In the heart of Utah, where sprawling valleys cradle burgeoning communities, the need for a north-south transportation corridor had been a topic of discussion since the 1940s. By the 2020s, with western Davis and Weber counties expecting a 65% increase in homes by 2040, the urgency for a solution became undeniable.
Enter the West Davis Corridor (WDC) project, an ambitious endeavor initiated by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) that addressed these challenges, and for that, it is our No. 2 Road of 2024.
The Farmington Bay Constructors team is honored to be recognized by Roads & Bridges for this project,” said Robert Patcheck, project manager at FBC. “This project brought together the best team of owners, contractors, designers and stakeholders who all contributed to the innovation, coordination and dedication that made this project a success. In the end, the biggest winners are the communities, residents and stakeholders who have this great new multi-modal facility to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and improve quality of life.”
Spanning 16 miles, the four-lane divided highway emerged as a connection between five rapidly growing cities: Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton and Syracuse. This corridor linked these communities to Interstate-15 and Legacy Parkway, and it also promised to significantly alleviate congestion during peak hours.
The project, with its six new interchanges and 21 roadway bridges, aimed to reduce delays by 30% and shorten commute times, making daily travel smoother for thousands.
Ames Construction, as part of the Farmington Bay Constructors (FBC) joint venture, led a team of experienced partners like Staker-Parsons and HNTB. The latter was the lead designer behind the project.
The team adopted a proactive strategy during the proposal phase, brainstorming ideas that resulted in over 130 Alternative Technical Concepts aimed at minimizing risks and optimizing designs. A design-build approach was chosen for its effectiveness in merging design and construction phases, thereby accelerating the timeline while maintaining quality and cost efficiency.
Unique solutions were also applied during the design phase. Aerial drone photography created detailed basemaps that facilitated the reconfiguration of key interchanges. The southeast interchange, initially designed to stagger ramps over a mile, was revised to co-locate them. This preserved vital trail systems and reducing construction costs.
As construction commenced, the team faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, including material shortages and rising costs. To combat these issues, FBC set up a precast yard on UDOT property to manufacture drainage boxes on-site. This mitigated delays and allowed for customized designs, streamlining the construction process.
Quality assurance remained paramount throughout the project. UDOT implemented a rigorous Design Quality Management Plan to ensure every phase adhered to high standards, minimizing rework and keeping the project on schedule. By prioritizing safety, the design included crash-rated barriers near active trails, ensuring protection for cyclists and pedestrians.
With its successful completion, the West Davis Corridor now stands as a testament to collaborative engineering and forward-thinking design. The project not only enhances regional mobility but integrates with the surrounding environment, preserving wetlands and providing new trails for outdoor enthusiasts. As the community continues to grow, this vital link ensures that Utah can move forward—efficiently and sustainably.
Project: West Davis Corridor
Location: Davis County, Utah
Owners: Utah Department of Transportation
Designer: HNTB Corporation (as part of Farmington Bay Constructors joint venture)
Contractor: Ames Construction (as part of Farmington Bay Constructors joint venture)
Cost: $500 million
Length: 16 miles
