Precision Execution and Measurable Results at Wolf Creek Pass
What We Delivered
When the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 5 needed immediate construction management support on the Treasure Falls project, Ulteig was engaged under an accelerated Non-Project Specific (NPS) task order—executed in just one week, with onsite mobilization occurring within two days.
This rapid deployment was driven by Ulteig’s proven emergency response performance on the Blue Mesa project in Region 3, where shared contracts and demonstrated results, established trust and confidence across regions.
At an elevation of 10,856 feet on Wolf Creek Pass, Ulteig provided construction management services under highly constrained environmental, scheduling and coordination conditions. Through disciplined application of CDOT’s Project First specification, proactive quality management and close stakeholder coordination, the project stabilized quickly—ultimately exceeding CDOT performance expectations for smoothness, materials quality and schedule efficiency.
This project highlights how experience, preparation and collaboration can turn emergency-level constraints into exceptional outcomes.
Project Highlights & Key Outcomes
Emergency-Level Mobilization
- One-week NPS task order execution
- Two-day onsite mobilization
- Deployment timeline typically reserved only for CDOT-designated “emergency projects”
High-Elevation Construction Management
- Managed striping operations under strict CDOT temperature specifications
- Coordinated limited operating windows due to elevation-driven temperature constraints
- Maintained quality and compliance despite cooler placement conditions and complex geometry, including reverse hairpin curves
Proactive Quality & Incentive Performance
- High-speed profiler tests conducted to ensure roadway smoothness
- QA/QC testing program to verify materials met CDOT specifications:
- Asphalt cement
- Gradations
- Mat densities
- Joint densities
- Incentives Achieved: $425,000
- Smoothness incentive: $225,000.00
- Material incentive: $200,000.00
- Only $150,000 budgeted, resulting in an overrun CDOT was pleased to approve due to performance results
- Limited must-grinds, significantly exceeding CDOT expectations
- Smoother pavements equal longer life
Complex Multi-Stakeholder Coordination
- Weekly coordination meetings under Project First specification
- Active collaboration across:
- CDOT Region 5 operations
- Striping and signing projects
- U.S. Forest Service activities
- Public Information Management coordination ensured safety during a statewide cycling race passing directly through project limits
Accelerated Closeout & Financial Impact
- One-day project closeout delivered measurable downstream value:
- Project advertised 44 calendar days sooner
- Contractor retainage (3.0%) released earlier
- Region 5 business office closed project early
- Funds freed for potential reallocation to other CDOT projects
Delivering Results That Matter
The Treasure Falls project demonstrates how disciplined construction management, proactive quality control, and collaborative delivery can create value beyond the project limits. Ulteig’s approach reduced risk, protected schedule, improved quality outcomes, and enabled the Colorado Department of Transportation to advance its broader transportation priorities across Region 5.
That commitment to long-term performance has now been recognized at the national level. This project has earned three industry honors: two awards from the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association, as well as the 2025 Perpetual Pavement Award: By Performance from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance. Together, these recognitions highlight the project’s exceptional durability, structural integrity and lifecycle value.
For CDOT and its partners, the recognition reflects more than a successful project—it validates a disciplined approach to pavement design, construction execution, and long-term asset stewardship that ensures Colorado’s transportation infrastructure continues to perform for years to come.
Let’s Solve For What’s Next
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