SALT LAKE CITY — Hanson Structural Precast is participating in the $135 million EXPRESSLink project in Salt Lake City by designing and manufacturing 92 of the largest concrete girders, or support beams, in Utah.

At 95 to 195 feet in length each — a total of 16,546 feet — the girders are also some of the largest in the United States. In addition, Hanson Structural Precast provided 50,594 square feet of precast concrete deck panels for the four-mile highway expansion project.

The EXPRESSLink project will increase capacity by adding two lanes and an HOV lane in each direction on I-15 from 500 North to the North I-215 ramp in Davis County. Bridges located at Beck Street, US-89, 1000 North and 800 North were all replaced.

“This was a fast-paced project with a bridge to be built over a very busy railroad yard,” said Reed Bradley, general manager, Hanson Structural Precast, Mountain Division. “Due to the railroad tracks, unusually long spans between piers had to be constructed. Concrete girders were chosen over the other materials because they could be placed in one rapid operation, minimizing the impact to the railroads and the traveling public, because they are manufactured in a quality controlled environment and then delivered to the job site.”

Hanson Structural Precast’s Salt Lake City facility was contacted by the project’s general contractor, Kiewit/Clyde, and provided a design and plan incorporating high strength concrete and large amounts of prestressing to construct a girder of unusually long length. Using a Design-Build (DB) construction method, the EXPRESSLink overlaps two processes typically done in sequence. Concrete was the best solution for the large size requirements and provided durability and fast installation, and Hanson Structural provided a streamlined process.

“This project exemplifies our team’s ability to provide valuable, sustainable solutions that fit the specific needs of customers and communities, while supporting the growing infrastructure,” said Mike Leathers, president, Hanson Structural Precast.

The company completed the installation of its concrete girders and precast concrete deck panels for the Beck and Pioneer streets in May. The Utah Department of Transportation anticipates that the EXPRESSLink I-15 project will be completed by fall 2010.

For more information about Hanson Structural Precast, please visit www.hansonstructuralprecast.com.