KIEWIT.
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Kiewit Touts Teamwork
Kiewit Corp.’s Hawaii office is known for its diverse project experience, capabilities and teamwork
approach. The civil contractor is working on a variety of road and marine projects on two islands.
O
ne thing that separates Kiewit Pacific from the com-
petition is its diversity, Hawaii Area Manager Ben
Prock says. The Kapolei, Hawaii-based company is a
division of Kiewit Corp., one of the largest heavy civil con-
tracting and mining organizations in North America. “There
are so many things that we’ll go after to bid,” Prock notes. “It
can be a roadway, subdivision, airport or marine project. Our
diversity is our single greatest component.”
This benefits the contractor when times are tough. “We’re
feeling the same downward turn as everybody else,” Prock
says. “We’ve seen a transformation from the heavy private
markets being real strong with developments, but that is no
longer the case. Fortunately, the federal side’s decision to
increase their spending [on infrastructure] have shored
up that downturn. There are substantial plans [for infrastruc-
ture improvement] in the upcoming years here in Hawaii.”
A Catch-22
Kiewit Pacific is at work on Drum Road, a $38 million
access road project for the U.S. military, on the island of
Oahu. Working under a contract with the U.S. Army Corps
KIEWIT PACIFIC
Kiewit Pacific is reconstructing 1,100 feet of breakwater for the $19 million
Kikiaola Light Draft Harbor project on the island of Kauai.
of Engineers, the company is transforming the existing dirt
road into a 14-mile, two-lane concrete and asphalt street.
In addition, Kiewit will provide drainage improvements
and slope stabilization. “The path has some real steep drop
offs,” Prock notes. “The slope will be laid back so they won’t
erode into the road. It also has limited sight distances because
of its sharp corners, so when the job is complete, they’ll have
improved sight distance.”
The greatest challenge is limited access to the site. “It
is remote and if you are working in one area, it’s difficult
to get past that area into the next area,” Prock explains.
This entails developing a strict sequencing plan.
“Keeping the excavation crew in front, followed by sub-
grade preparation and concrete paving, prevents us from
stumbling over one another,” he continues.
“You want to be able to open as much work Kiewit Pacific
www.kiewit.com
as you can, but it’s a catch-22 in that if Headquarters: Kapolei, Hawaii
too much area is opened up, you are Services: General contracting
overly exposed to the elements. If you get and construction management
Ben Prock, Hawaii area man-
caught by the weather, you could lose that ager: “Our diversity is our sin-
sub-grade work. It’s important to get gle greatest component.”
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