The $36.5 million Monte Vista job involves building a 400-meter-long by 9-meter-high tie-back wall, and construction of three cast-in-place, box culvert bridges. The volume of excavation is high: 1.32 cubic meters. This work has been delayed for several months from the original September start-up date because of problems with relocating water lines and natural gas pipeline. However, crews have been able to go ahead with work on two drainage systems, a box culvert, and a vertical wall channel.

At the adjacent $43.5 million project at Thompson creek, FCI South will construct 12 cast-in-place retaining walls. In addition to grading, drainage and concrete paving, they will be building about 13,000 lineal feet of concrete box culverts. One of them runs almost the entire length of the project - 8,000 feet. The majority of the roadway will be built in a depressed section going under three existing bridges and over one bridge.

Project manager Bill Corn explains that crews will be exporting 1.2 million cubic meters of excavation from this project. "We're going to be aggressive on this. Since Thompson Creek is next to Monte Vista, we can use off-highway equipment to carry heavier loads than would be allowed on the highway." At this time, some 50 employees are working on these two projects. Bill projects that in full production the number will rise to 100 people. Thompson Creek is scheduled for completion December 2001, and Monte Vista for January 2002.