coordination are anticipated due to the urban site location. Drainage inlets and light poles will be relocated, and various utility covers will be adjusted to grade. Additionally, as the selected Construction Manager/General Contractor, Myers-Shea will evaluate and replace the existing drainage facilities, as necessary. One of the major efforts will be to coordinate with the City of Yreka on an independent, City-funded water and sewer line relocation/replacement project tentatively scheduled for construction in 2022.

This project’s series of challenges, including its location in a densely populated area and its multiple coordination fronts, from stakeholders to parallel projects, positioned it as an Alternative Delivery procurement candidate. This roadway rehabilitation was the first Alternative Delivery CMGC procurement for Caltrans District 2, which made it a coveted contract for the proposing firms. Caltrans showed interested in proposers that demonstrated innovative approaches to minimizing public impact and optimizing the project schedule and cost while maintaining high standards of quality.

Technical Approach

The Yreka Roadway Rehabilitation CMGC presented unique challenges for Myers-Shea, including the need to coordinate “storefront to storefront” roadway reconstruction across 130+ business and residential entry points; reconstruction of 4 miles of sidewalk/flatwork, including 100+ ADA pedestrian facilities and crosswalks while maintaining bikeways and transit stops; bridge reconstruction over the Yreka Creek; and the development of a traffic management plan that avoids “spillover” from construction into residential and “main street” areas. To overcome these obstacles and inform the technical approach, the Myers-Shea team quickly began outreach to businesses, utilities, and public stakeholders.

This CMGC win began with early, weekly meetings between the Myers-Shea and Mission Critical teams prior to Caltrans’ issuance of the Request for Qualifications. Mission Critical led the early onboarding of subconsultant team members including ADA Access, Historic Preservation, and Environmental experts. This integrated team immediately began to investigate corridor-specific challenges as well as the development of unique technical approaches.

During the pursuit, Mission Critical led twice-weekly focus groups with the project team members to vet risks and challenges, narrow approaches for completing the work, and develop opportunities for mitigating local and regional traffic impacts. The Mission Critical team also integrated construction Subject Matter Experts to support the team’s development throughout the pursuit. This expert group included specialists in Rapid Set Concrete (RSC), quality management, materials management, scheduling, and corridor phasing.

Over an intensive six-week pursuit period, Mission Critical led focus group meetings in Los Angeles, Redding, and Sacramento, and our team made multiple visits to the project corridor in Yreka. With the proposed project directly affecting ingress and egress to Yreka’s vibrant downtown business district, a significant challenge to the project was public and local discontent with potential economic impacts. During these site visits, the Mission Critical and the Myers-Shea team interviewed dozens of businesses along the proposed project corridor to gain historical perspective and insight. Mission Critical’s writing group successfully integrated these viewpoints into the Statement of Qualifications, highlighting the Myers-Shea team’s understanding of local preferences and concerns as well as their skill at developing sustainable relationships with corridor stakeholders.

As a result, the Mission Critical and Myers-Shea team developed not only the winning proposal, but innovative and flexible approaches that will reduce the period of performance, meet strict “no closure” Caltrans mandates, and mitigate many of the anticipated impacts to local businesses and the regional economy.

Impact

This $52M Caltrans District 2 CMGC contract win exemplifies the importance of early integration between the project team and Mission Critical. Prior to pursuit advertisement, Mission Critical and Myers-Shea had onboarded key subconsultant specialists, identified early innovations and approaches, and had reviewed the corridor to establish a baseline understanding of the project challenges.

This early work enabled the team to move rapidly and decisively upon Caltrans’ issuance of the procurement. Building on the their substantial efforts during the pursuit, the Myers-Shea team will begin a two-year preconstruction phase during which District 2 and Myers-Shea will focus on managing risk, advancing innovations, and establishing the final Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). Construction is slated to complete by mid-2025.

Mission Critical has pursued 10 Caltrans CMGC projects with client teams, shortlisting on seven and winning three. Wins include the $55M SR 140 Ferguson Slide Restoration CMGC; the $48M I-215 Barton Road Interchange Reconstruction CMGC, and now the $52M Yreka Roadway Rehabilitation CMGC.

Learn more about Caltrans’ Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) pilot program here: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/design/contract-manager-general-contractor