Collaborative Partnering was instrumental to the success of the La Pata Avenue Gap Connector project in San Clemente, Calif. Completed in August 2016, the $60 million project recently won the ASCE Project of the Year Award and was named #2 on Road & Bridges magazine’s Top 10 Roads for 2016. Created in 2000, the publication’s annual ranking recognizes the top projects in North America based on project challenges, impact to the region and scope of work.
As the largest roadway project in Orange County history, the La Pata Avenue Gap Connector project delivers a critical link to the arterial highway network in south Orange County. Although its completion would significantly increase mobility options by providing an alternative route to the heavily-congested I-5 Freeway, the project met public resistance and various adverse site conditions that could have easily derailed it. Through a comprehensive Partnering approach led by Ventura Consulting Group Partnering Facilitator Paul Crotty, the team pulled through, developing innovations and solutions to meet the many challenges they encountered.
Congratulations to everyone involved on this World Class project team, including the County of Orange/OC Public Works, Sukut Construction, Hutt-Zollars, Inc., GeoSyntec Consultants and GMU Geotechnical Inc. for receiving these awards, and for their efforts in overcoming grueling challenges to deliver this new roadway to the Orange County community. Read more about the project and the solutions this collaborative team implemented HERE.