Water Resources

Location

Escondido, CA

Owner

San Diego County Water Authority

Contractor

Kiewit-led Joint Venture

Value

$134.8 million

On May 18, 2001, Kiewit Pacific Co., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, was awarded the $134.8 million contract for Olivenhain Dam, Phase One, North America's largest roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam. The crews placed more than 1.4 million cu. yd. of RCC while setting world RCC production records.

Standing 318-ft. tall and spanning 2,400-ft. long, the dam's 250-ft.-wide base narrows to just 20-ft. wide at the structure's top. Located in an environmentally-sensitive area, the reservoir will have a water storage capacity of 7.8 billion gallons and help protect the area's $117 billion economy in the event of a water shortage. Kiewit "topped off" the dam on October 31, 2002 – nearly three months ahead of schedule.

Major quantities included, more than 3 million tons of crushed aggregate, and more than 40,000 cu. yd. of structural concrete. Nearly 1.4 million cu. yd. of rock from an on-site quarry was used to produce concrete aggregates. Other aspects of the project include dental excavation, concreting and cleanup at the dam foundation; inlet/outlet works, spillway and appurtenances; and construction of a tunnel, gate shaft, gate control structures, gates and appurtenances.