The Daily Dig:
The Sites Project Authority has tapped Barnard Construction as construction manager at risk for early work on the Sites Reservoir Project, an off-stream water storage project in the Sacramento Valley west of Maxwell. The initial award is a $1 million lump-sum contract covering Phase 1 preconstruction services.
Phase 1 work includes coordination with the Sites Project Authority, constructability reviews focused on haul roads, in person staff workshops, and two local community working group meetings. The project recently received a federal Record of Decision, with full construction tied to securing remaining funding and advancing into later CMAR phases.
Project Snapshot:
Owner / Developer: Sites Project Authority
General Contractor: Barnard Construction
Sector: Water infrastructure / reservoirs V
alue / Financing: Estimated $6.2B-$6.8B total project cost
Location: Sacramento Valley, west of Maxwell, California
Timeline / Status: Phase 1 CMAR preconstruction; construction targeted for early 2027
TheJobWalk Thoughts:
This approach puts logistics and access front and center before major dollars get committed. Haul roads and material movement are going to drive cost and schedule on a job this size, especially with local stakeholders paying close attention. Using CMAR at this stage gives the owner real world feedback before they lock in scope and pricing, while getting the contractor involved early on what's clearly a complex, high risk water storage project.
