Construction Las Vegas - Greenspun Media Group
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/587358
49 CONSTRUCTION LAS VEGAS CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR c o n t r a c t o r o F t H E Y E a r las vEgas paving corp. If you've ever walked on a street or driven on a freeway in the valley, you've probably come across the work of Las Vegas Paving. It's a family-run business that has had a major role in handling Las Vegas' immense growth since the 1950s. Today, the company employs about 900 people and sees revenues in excess of $400 million annually. It has installed more than 38 million tons of asphalt in its history. Ryan Mendenhall, Las Vegas Paving's divisional man- ager, said the work philosophy for the company hasn't changed much through the years. "We've strived for 50-plus years to do what we say we're going to do and we've been rewarded for that," he said. "For the past 50-plus years we've not been a claim-driven contractor. We see plans and are expected to build it accordingly. We don't worry about processing frivolous change orders. We believe in who we are and produce the projects and finished products that we say we will." at simple approach has helped add impressive projects to Las Vegas Paving's resume. One of its more recent major efforts includes I-15 South, where the com- pany was the principal participant in major improve- ments along I-15 from Tropicana Avenue to Silverado Ranch Boulevard. It is now in the process of starting construction on the Boulder City Bypass project, the second largest in company history. Innovation is key Visionary Bob Mendenhall founded Las Vegas Paving. e Utah transplant learned the paving trade in the field and through his years helped develop a system to use existing materials to re-make stretches of roadway. He was honored as Nevada's Outstanding Inventor of the Year in 1984 and to date holds 47 patents. at eye for innovation is alive and well at Las Vegas Paving. e paving enterprise has been called upon repeatedly to complete projects with complex traffic divergence situations and other barriers. In the past year, the company has been involved in three unique projects, among others, with their own individual challenges. e $225 million I-11 Boulder City Bypass project recently began construction preparations and designs are being finalized. e project involves creating 12.5 miles of new roadway that begins near Railroad Pass, circles Boulder City Municipal Airport and connects to the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. "e whole project is unique just because of the fact that we're building a brand new interstate through the middle of the mountains, unlike other projects with traffic challenges and dealing with business owners and closing down driveways," Mendenhall added. "is one we're working hand in hand with the environmentalists and the RTC to make sure tortoises are saved, we're sav- ing cacti and yucca and managing naturally occurring asbestos." Its Las Vegas Wash project is currently nearing completion and involves multiple agencies, including Clark County Public Works, the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Regional Flood District. e work area is in the center of the Desert Rose Golf Course, near the intersection of Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. e course serves as a convergence point for both the Las Vegas and Flamingo washes and sees millions of gallons of water come through it daily while collecting about 80 percent of the rainwater in the valley during storms. Originally built in the early 60s, flooding in nearby neighborhoods in past years has expedited reno- vation plans. About 600,000 yards of dirt was moved, a 20-foot-wide low-flow channel was built, the existing wash areas were lowered and sewers were replaced with expanded pipe. Las Vegas Paving was also the principal participant in the Main Street Project, where a stretch of downtown Main Street was completely rehabbed between Bonne- ville Road to an area north of Stewart Avenue. e area had major drainage problems through the years and pedestrian access ways were in need of widening. e job involved the constant shiing of access points into nearby casinos and downtown areas. But Las Vegas Pav- ing finished the 18-month project early. Staunch community supporter Las Vegas Paving has long been known for its local philanthropic efforts through the years. e company has donated millions of dollars to higher education and numerous area nonprofits. In addition, the company had team members on the AGC/NCA Fuel Tax Revenue Indexing committee, an effort that has helped re-open hundreds of millions of dollars in public construction work in the valley. — Brian Sodoma CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015