...an environmental review process. We liked their ideas, but we didn’t know if it could really be achieved.”

In its protest, initially filed on Dec. 22, Flatiron-Skanska-Zachry claimed the project evaluation scoring was “flawed” and “did not weight the evaluation factors consistent with the request-for-proposal.” Flatiron spokeswoman Christie DeLuca declined further comment.

Prior Delay Remembered

UDOT still feels the sting from the $685-million, 14-mile Legacy Parkway (State Route 67), whose first phase opened in September 2008. That four-lane road project between North Salt Lake City and Farmington was delayed for a year by environmental challenges. During the delay, building materials and labor costs rose $200 million, UDOT says.

Legacy’s legacy “was in the back of our mind,” Njord admits.

What about regional experience? While Skanska and Zachry haven’t done any Utah road construction, members of Provo River Constructors are very familiar with UDOT work. Fluor, Ames and Wadsworth Bros. all worked on the Legacy Parkway project.

“Fluor developed an excellent relationship with UDOT during the Legacy Parkway project from 2000 to 2003, and we look forward to building on that relationship,” said Patrick Flaherty, managing director of Fluor’s Infrastructure business line, in a statement.

The I-15 selection included a Federal Highway Administration official as a non-voting, non-scoring member. The selection of Provo River Constructors was “fair and objective and met the federal competitive selection requirements,” says FHWA Utah Division Administrator James Christian.

The winning team will expand a 24-mile stretch between Lehi and Spanish Fork. It also will upgrade 10 freeway interchanges and replace 55 bridges. Two new lanes in both directions will be added from Lehi’s Main Street to Spanish Fork. Express lanes will be added from University Parkway in Orem to Spanish Fork. With all this in mind, UDOT felt its best interest was in getting started quickly rather than adding to the scope.