Salt Lake City— Sundt Construction, Inc. completed the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Interstate 80 (I-80) westbound highway improvement project in Tooele County six months ahead of schedule. The project, which opened recently, will improve traffic flow between State Road 201 and State Road 36 in western Salt Lake and eastern Tooele Counties.

“I am so proud to be a part of this team who completed this project early and under budget,” said Sundt Project Manager Thiago Bezerra. “Our team and UDOT worked diligently together to solve issues quickly. This partnering attitude kept the project moving fast, giving Tooele County residents quicker access and relieving strain on the highway.”

The enhancements improve the traffic flow by adding a new exit-only lane on westbound I-80 and an auxiliary lane from the off-ramp of State Road 201 to the on-ramp of State Road 36.  The team crushed more than 3,600 cubic yards of old concrete to reduce environmental impacts and repurposed it to build the new auxiliary lane. The project team worked closely with local governments and organizations, including the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, to move two historical Oregon Trail markers to a new site nearby when they were impacted by the closure of viewing areas along the westbound I-80.

The team relied on 3D modeling to save time, improve precision, and reduce waste. Additionally, through proactive planning, close subcontractor coordination, and partnership with the supplier to expedite long-lead materials needed for the project, Sundt’s team accelerated the schedule. “Our crews, inspectors, subcontractors and vendors were committed 24/7 to build this project safely with the highest quality standards, and finish it early, to help improve mobility for the local traveling public of Tooele County and the western United States,” added Bezerra.

For more than two decades, Sundt has expanded and improved infrastructure in the Beehive State. Last fall, the company completed the award-winning Redwood Road and I-215 Interchange project. In 2019, Sundt broke ground on the new Water Reclamation Facility for Salt Lake City’s Department of Public Utilities located in northern Salt Lake City. The $528 million facility will serve more than 200,000 customers over a 110-square-mile service area.

About Sundt

Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 130-year-old firm specializes in transportation, industrial, building, concrete and renewable power work and is owned entirely by its 2,000-plus employees. Sundt is distinguished by its diverse capabilities and experience, unique employee-ownership culture and depth of self-perform expertise in nine major trades. Half of Sundt’s workforce is comprised of skilled craft professionals who, together with the company’s administrative employees, enable Sundt to fulfill its mission to be the most skilled builder in America. Sundt has 11 offices throughout California, Arizona, Texas and Utah and is currently ranked the country’s 52nd largest construction company by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine.