The Daily Dig
Valley Water has issued a notice to proceed to a joint venture led by FlatironDragados, alongside Sukut Construction, for the $1.9 billion seismic retrofit of Anderson Dam in Morgan Hill, California. The team was selected through a best-value procurement process. Construction is expected to start in early 2027.
The scope is substantial. Crews will rebuild the dam embankment and spillway, install new outlet infrastructure, and complete the roadway, utility and environmental work tied to the reconstruction.
Anderson Reservoir is Santa Clara County's largest surface reservoir. It supports water supply, groundwater recharge and incidental flood protection for nearly 2 million residents. Valley Water lowered it to 3% capacity in 2020 over seismic safety concerns.
"The Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit project is a critical investment in the long-term prosperity of this community," said Richard Grabinski, President of FD USA.
The joint venture brings direct experience to the table. The team includes personnel who worked on Calaveras Dam and Isabella Lake Dam, both winners of the United States Society on Dams' Excellence in Constructed Project Award.
Tunnel Vision:
FlatironDragados is also the prime contractor on the Anderson Dam Tunnel, a related project nearing completion. Construction began in 2021 on the 1,700-foot-long, 24-foot-diameter tunnel. It will serve as a permanent low-level outlet for the reservoir, increasing Valley Water's ability to control reservoir levels and supporting the broader retrofit effort.
Snapshot:
Project: Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit
Location: Morgan Hill, California
Owner: Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Joint Venture: FlatironDragados and Sukut Construction
Contract Value: $1.9 billion
Procurement Method: Best-value
Status: Notice to proceed issued
Construction Start: Early 2027
Scope: Reconstruction of dam embankment and spillway, new outlet infrastructure, roadway, utility and environmental improvements
Reservoir Capacity: Lowered to 3% in 2020 due to seismic safety concerns
Population Served: Nearly 2 million residents
Related Project: Anderson Dam Tunnel, 1,700 feet long, 24-foot diameter, construction began 2021, FlatironDragados as prime contractorRegents
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A notice to proceed several months ahead of an early 2027 start is a real runway, not dead time on the calendar. Embankment and spillway subs with dam-specific compaction and seismic retrofit experience should be getting calls now, and that's a narrow trade pool nationally, so early conversations carry more weight than they would on a typical vertical build.
The tunnel wrapping first isn't incidental timing. A low-level outlet needs to be operational before the dam itself comes apart, since it's what keeps the reservoir manageable while the embankment and spillway work happens around it. For anyone tracking this project, the tunnel's completion is worth watching as a marker of how tightly Valley Water is sequencing the broader effort, not just a separate line item on the schedule.
Source: HOCHTIEF
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