A Granite Construction–led joint venture has secured a $157 million contract to widen and replace a key transportation crossing in Tucson, Arizona, marking another major infrastructure investment in the region.
According to a Jan. 15 news release, Watsonville, California-based Granite Construction will partner with Traylor Bros., headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, to replace the existing four-lane 22nd Street Bridge spanning Barraza-Aviation Parkway and the Union Pacific Railroad. The project will deliver a new six-lane bridge, significantly increasing capacity and improving traffic flow along one of Tucson’s busiest corridors.
In addition to replacing the bridge, the joint venture will rebuild portions of 22nd Street between Kino Parkway and Tucson Boulevard, expanding the scope beyond the structure itself to improve surrounding roadway infrastructure.
The City of Tucson and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) — an independent taxing district within Pima County — are jointly funding the project. The investment builds on a $25 million federal grant awarded in 2022 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE Grant program, now known as the BUILD program.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the program is designed to support surface transportation projects that generate significant local or regional impact, particularly those that improve safety, connectivity, and economic vitality.
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Granite said it will supply 10,525 tons of asphalt for the project from its nearby Swan Facility, underscoring the contractor’s focus on vertically integrating materials and aggregate supply to support large-scale infrastructure work.
“By combining Granite’s strong local resources with Traylor’s extensive experience in complex segmental bridge construction, we are well positioned to deliver a high-quality project for the people of Tucson,” said Derek Betts, Granite vice president of regional operations, in the news release.
The collaboration brings together Granite’s regional footprint and Traylor Bros.’ national expertise in complex bridge construction, positioning the joint venture to manage both structural and logistical challenges associated with the project.
The Tucson bridge replacement adds to Granite’s growing portfolio of major bridge projects nationwide. In October, the contractor began work on the $138 million Lake Street Bascule Bridge project for the Chicago Department of Transportation, further highlighting the firm’s active role in large-scale transportation infrastructure improvements.
Together, these projects reflect sustained public investment in aging bridge assets as cities and states work to modernize transportation networks and accommodate long-term growth.
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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