NGLEA NEWSLETTER FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS

EDITION 4, 2016–17

10 The Rain Game: Crews in constant motion to protect work areas for highway expansion

22 Ahead of the Curve: P3 projects advance innovation in transportation infrastructure

38 Design-Build Fast-tracks a Critical Connection

50 Open Wide: Reconstruction enhances safety and benefits environment

61 K+S Potash Canada Legacy Mine Site Development

EXPERIENCEOur more than five decades of construction

experience spans multiple industries. We know what

it takes to deliver successful projects, and thrive on

challenges that others think are too difficult.

CORPORATE 4 Safety Matters

6 Giving Back

Butch AmesPresident & CEO

When Ames Construction was starting out, you could count the number of workers we had on one hand. We bid the job, worked the job and completed the job with a small group of trusted team members who each brought a strong work ethic and personal determination to succeed. We learned together, we solved problems together and we grew together, passing on and sharing knowledge and skills so that we all got better, worked smarter and remained unafraid of the next big challenge.

As the company grew, evolving industry regulations and a changing labor force defined a culture for doing business. Yet, those values of trust, work ethic and a fearless “team strong” perseverance defined our Ames corporate culture. A unified workforce, communication and collaboration shaped the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that guide how we interact with each other, with our clients and with our industry partners. We surround ourselves with others who reflect this culture and we have been rewarded with incredible loyalty that has become a recognized component of Ames Construction’s reputation in the industry.

Several years ago, a management consulting firm assessed the organization. After having conversations with both management and employees, the analyst was impressed by the high level of support and loyalty that our people have to Ames. People come to Ames to work and support their families and communities. People stay with Ames because our corporate culture aligns with their personal values.

Whether it is the handful of people who came together in the beginning, or the thousands who today come together on Ames behalf, it is their spirit and ability to work as a team that propels this company forward.

I extend my personal thanks to all of the talented crafts people, dedicated engineers, skilled field support,

INSIDE ANGLE

capable managers and proficient support personnel who make up Ames Construction, and to our business partners, vendors and subcontractors who become valuable extensions of our team in delivering successful projects. My appreciation also goes to our financial partners, who play a critical role as our projects become larger and more complex. We push each other to get better and take pride in the work we do, and we pull together as one team to accomplish great things for our clients.

Safety has been and continues to be our number one priority. Our training programs promote safety excellence, and our team members instinctively watch out for each other. At the end of the day, our focus on safety reflects who we are as a company and is a part of everything we do at Ames.

The corporate culture that emerged those many years ago will carry the success of Ames Construction into future generations. Evolving technologies will enhance the tools we use to perform our work and new opportunities will present exciting, innovative projects for us to pursue. With our corporate culture intact, the company will continue to be strong, and remain unafraid of the next big challenge.

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MIDWEST 9 Largest Turnout EVER!

10 The Rain Game: Crews in constant motion to protect work areas for highway expansion

13 Causeway Design-Build Shortens Construction Schedule

13 Pulling Together

14 Out with the Old: Demolition completes Mississippi River Crossing project

18 Making Connections

ROCKY MOUNTAIN 21 Overpass Improves Emergency Response Times

22 Ahead of the Curve: P3 projects advance innovation in transportation infrastructure

27 Preparing for the Southeast Rail Line Extension

28 “Over and Under” Preparation for N Line Track and Station

29 Getting Ready for the Deep Heap Leach

30 Design-Build Expansion Makes Way for Increased Truck Traffic

WESTERN35 Striking a Balance

38 Design-Build Fast-tracks a Critical Connection

41 Laying Critical Groundwork

42 Powerhouse Precision

44 Going Up: Tailings facility remains active during 70-foot raise

SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST 48 Closing the Loop: P3 project accelerates final 22 miles of

South Mountain Freeway

50 Open Wide: Reconstruction enhances safety and benefits environment

53 Reconstruction Designed to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

54 Shaping Up: Overburdened interchange gets new shape to improve efficiency

56 Wider Canyon Crossing Strengthens Critical Travel Link

58 Drought Triggers Emergency Waterline Installation

CANADA61 K+S Potash Canada Legacy Mine Site Development

64 Rail Spur Expedites KSPC Product Distribution

ANNOUNCEMENTS67 EEO/AA & Sexual Harassment Policies

68 Anniversaries

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SAFETY MATTERSA Winnable BattleIt is a little known fact that in the latter part of the 1880s, a primitive form of seat belts were found in some U.S. automobiles. The purpose of the seat belt wasn’t restraint but rather to prevent occupants from bouncing around on the rough roads of early America.

In the 1930s, and after seeing the injuries and deaths associated with unrestrained drivers, several doctors equipped their own cars with seat belts and encouraged others to do so. In 1956, Ford and Chrysler offered front seat lap belts as a ‘Lifeguard Safety Feature’ option on some of its models. In 1960 a study in England found that seat belts reduced auto deaths by 60%.

In 1966, the U.S. Government passed the Highway Traffic Safety Act, which mandated the installation of seat belts, head rests, shatter resistant windshields and energy absorbing steering wheels. By 1970 seat belts were standard on all cars in America.

For the next decade Americans argued about the effectiveness of seat belts.

Some claimed it was better to be thrown from the car, others feared they would not be able to get out of a car in the event of a fire or if the car were underwater. Some argued wearing seat belts made drivers more dangerous risk takers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only 11% of caroccupants wore their seat belts.

Finally in 1989 seat belt use became mandatory and in 2010 seat belt use nationwide was at 85%.

On a related note, airbags were introduced in the mid-50s and became mandatory in 1998.

In 2015, more than 35,000 people died in automobile crashes in the United States, the highest number in many years! With safer cars, how can we explain this ongoing problem?

The answer is quite simple actually. We as Americans are becoming worse drivers. We drive too fast, drive while impaired with alcohol/drugs, we are impatient, we are distracted and don’t pay attention. Despite numerous

campaigns and enforcement initiatives, the problems continue.

Something similar can happen at work; therefore it is essential that we pay attention to what we are doing every second of every day. Safety equipment and training alone will not protect us if we don’t plan properly, follow established safety rules, work at a reasonable speed and be focused on our work tasks.

Complacency continues to be a major factor in automobile deaths and is also an ongoing concern for us at work.

Let’s make 2017 a year that we avoid the distractions we face daily and become more focused both as drivers and workers. These are both winnable battles.

Roger McBride Senior Vice President – Safety, Risk Management & HR

MEET NICK RUBAVice President Design-Build

Nick Ruba joined Ames Construction in 2014 as a Senior Project Manager in the Midwest region. With more than 25 years of experience in the heavy civil and industrial contracting industry, he has recently transitioned into the role of vice president design-build as Dick Fahland, our vice president design-build, retires after 17 years with Ames.

Nick was raised and worked on the family livestock and grain farm in northwest Iowa until graduating from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in Construction

Engineering. Nick spent nearly 20 years working for various contractors throughout the country on heavy civil, industrial and structural steel projects before returning to the Midwest in 2010.

Nick loves the outdoors and stays active by hunting, gardening and riding his Harley with his wife, Jodi. Their son, Jordan, lives and works locally, and their daughter, Ali, lives and works in Salt Lake City.

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CULTUREAmes success is dependent on the people who have dedicated

themselves to its excellence. Our people pull together as one team, put

safety first, and apply their exceptional talents and skills to deliver the

highest quality projects to our valued customers.

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GIVING BACKAmes Elves Keep the Holiday Spirit All Year LongIf you don’t think there is a Santa Claus, then you haven’t talked with any of the hundreds of disadvantaged children who have benefited from one of the many events hosted by John and Sharon Ames on their behalf—including an annual goblin-filled Halloween event and a magical Christmas wonderland with Santa at holiday time.

For more than two decades, helping kids reach their full potential has been a personal mission for John and Sharon by supporting the efforts of area organizations, including the Arizona Boys and Girls Club, Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship and Glendale Elementary School. Although most efforts are focused on supporting each organization’s tireless work, the annual Christmas party is focused solely on putting big smiles on kids’ faces.

Traditionally held at John and Sharon's personal ranch throughout the entire month of December, as many as 400 children each year have been treated to this special holiday celebration. To change things up a little in 2016, the event was hosted at the MacDonald’s Ranch, a premier horseback riding stable in Scottsdale.

Greeted by one of Santa’s helpers, a fuzzy Santa hat was placed on each child’s head as they stepped off the bus. Then it was off to a day of activities and festivities that included face painting, carnival games, a petting zoo, panning for gold, train rides and hayrides. Following a delicious holiday meal, the children had the chance to speak personally with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

When the children stepped back onto the bus to leave, their arms were filled with wrapped gifts and candy, along with an individual photo with Santa as a lasting reminder of their special day. As the busses departed the Ranch, the children weren’t the only ones with big smiles on their faces, as all of Santa’s helpers—our special Ames elves—waved a reluctant farewell.

While the holiday events have always been a special time of year for giving, John and Sharon along with their community of friends, family and Ames volunteers support multiple charities in various ways throughout the year – because Ames elves keep the holiday spirit all year long.

Our holiday hosts, John and Sharon Ames.

John Ames serves as Santa’s official sleigh driver.

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Reflecting back on 2016, this past year has been filled with both triumphs and diverse challenges.

The year started with an announcement that ADOT awarded the Ames team the SR 202, P3 project. Winning this project was a huge accomplishment since it is the largest — and first P3 — project awarded by ADOT. It not only confirms the strong relationship we have built with this client throughout the years, but will be an impressive addition to our growing resume of successful projects.

As the year progressed, Ames was awarded many additional and exciting projects in all of our regions. I sincerely commend the people associated with all of our pursuits, and thank them for their hard work and innovative solutions that allow Ames to be successful in winning project awards.

Along with the prestige of being one of the largest heavy civil contractors in North America comes our share of challenges as our projects become more diverse and complex. Yet, our ability to work through and overcome them is our strength. Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to work with many colleagues throughout Ames in devising workable solutions to resolve difficult challenges. During this process, it became obvious to me that we have many talented employees who are dedicated to doing what is best for Ames. The collective knowledge we have gained while working through and overcoming our past and current challenges provides us with the experience to eliminate and minimize future issues.

I am excited for the opportunities on the horizon in 2017. Ames is fortunate to have a favorable backlog of work along with a long list of potential project pursuits. As we move ahead, all of us at Ames must remember that our reputation and success starts in the field where the work is accomplished. We cannot lose focus of this fact and must remain diligent to work together to ensure we perform productively, safely and to the highest quality standards. If we make this commitment to each other, I am confident 2017 and many years to follow will be successful for Ames.

My personal gratitude goes out to each employee for your dedication and effort. As I have said many times before —

and believe it is true today — the employees of Ames Construction are its greatest asset.

Tony AmesCOO

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This past year, we have been working on some amazing and challenging projects that are highly visible to multiple stakeholders, including government entities and the communities in which we work. Our knowledge and abilities are constantly being put to the test and it is only through the tremendous efforts of our Ames team that we have been able to achieve our many successes.

We have been fortunate to be awarded opportunities that span throughout the region, yet oftentimes the projects require workers to travel from location to location, spending days, weeks and months away from their families. That’s why safety is always our top priority. We want our people to return home safely after every shift on every project, and it is up to all of us to make sure that safety continues to be ingrained in our daily work habits.

Ames is strongest when we work together, combining the individual talents and skills of our professional craft workers, engineers and support teams. Repeatedly, we have demonstrated that, collectively, we can overcome any challenge.

We have established a good workload going into the next year and we see many opportunities ahead to bid additional projects for the region. We are also encouraged by the promises made by the incoming leadership in Washington to push for infrastructure and other construction projects that will strengthen our industry.

As we look ahead to the prospects and possibilities, I want to thank all of the dedicated people who give their best to this company every day. You are each an important part of the complex mechanism that drives productivity, and I sincerely appreciate every one of you who works hard to help keep Ames moving forward.

Ron AmesPresident, Midwest Region

Jesse Harvey and family arrive at the picnic for a day of fun.8

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LARGEST TURNOUT EVER!

Ron Ames (second from left) welcomes George Mustafa, Annie (left) and Zada to the 35th annual employee appreciation picnic.

More than 820 employees, retirees and their families attended the 2016 Midwest region’s annual appreciation picnic—the biggest turnout in the event’s 35-year history. Held at Valley Fair in Shakopee, Minnesota, attendees enjoyed a great lunch, exciting rides and plenty of attractions for a full day of family fun with an old-fashioned “county fair” feel.

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THE RAIN GAME: Crews in constant motion to protect work areas for highway expansionCORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA | US Highway 20 Expansion

In April 2016, Ames Construction started work on an Iowa Department of Transportation (IADOT) expansion project along US Highway 20 from Correctionville to Holstein. The 12-mile-long stretch of road will be widened from two to four lanes. Shortly after the congratulatory handshakes on a successful bid, Dick, Butch and Ron Ames reminded the team why the corn gets so tall in Iowa; because it rains a lot. As predicted, crews encountered a tough schedule, difficult soil conditions and plenty of wet weather.

DID YOU KNOW? With more than 7,100 acres of farmland draining through the Iowa US 20 project, each inch of rain meant that crews had to contend with 40 million gallons of water running through their work areas.

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THE RAIN GAME: Crews in constant motion to protect work areas for highway expansionCORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA | US Highway 20 Expansion

In April 2016, Ames Construction started work on an Iowa Department of Transportation (IADOT) expansion project along US Highway 20 from Correctionville to Holstein. The 12-mile-long stretch of road will be widened from two to four lanes. Shortly after the congratulatory handshakes on a successful bid, Dick, Butch and Ron Ames reminded the team why the corn gets so tall in Iowa; because it rains a lot. As predicted, crews encountered a tough schedule, difficult soil conditions and plenty of wet weather.

With four million cubic yards of cut to fill earthwork to complete in 2016, the team recognized that opening up as many acres of fill as possible was key to laying out, processing and drying the wet silts and clays. The rolling terrain required nearly every embankment area to have a box culvert with wick drains or a RCP culvert in the bottom of the fill. Crews immediately started constructing stream diversions, installing box culverts and laying pipe. With a keen eye on the forecast, crews remained ever ready to sump, pump and divert water as necessary to protect their work areas.

Mass earthwork began as fill areas became available. To maintain high production demands, soil moisture levels were assessed daily, adjusting operations and implementing changes based on restrictions

imposed by the conditions. The high moisture content in the silty soil required the entire embankment to be disked and aerated to dry the soil, with each 8” lift averaging 24 hours before the next lift could be placed. Each crew would often move to three or four different fills during the day.

As the weather began to improve, crews stepped up the pace. To help staff the project, Ames worked with local unions to find and sponsor several young operators. Key veteran operators from other projects were brought in to train both the less experienced and those new to this type of work.

The equipment fleet consisted of various haul units to fit specific applications. Dozers and articulated trucks for pioneering fills, scrapers for use in the firmer clay cuts and up to

Iowa’s notorious spring rainfalls kept Ames crews in constant motion to perform earthwork for a 12-mile stretch of the US Highway 20 expansion in northwest Iowa. The project is part of IADOT’s program to widen Highway 20 from two to four lanes across Iowa — covering roughly 300 miles.

DID YOU KNOW? With more than 7,100 acres of farmland draining through the Iowa US 20 project, each inch of rain meant that crews had to contend with 40 million gallons of water running through their work areas.

21 tractors pulling scrapers, disks and compactors to float through the wet silty materials. At full staffing, more than 80 pieces of equipment had been mobilized to the site and crews were moving in excess of 50,000 cubic yards of earthwork—equivalent to 2,800 truckloads—per day.

By midsummer, work was ongoing daily through the entire 12-mile project. According to Curt Rudolph Jr., Midwest region construction manager, “You have to be ready to improvise, every day. If a fill dries faster than you think, or if the humidity comes up overnight and a fill doesn’t dry, you have to know what plan B, C and D are.”

With careful planning, a whole lot of hard work and some good fall weather, Ames met the 2016 project schedule. Concrete paving will begin in spring 2017, followed by the start of Stage 2.

Ames crew and equipment working on the Highway 20 expansion project.

The 12-mile stretch.

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CAUSEWAY DESIGN-BUILD SHORTENS CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULEHENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA | U.S. Highway 169 Design-Build

In January 2017, Ames Construction crews began an aggressive 272-day start-to-finish freeway design-build reconstruction in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The best value design-build contract was awarded to Ames in August of 2016.

MnDOT elected to replace the Nine Mile Creek Bridge with a causeway rather than a bridge to reduce anticipated construction time from three years to 12 months. Ames Construction has committed to completing the project in nine months — opening the freeway to the traveling public a full three months sooner.

Within this tight closure period, crews will demolish the existing bridge and perform excavation, ground improvements, installation of box culverts and MSE walls, storm sewer and new

concrete pavement, followed by re-opening the freeway to the traveling public.

Ground improvements will consist of an integrated design of controlled modulus columns and a load transfer platform to provide a suitable foundation through the existing swamp. The use of controlled modulus columns in lieu of driven pile will not only accelerate the work to meet the compressed schedule but will also eliminate noise impacts to adjacent municipalities without compromising the long-term performance of the causeway.

Also included in the scope of this contract is an additional five miles of pavement repairs and noise wall work along the highway. This work will be performed in multiple stages concurrently with the new causeway construction.

PULLING TOGETHERButch Ames, Mort Mortenson, Dave Mansell and Ron Ames attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new U.S. Bank Stadium on July 22, 2016. Ames Construction and M. A. Mortenson Company have had a long-standing relationship that spans more than four decades, and worked together to build this state-of-the-art multi-use sports facility.

OUT WITH THE OLD:Demolition completes Mississippi River Crossing project

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CAUSEWAY DESIGN-BUILD SHORTENS CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULEHENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA | U.S. Highway 169 Design-Build

In January 2017, Ames Construction crews began an aggressive 272-day start-to-finish freeway design-build reconstruction in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The best value design-build contract was awarded to Ames in August of 2016.

MnDOT elected to replace the Nine Mile Creek Bridge with a causeway rather than a bridge to reduce anticipated construction time from three years to 12 months. Ames Construction has committed to completing the project in nine months — opening the freeway to the traveling public a full three months sooner.

Within this tight closure period, crews will demolish the existing bridge and perform excavation, ground improvements, installation of box culverts and MSE walls, storm sewer and new

concrete pavement, followed by re-opening the freeway to the traveling public.

Ground improvements will consist of an integrated design of controlled modulus columns and a load transfer platform to provide a suitable foundation through the existing swamp. The use of controlled modulus columns in lieu of driven pile will not only accelerate the work to meet the compressed schedule but will also eliminate noise impacts to adjacent municipalities without compromising the long-term performance of the causeway.

Also included in the scope of this contract is an additional five miles of pavement repairs and noise wall work along the highway. This work will be performed in multiple stages concurrently with the new causeway construction.

PULLING TOGETHERButch Ames, Mort Mortenson, Dave Mansell and Ron Ames attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new U.S. Bank Stadium on July 22, 2016. Ames Construction and M. A. Mortenson Company have had a long-standing relationship that spans more than four decades, and worked together to build this state-of-the-art multi-use sports facility.

OUT WITH THE OLD: Demolition completes Mississippi River Crossing project

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MINNESOTA / WISCONSIN | I-90 Mississippi River Crossing at Dresbach

After three and a half years of hard work constructing the Mississippi River Crossing between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the new bridges and interchange near La Crosse, Wisconsin, were opened to the traveling public on October 7, 2016 — 40 days earlier than contracted.

A challenging undertaking began in the spring of 2013 when Ames Construction started work on constructing two cast-in-place segmental box girder bridges crossing the Mississippi River, along with the reconstruction of the I-90/TH61 Interchange, which included seven additional bridges, multiple retaining walls, earthwork, utilities, and paving.

During construction, crews overcame a multitude of challenges including high river water levels, frigid winter conditions, complex staging and river traffic. Ames, MnDOT and WisDOT worked together to limit impacts to the corridor’s various transportation entities. Crews built the project while keeping the flow of vehicular traffic, recreational and commercial river navigation, and railroad transport open for the duration of construction.

The final step of the project was to demolish the existing 50-year-old I-90 bridge, whose fracture-critical status hadplaced its removal and replacement high on the priority list.To complete the demolition work prior to the 2016/2017 winterriver freeze, crews dismantled the bridge during the summermonths. Ames lowered the span—weighing nearly 2.4 millionpounds — over the main channel in two pieces utilizing short-term channel closures.

Crews installed a lowering system consisting of several false work beams, high strength rods, and specialty hydraulic jacks. Once the steel bridge members were cut, the span was lowered precisely 30 inches at a time with each cycle of the jacks until the structure came to rest on two barges located directly beneath the bridge. Once secured on the barges, two tugboats pushed the span to shore. Crews could dismantle the remaining portions of the bridge without impact to river traffic while still completing the work prior to the winter freeze.

Connecting both community and commerce, completion of the new bridge and interchange alleviates traffic congestion, reduces crash rates and allows motorists to enjoy a safer scenic drive for the next 100 years.

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Minnesota State dignitaries cut the ribbon at the Dresbach Bridge dedication ceremony.

The Ames Percherons “inspect” the new I-90 Bridge. 17

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Crews working through the bedrock.

New tunnel for baggage vehicles at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA | Roadway & Plaza Reconstruction, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Ames Construction crews are making new connections at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) with the construction of an outbound roadway and plaza reconstruction.

The construction project began in May 2016 and includes relocating existing automobile traffic to make room for a new 5,000-car parking ramp and on-site hotel. Crews are performing grading, underground and structures, and the work is occurring both roadside and airside on the 25-acre site. The project also required shutting down an airline gate and building a new tunnel connection for baggage vehicles. Slated for a July 2017 completion, it is the first significant expansion project at MSP since 2000.

In November 2016, Ames was awarded and additional contract at the airport, which is a continuation of the above reconstruction.

This project is part of the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s (MAC) Long Term Comprehensive Plan designed to reimagine the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) experience. The plan looks forward approximately 20 years with facility improvements aligned to meet projected forecasts that will enhance the traveler’s experience, from parking, check-in and dining, to baggage claim and passenger amenities.

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Security wall construction for the new facility.

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Thank you all for your hard work and dedication over the past year. Together we faced many challenges, built some great projects, and improved the communities where we live and work. Our success lies in our ability to work together and with the many owners, partners, subcontractors and suppliers whose relationships we depend on. Doing this well will ensure that we continue to have many opportunities in front of us and can continue to pursue work aggressively.

The work we were awarded and performed in 2015/2016 has gone very well. We safely completed many fast-paced, curfew-driven railroad jobs. We had a water resources project in Winter Park, Colorado, where the quality and production were so impressive that we received regular inspections from a family of moose! We successfully met an aggressive schedule and budget for the State Avenue project in North Dakota, and our performance on Weld County Road 49, the North Metro Rail Extension and the South East Rail Extension projects reinforced why people want to work with us. Crews completed the latest leach pad expansion at Cripple Creek and improved the haul roads to meet the mine owner’s standards. Mainline expansion work and the last bit of intermodal work have been completed on our terminal expansion design-build project, and our crews worked hard to close out the RTD and US36 projects that so many of us have been a part of over the past few years.

Near the end of the year, we were awarded a number of local jobs that will tie in nicely with the current workload, and a couple of upcoming design-build projects should provide good opportunities in the coming year. Our future looks positive.

Our 2016 safety record ranks as one of our best years, and the work we did reflects the quality for which we are known. Safety and quality continue to be at the core of our values, and no matter the challenge, our goal is to deliver quality work safely. Congratulations on an uncompromising year.

Thank you to each of you for all the hard work over the past year and to your families for their continued support. May you all have a safe, healthy and happy new year.

With appreciation and gratitude,

Robert Gillis, P.E.Vice President, Rocky Mountain Region

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OVERPASS IMPROVES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMESDICKINSON, NORTH DAKOTA | State Avenue Overpass

In October 2016, Ames Construction completed a 16-month-long project to construct a new railroad grade separation and overpass at State Avenue in Dickinson, North Dakota. The project was in response to a statewide spike in population — and traffic — that came with the Bakken oil boom. From 2010 to 2014, traffic increased 71 percent on state highways in the oil-impacted counties of western North Dakota, and 26 percent across the entire state.

Dickinson is a primary transportation link to Interstate 94, and the State Avenue railroad crossing is vital for both commuters and emergency responders who experienced critical delays to the south side of town from the emergency stations located on the north side. Therefore, the Ames team phased and sequenced the work to keep the road open to traffic throughout construction; an effort that presented several challenges. For example, crews had to relocate many utilities while protecting existing utilities, high power transmission lines were moved to alleviate wall and bridge conflicts and main fiber was relocated due to storm drain conflicts. The most unexpected challenge was hitting rock while boring underneath BNSF tracks. To minimize the impact on train traffic, crews had to remove the rock and replace the track within 72 hours.

With the project now complete, traffic is flowing easier and the new overpass has dramatically improved north-south emergency response times.

Dickinson State project crew.

The State Avenue Railroad Bridge Project in Dickinson received the 2016 Gold Award from North Dakota Ready-Mix & Concrete Products Association in the Bridge category for excellence in concrete.

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AHEAD OF THE CURVE:P3 projects advance innovation in transportation infrastructure

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DENVER, COLORADO | Eagle P3 and US 36 Express Lane Design-Build

With the year-end 2016 completion of the US 36 Express Lanes and the Eagle P3 commuter rail project being put into service, Ames Construction has helped change Colorado’s transportation landscape to position Denver as a world-class city with infrastructure for the 21st Century.

After suffering a devastating recession in the 1980s, Denver officials spent more than two decades working to not only recover, but to transform the Mile High City into one of the country’s top business, cultural and sports centers. Traffic congestion and growth is driving a commitment to advance the transportation system to an entirely new level focused on developing multi-modal connectivity throughout Denver and surrounding areas.

Ames is privileged to have worked on two of the most visible transportation projects the state has developed with this investment.

Eagle P3The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has long served the Denver/Boulder metro area with traditional bus service, and in the 1990s, the transit service was supplemented with a Light Rail network. The Eagle P3 project introduced electrified commuter rail to the City of Denver. Considered RTD’s crown jewel of the transportation network, it provides a reliable and efficient link between Denver International Airport and downtown Denver.

The Eagle P3 project included design-build construction of 36 miles of rail corridor, the trains for the commuter rail, 13 new stations with Park & Ride lots, a new maintenance facility, and associated public street improvements. Dubbed “the train to the plane,” service to DIA began in April of 2016 and ridership on the commuter rail remains consistently above anticipated volume. The system successfully serves Denver commuters and resident, business, and convention traffic in and out of the airport.

As the shape of America’s cities change with growing urbanism and high-density housing, communities struggle to address traffic congestion, affordable housing, environmental impacts, and the desire for a resident workforce. The success of the Eagle P3 project positions Denver to act as a model for future development of transit systems in American cities.

Transportation system improvements keep traffic flowing smoothly with multi-modal traveling options.

The new Denver Airport Station.

US 36 express lanes.

US 36 Express LanesUS 36 has been the main artery of transportation between Denver and the City of Boulder since the 1950s. While improvements had been made over the years to deal with an increasing population and economic expansion, the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT), the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), transit partner RTD, and the manyproject stakeholders turned to a sustainable multi-modal solution to support future growth.

In the spring of 2016, Ames completed design-build reconstruction on the second of two phases of US 36, transforming the 15-mile stretch between Boulder and Denver. The project added express lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV), and tolled Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOV). The addition of a bikeway alongside the highway also ties into the existing trail systems. Together, these unique multi-modal commuter options provide greater capacity and faster, more reliable travel times.

With cities all across America undergoing a dramatic shift in urban mobility, the pursuit of sustainable transportation modes is on the rise. With the completion of the US 36 Express Lanes projects, Denver is at the forefront of an upward trend for alternative and shared-use transportation access.

DID YOU KNOW? Commuter rail transit (CRT) vehicles are heavier and faster than light rail transit (LRT) vehicles. They are designed to travel greater distances between stations, with more seats and baggage storage compartments.

P3 Accelerates ProgressCommon to these two projects was the use of a public-private partnership (P3), an innovative and highly collaborative approach to project development that allows for alternative project delivery methods for financing, design-build, operation and maintenance strategies on public projects. The addition of private financing gives public entities more flexibility with their budgets, typically allowing for faster delivery of more projects. The operations and maintenance components of these projects also provide the benefit of more predictable long-term expenses with better budget management. This approach allows for delivery of projects years — and often decades —earlier than otherwise possible.

These highly successful P3 projects, along with an ongoing commitment to improve transportation connectivity for businesses, residents and visitors, have advanced Denver’s progress to achieve its ultimate goal of becoming a world-class city.

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US 36 express lanes.

US 36 Express LanesUS 36 has been the main artery of transportation between Denver and the City of Boulder since the 1950s. While improvements had been made over the years to deal with an increasing population and economic expansion, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), transit partner RTD, and the many project stakeholders turned to a sustainable multi-modal solution to support future growth.

In the spring of 2016, Ames completed design-build reconstruction on the second of two phases of US 36, transforming the 15-mile stretch between Boulder and Denver. The project added express lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV), and tolled Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOV). The addition of a bikeway alongside the highway also ties into the existing trail systems. Together, these unique multi-modal commuter options provide greater capacity and faster, more reliable travel times.

With cities all across America undergoing a dramatic shift in urban mobility, the pursuit of sustainable transportation modes is on the rise. With the completion of the US 36 Express Lanes projects, Denver is at the forefront of an upward trend for alternative and shared-use transportation access.

P3 Accelerates ProgressCommon to these two projects was the use of a public-private partnership (P3), an innovative and highly collaborative approach to project development that allows for alternative project delivery methods for financing, design-build, operation and maintenance strategies on public projects. The addition of private financing gives public entities more flexibility with their budgets, typically allowing for faster delivery of more projects. The operations and maintenance components of these projects also provide the benefit of more predictable long-term expenses with better budget management. This approach allows for delivery of projects years — and often decades —earlier than otherwise possible.

These highly successful P3 projects, along with an ongoing commitment to improve transportation connectivity for businesses, residents and visitors, have advanced Denver’s progress to achieve its ultimate goal of becoming a world-class city.

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PREPARING FOR THE SOUTHEAST RAIL LINE EXTENSIONLONE TREE, COLORADO | Southeast Light Rail Extension

Building on our successful completion of the civil elements of the Eagle Commuter Rail design-build project in Denver, Ames worked on a 2.3-mile extension of the existing Southeast Rail Line running from the line’s current terminus at Lincoln Avenue Station to a new end-of-line station just south of Ridge Gate Parkway.

A new end-of-line station for the Southeast Rail Line extension is located in the master-planned RidgeGate community. The station will have 1,300 parking spaces, bus transfer, and kiss-n-ride facilities.

To date, Ames has completed the earthwork and grading to accommodate the track alignment. Crews have also installed retaining walls and drainage pipe, and performed site preparation for the parking lots and garage facilities. The equivalent of nearly 20,000 truckloads of soil were cut and filled, or exported from the alignment for processing and reuse both

on site and by nearby developments. Expansive clays and claystone required special measures, including over-excavation, soil conditioning and removal and replacement of claystone.

Final work activities will begin once right-of way acquisition and access easements are completed by RTD in the spring of 2017. Work will include constructing additional retaining walls, placing sub-ballast in the guideway and base in station driveways and lots.

In a case of “good work leads to more work,” the project team’s performance, productivity, and quality workmanship led other project participants to ask Ames to complete additional work to support their planned improvements. In addition to providing parking garage site preparation to another contractor, Ames was engaged to prepare the roadway alignment for a new urban arterial and bridge designed to link property being developed on the east and west of Interstate 25, improving mobility for future residents and businesses.

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GETTING READY FOR THE DEEP HEAP LEACHVICTOR, COLORADO | MLE2 Squaw Gulch Valley Leach Facility

After four years at the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine, Ames teams completed Phase 1 construction in October 2016 of a new Valley Leach Facility (VLF) in Squaw Gulch. The project is expanding existing operations for gold recovery ore processing at the mine, and work included the relocation of State Highway 67 to allow for construction of the new facility.

The location’s 10,000-foot elevation, steep slopes and above-normal rainfall challenged the schedule for the past two years. Work was constantly evaluated and carefully planned to align with weather forecasts, including real-time radar monitoring as storms moved in and around the construction site. Crews were also challenged by the need to remediate hundreds of known and unknown old mine workings with varying degrees of complexity. Despite ever-changing conditions, the mine was able to start loading ore into the VLF as Phase 1 was being completed.

The Phase 2 earthwork, grading and extensive remediation of old mine workings was completed by year-end of 2016.

With a 350-acre footprint — about the size of 270 football fields — this is the single largest leach pad constructed at the mine site to date.

View of heap leach mine operations from the observation platform.

“OVER AND UNDER” PREPARATION FOR N LINE TRACK AND STATIONADAMS & DENVER COUNTIES, COLORADO | RTD North Metro Commuter Rail

The North Metro line (N Line) is a continuation of work performed on the RTD Eagle P3 project. As the commuter rail expands into Denver’s northern suburbs, Ames crews have been working on multiple contracts simultaneously both above and below ground to prepare for the track and station.

In June 2015, Ames was contracted to construct commuter rail grade for the North Metro line (N Line) expansion north of Denver that included a bridge, embankment, drainage and MSE wall construction. The project scope quickly expanded with the addition of sanitary sewer, waterline and construction of an additional commuter rail bridge along with a BNSF railroad bridge.

The project work for sanitary relocation was performed at depths well below the water table in the heart of

the National Western Stock Show’s property. This work required careful preplanning and close, constant coordination to maintain productivity while minimizing impacts to ongoing events.

Most recently, Ames was awarded work packages along the same line for two additional commuter rail bridges, storm drain installation, excavation and cast-in-place retaining wall construction. With the work being performed parallel to active BNSF tracks, communication and coordination will be key to maintaining the schedule.

Project similarities and relationships established with many of the project’s stakeholders throughout construction of the Eagle P3 have been valuable assets for the N Line construction. Completion of work being performed for the added contracts is expected in late December 2017.

PREPARING FOR THE SOUTHEAST RAIL LINE EXTENSIONLONE TREE, COLORADO | Southeast Light Rail Extension

Building on our successful completion of the civil elements of the Eagle Commuter Rail design-build project in Denver, Ames worked on a 2.3-mile extension of the existing Southeast Rail Line running from the line’s current terminus at Lincoln Avenue Station to a new end-of-line station just south of Ridge Gate Parkway.

A new end-of-line station for the Southeast Rail Line extension is located in the master-planned RidgeGate community. The station will have 1,300 parking spaces, bus transfer, and kiss-n-ride facilities.

To date, Ames has completed the earthwork and grading to accommodate the track alignment. Crews have also installed retaining walls and drainage pipe, and performed site preparation for the parking lots and garage facilities. The equivalent of nearly 20,000 truckloads of soil were cut and filled, or exported from the alignment for processing and reuse both

on site and by nearby developments. Expansive clays and claystone required special measures, including over-excavation, soil conditioning and removal and replacement of claystone.

Final work activities will begin once right-of way acquisition and access easements are completed by RTD in the spring of 2017. Work will include constructing additional retaining walls, placing sub-ballast in the guideway and base in station driveways and lots.

In a case of “good work leads to more work,” the project team’s performance, productivity, and quality workmanship led other project participants to ask Ames to complete additional work to support their planned improvements. In addition to providing parking garage site preparation to another contractor, Ames was engaged to prepare the roadway alignment for a new urban arterial and bridge designed to link property being developed on the east and west of Interstate 25, improving mobility for future residents and businesses.

The sight of visitors traveling on the new N Line to the National Western Stock Show Station will be reminiscent of a bygone era. When the stock show Stadium Arena was completed in 1909, a streetcar line brought visitors from central Denver direct to its front door. Today, the Stock Show Station is the first stop for departing trains from Denver’s Union Station, and passengers will be able to walk about one block to reach the Show’s newly planned complex.

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DESIGN-BUILD EXPANSION MAKES WAY FOR INCREASED TRUCK TRAFFICWELD COUNTY, COLORADO | County Road 49 Design-Build

Motorists navigating the reconstruction of 20 miles of County Road 49 in Weld County, Colorado, will be enjoying safer and easier travel by the end of 2017. The two-lane road remains a popular route for the agriculture industry, while the growing oil and gas industry presence along the corridor has increased truck traffic and compromised both safety and mobility. Key upgrades to the corridor have been designed to give drivers a safer and more efficient driving experience.

Since May of 2016, Ames crews have been reconstructing the 20-mile corridor to convert it from a two-lane asphalt roadway to a five-lane concrete roadway with a center turn lane. Construction includes drainage, structures, embankment and road base. The project is being performed in three segments using design-build construction to accelerate the schedule. The scope of work includes excavation, aggregate processing and placement, installing storm drainpipe and box culverts, and constructing three single-span bridges, and one three-span bridge.

Working closely with the design-build team during the design process, Ames helped to balance earthwork and streamline design. A challenge throughout the design phase has been facilitating the right-of-way acquisition, which includes more than 70 property owners spanning the length of the corridor. The project team has also developed an efficient phasing scheme that compresses the construction schedule, making it possible to overcome a two-month schedule delay and maintain on-time completion.

The Weld County Road 49 project is the largest roadway project in the county’s 154-year history.

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Recent traffic studies revealed that increased truck traffic was causing safety and mobility problems along the County Road 49 corridor in Weld County, Colorado. Expansion from a two-lane road to five lanes will alleviate current hazard concerns and accommodate traffic growth for decades.

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SAFETYWith safety as one of our core values, it is deeply rooted in everything that

Ames does. Our people take on a personal responsibility to look out for

one another day in and day out because it is the right thing to do.

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Mark BrennanPresident, Western Region

As we start 2017, I would like to thank all of the Ames Western Regional employees for a job well done last year. Our safety performance numbers were very strong, showing that safety and production worked hard to continue our commitment to stay healthy and free of injury; a commitment that benefits the company, ourselves and our family and friends.

Our region’s workload included a number of jobs outside of Utah and Nevada this past year. The hydro plant in Iowa is in full swing and we are performing quality work in a safe way. I want to thank our Utah people who travel to Iowa to supervise and perform the work needed to make this project a success. When working away from home, sacrifices are made and I truly appreciate our loyal men and women who continue to make these sacrifices. Our people also worked hard to successfully deliver the work performed in Wyoming on budget and ahead of schedule to ensure the client could use the project as needed for his business.

The people in Nevada had a good year on projects with clients we have worked with for many years. Thanks to the good work we have done in the mining industry, those client relationships are as strong as ever and the work has benefited Ames as well. Our design-build project for NDOT on the USA Parkway has done very well this past year. With the continued effort of both groups working together, the job will be a true success for each of us. Thank you to all of the Ames employees who continue to make this a great job for Ames.

We started work on a job in New Mexico in late November of 2016. To meet a demanding scheduling, Ames employees have worked hard with Facebook and its CM, Fortis Construction, on the new data center project. To date, we have done what we committed to do, and the client appreciates the effort we have put forth. We hope to build a long relationship with this client, and that our good work will open more doors for us with others in this industry. Thank you to the Ames employees who have worked hard on this project.

Here in Utah the work we are doing at Kennecott, the Salt Lake International Airport and with UDOT is all going well. I would like to thank all of our employees working on these jobs; we have performed safely and have worked together with our clients to maintain solid relationships by performing to benefit them and ourselves.

I would also like to thank our people in the Safety, Administration, Engineering, Environmental and Maintenance departments. You support the jobs and help our field people with their tasks; the field

employees cannot do it without your support, so thank you. We are a team, and if we continue to work together as a team we can accomplish anything on any job that a client asks or needs us to do. Remember to respect each other, always listen, and quickly resolve any issues that arise.

We are a strong company and this is a great place to work. The year 2017 has a lot of good work in store for us, so let us make it another great year!

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STRIKING A BALANCE

Drilling steel casings into the Great Salt Lake causeway. 35

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH | UPRR Lakeside Sub Bridge Project

Cutting through the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere—the Great Salt Lake—the 20-mile rock-filled Union Pacific railroad (UPRR) causeway just got a facelift. Ames Construction crews arrived at the site in October 2015 to build a new 180-foot-long, six-span precast box girder bridge that would reestablish the bi-directional water flow between the two arms of the lake.

When the original causeway was constructed in 1959, two culverts were built through the causeway to allow bi-directional water flow and boat traffic between the North and South arms of the lake. However, by 2011, the causeway had sunk more than 15 feet, rendering the culverts ineffective.

The new bridge had to be constructed in two phases. Phase 1 included building half of the bridge and shifting the existing railroad tracks to a temporary shoofly. Phase 2 included building the second half of the bridge and then shifting tracks to their final position. Large armoring stone control berms were constructed on the north side of the bridge to control flows through the Bridgeway, and channels had to be excavated underwater on both sides of the bridge.

While drilling steel casings into the causeway, crews encountered large amounts of metal and wood along the north side. A number of railcars had been buried during a major flood event in the 1980s to prevent the causeway from washing away. Ames crews drilled through the railcars to finish the piling operations, then excavated under the bridge to demolish and remove the boxcars.

The final breach of the causeway occurred in early December 2016 to reunite the two sides of the lake.

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The final breach of the causeway reestablished the bi-directional water flow between the two arms of the lake. 37

DESIGN-BUILD FAST-TRACKS A CRITICAL CONNECTIONSTOREY & LYON COUNTIES, NEVADA | USA Parkway SR 439 Design-Build

The USA Parkway was originally a privately built, six-mile-long road connecting Interstate 80 to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, the largest industrial park in the world and home to Tesla’s Gigafactory. However, growth of the “New Nevada economy” depends on building infrastructure to open up Western Nevada to area development.

Ames Construction was awarded the contract to design-build a new 18-mile-long, four-lane SR 439 betweenInterstate 80 and U.S. 50. This criticallink will not only support regionaleconomic development, but willalso reduce commuter travel timesand serve as an additional route foremergency vehicles and weather-related road closures.

Ames Construction was chosen as the best value proposer for the project. “We’re dedicated to providing a transportation system that keeps

Nevadans safe and connected,” explained NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon. “Ames’ proposal not only completes the project in a quicker timeframe, but at a lesser cost.”

Contributing to both time and cost savings is Ames ability to crush materials on-site to use as the aggregate base and rip rap needed for embankments, drainage facilities and structures, and pavements.

Major commercial construction projects already underway within

DID YOU KNOW? The USA Parkway extension will reduce freight delays by 886,080 hours annually, and the project is expected to provide up to $35 million in annual savings.

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DESIGN-BUILD FAST-TRACKS A CRITICALCONNECTIONSTOREY & LYON COUNTIES, NEVADA | USA Parkway SR 439 Design-Build

The expected completion date for the new four-lane SR 439 to connect I-80 and U.S. 50 in Western Nevada was originally slated for 2019. Using design-build construction, Ames has fast-tracked the project, with a completion date scheduled for fall 2017.

The USA Parkway was originally aprivately built, six-mile-long roadconnecting Interstate 80 to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, the largest industrial park in the world and home to Tesla’s Gigafactory. However, growth of the “New Nevadaeconomy” depends on buildinginfrastructure to open up Western Nevada to area development.

Ames Construction was awarded the contract to design-build a new 18-mile-long, four-lane SR 439 betweenInterstate 80 and U.S. 50. This criticallink will not only support regionaleconomic development, but willalso reduce commuter travel timesand serve as an additional route foremergency vehicles and weather-related road closures.

Ames Construction was chosen as the best value proposer for the project. “We’re dedicated to providing a transportation system that keeps

Nevadans safe and connected,” explained NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon. “Ames’ proposal not only completes the project in a quicker timeframe, but at a lesser cost.”

Contributing to both time and cost savings is Ames ability to crush materials on-site to use as the aggregate base and rip rap needed for embankments, drainage facilities and structures, and pavements.

Major commercial construction projects already underway within

DID YOU KNOW? The USA Parkway extension will reducefreight delays by 886,080 hours annually,and the project is expected to provide up to $35 million in annual savings.

the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center located at the north end of the project presented a number of challenges that included the potential for significant traffic delays during work shift changes, multiple driveway access requests and future development needs of key stakeholders. Utilizing the tools available within the design-build process, including co-location with NDOT staff, Ames was able to address the various issues as they arose. Necessary Field Design Changes (FDCs) were developed and approved within a matter of days, which kept the project moving forward.

In addition to constructing the new SR 439, the project includes three unique steel sculptures located along the corridor, two box culverts for wildlife crossings, a new roundabout intersection with U.S. 50, Intelligent Transportation Systems with cameras and traffic detection, and landscaping and aesthetics.

The project, which began in summer 2016, is scheduled for completion in September 2017.

On-site aggregate processing at the USA Parkway design-build project.

Pouring box culverts for wildlife crossing.

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POWERHOUSE PRECISIONPELLA, IOWA | Red Rock Hydroelectric Project

For the first 18 months of the project, Ames crews performed the majority of civil and underground work at the Red Rock Hydro Project where Ames Construction is retrofitting an existing dam for hydroelectric power. This initial construction, which started in August 2014, included earthwork, rock excavation and concrete pours for ground improvements. In February 2016, the project’s focus shifted to construction of the powerhouse.

The powerhouse encases the generators, rotor shafts and turbine blades as well as the powerhouse controls. The turbine blades are attached to the generators by the vertical shafts and are rotated by water flowing from the intake structure, through the penstocks (21’ diameter pipelines), into the spiral case and finally through the wicket gates. The wicket gates act as a throttle to control the speed of the turbine by regulating the optimum water flow feeding the turbine rotors.

LAYING CRITICAL GROUNDWORK SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH | Airport Terminal Redevelopment Project Site Work

Crews are currently working on some of the most challenging sections of the powerhouse construction, the spiral case walls, floor and roof that direct water flow into the wicket gates. As the spiral case winds around in a snail shell configuration, it reduces in both height and width demanding strict attention to minimum and maximum tolerances.

Installation of the owner-furnished turbine assemblies has also begun. A high degree of precision is required for components to align with the installation of the turbines, starting with custom wood draft tube forms that are unique to the vertical Kaplan turbine powerhouse being built. The Ames team had to position the centerline of the units vertically and horizontally to align within thousandths of an inch. With the draft tube portion of the concrete complete, crews have begun to assemble the turbines by placing the large embedded components that hold and support the non-embedded, rotating parts.

The intake structure work began in fall 2016. The intakestructure is being constructed within a cofferdam on the reservoir side of the existing dam. Both the intakestructure and gate assemblies must be watertight before cutting through the existing dam. Two 21-foot-diameter penstocks will connect the intake to the powerhouse with installation slated for first quarter 2017. The steel penstock liner will be embedded in concrete and feed the powerhouse with 14,000 cubic feet of water — equivalent to 2,456 standard bathtubs full — per second.

Ames Construction crews spent a year performing the site work for Salt Lake City’s $1.8 billion redevelopment program to build a new airport on the existing airport property.

Beginning in January 2016, Ames crews performed demolition, constructed temporary roadways and rerouted main terminal traffic to open up the space needed for construction of the new airport terminal and concourse. All activities had to be performed while keeping the existing airport operational, which required extensive coordination with the airport, construction manager and other contractors working in various areas on site.

The demolition and installation of site utilities met with numerous unknown structures associated with construction of the original facilities more than 50 years prior. Crews handled challenges as they arose, maintaining adherence to the yearlong schedule. The project scope also included replacing soft soils with granular backfill.

Ames completed the earthwork contract in December 2016.

Custom draft tube forms awaiting concrete.

Aerial view of the downstream pump station at the Red Rock Hydroelectric project.

Ames crews perform earthwork at the Salt Lake City Airport.

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Crews are currently working on some of the most challenging sections of the powerhouse construction, the spiral case walls, floor and roof that direct water flow into the wicket gates. As the spiral case winds around in a snail shell configuration, it reduces in both height and width demanding strict attention to minimum and maximum tolerances.

Installation of the owner-furnished turbine assemblies has also begun. A high degree of precision is required for components to align with the installation of the turbines, starting with custom wood draft tube forms that are unique to the vertical Kaplan turbine powerhouse being built. The Ames team had to position the centerline of the units vertically and horizontally to align within thousandths of an inch. With the draft tube portion of the concrete complete, crews have begun to assemble the turbines by placing the large embedded components that hold and support the non-embedded, rotating parts.

The intake structure work began in fall 2016. The intake structure is being constructed within a cofferdam on the reservoir side of the existing dam. Both the intake structure and gate assemblies must be watertight before cutting through the existing dam. Two 21-foot-diameter penstocks will connect the intake to the powerhouse with installation slated for first quarter 2017. The steel penstock liner will be embedded in concrete and feed the powerhouse with 14,000 cubic feet of water — equivalent to 2,456 standard bathtubs full — per second.

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GOING UP: Tailings facility remains active during 70-foot raiseCARLIN, NEVADA | Barrick Goldstrike Tailings Storage Facility 3, Stage 3

In May of 2016, Ames Construction crews began a contract at the Barrick Goldstrike Mine near Carlin, Nevada, to complete an inside raise of the existing tailings facility. Barrick will raise the existing embankment 70 feet using open pit mine waste. Ames will reshape the inside face of the embankment and place the remaining inside materials, which include a 15-foot-thick layer of buffer zone material and a two-layer liner system. Ames crews will also relocate the existing tailings lines from the stage 2 embankment to the stage 3 embankment.

Steep slopes on the inside of the tailings facility pose special challenges. Five days a week, Ames crews will place the buffer zone material in complete horizontal lifts that will require an eight-scraper haul on the inside face of the mine waste. On the sixth day, excavators with blade and roller attachments will be used to prepare the surface as the buffer fill advances vertically.

Overview of the tailings raise.

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The height of the fill makes the center section extremely difficult to re-prepare for liner installation since the excavators cannot reach the center of the embankment from the top or bottom of the slope for any needed subgrade repairs. Liner installation will also be challenging since the work will be completed over liquid tailings material. Installers travel across the slope while wearing personal floatation devices and being tied off for stability. As the installation advances, the tie-off system will be repositioned every day by “hopping” half the tie-off

system ahead for reassembly to maintain continuous liner placement on the slope.

Due to the existing tailings rate of rise, Ames and Barrick decided to focus on completing a minimally lined facility by end of 2016 to allow processing at the site to continue. To avoid potential for damage and lower the overall project risk, the steep embankment slope will be constructed next construction season during summer months. Project completion is slated for August 2017.

Liner installation over liquid tailings.

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John AmesPresident, Southwest Region

As we start a new year, I look back on our projects and think about what we’ve learned from specific challenges and how we could improve as we go forward. In some respects, 2016 was very challenging for the industry. Yet, our region has been fortunate to be awarded substantial work in multiple markets, with projects underway in Arizona and ongoing in California.

In Arizona, ADOT selected Connect 202 Partners, an Ames joint venture, to design, build and maintain the final 22 miles of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway Project in Phoenix. The freeway will be Arizona’s largest project to date and active construction work is currently underway on this highly visible project.

Despite the volatile commodities market of 2016, the region continued to be successful in the private sector. We were awarded another mining project north of Tucson, which will be complete in early 2017.

In California, we are on the final segment for State Route 76. We are also widening the I-15 freeway in Victorville, which includes bridge construction over the Mojave River.

Since the election, there has been a lot of optimism for expanded opportunities in the construction industry, along with many other industries, which makes prospects for the future good for everyone. Copper prices have climbed 25% and we are already seeing more opportunity in the Southwest with the copper producers. The relationships we have developed with these owners, by delivering safe and successful projects, have positioned Ames to be optimistic for 2017 and beyond.

Ames will also continue to build on our reputation in the railroad industry. Low fuel prices have deeply affected the industry, as we watched the price of oil drop to nearly $29.00 in January

2016. To be competitive, railroads are spending less on expansion, and more on maintenance. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of our people, we have a reputation that keeps us on top of the industry, and I know we will continue to be successful in this competitive market.

Since the company began, the Ames family has continued to challenge the status quo and never taken anything for granted. We have earned a great reputation as a trusted partner to our customers and we are proud of those relationships.

We are also proud of the relationships we have built in the communities where we live and work, and feel privileged to give back to those communities that support Ames, our people and their families.

Ames Construction always puts safety first. This commitment to our people means nobody gets hurt and you return home safely to your families.

Ames Construction is also committed to growth, but growth doesn’t happen by itself. Growth comes directly from the people who show up every day and give their best to build every project. No matter what your title or position is in the company, we are all the same family. I ask everyone in this region to stop and think about this statement, and take it to heart. It also does not matter how much the technology changes. The profit is made in the field, and the work is always easier when we all just put our heads together.

I would like to thank everyone for sticking with Ames as your work family. Construction can be fun, but it’s also challenging and your efforts are sincerely appreciated.

I wish you and your families a safe and prosperous 2017.

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CLOSING THE LOOP: P3 project accelerates final 22 miles of South Mountain FreewayPHOENIX, ARIZONA | Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway Project

A first-of-its-kind highway contract in Arizona will accelerate the completion schedule of the South Mountain Freeway by three years, while saving the state more than $100 million.

Ames Construction is in a joint venture (Connect 202 Partners) to design, build and maintain 22 miles of new freeway that completes the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project in Phoenix. Using the innovative P3 (public-private partnership) method of construction, the team is able to accelerate the schedule while reducing overall project costs without compromising quality. This is the largest project in Arizona state history, and the first time P3 is being used by ADOT.

“This is another example of government working at the speed of business to save taxpayer money and improve the lives of Arizonans,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Thanks to hard work and collaboration, the South Mountain Freeway will be completed under budget and faster than expected.”

The Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project has been in development since the mid-1980s to respond to the area’s booming population growth, which has added thousands of cars on the road. Part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, this 22-mile expansion completes the long-planned direct link between the East Valley and the West Valley, while providing a much-needed alternative route to Interstate 10 that passes through downtown Phoenix.

Connect 202 Partners is responsible for the majority of right of way and utility relocations, which introduces potential risk to project cost and schedule. The team is working closely with landowners and all utilities to expedite relocation of businesses and utilities affected by the new freeway.

The freeway will be constructed with four lanes in each direction; three general-use lanes and one HOV lane. Major construction elements include 44 bridges and an urban traffic interchange at Interstate 10/Loop 202.

The first phase of construction began in September 2016, with improvements at the interchange. This initial phase will be completed prior to work starting on the mainline freeway in early 2017, with a project completion date slated for late 2019.

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Reconstruction enhances safety and benefits environmentSAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA | SR 76 Reconstruction, Phase 3

SR 76 is a vital artery linking coastal North San Diego County to inland communities. As the population increased, traffic on the two-lane road skyrocketed, prompting Caltrans to initiate a multi-phased reconstruction program to widen the highway. Ames Construction is constructing the final (East Segment) portion of the nearly two-decade-long improvement project, replacing five miles of the two-lane highway with a four-lane divided highway.

Crews began the widening project in October 2014, which features doubling the size of a Park & Ride and widening 5-1/2 miles of State Route 76 to a divided highway with two lanes in each direction.

The project identified key goals for safety enhancements and environmental benefits. To improve safety, the new roadway includes a median barrier to separate oncoming traffic and realigns curves to improve visibility and stopping distances. Inside and outside shoulder lanes will be ten feet wide in each direction to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians and emergency parking.

DID YOU KNOW? To protect the San Diego County Water Authority’s water supply pipelines, the 140-foot-long, 7-foot-high bridge girders hadto be placed without touching down overthe pipelines. Using a 450-ton crawler craneand a 385-ton hydro crane, each girder wastransferred in a mid-air exchange near themid-span of the bridge alignment.

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Reconstruction enhances safety and benefits environmentSAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA | SR 76 Reconstruction, Phase 3

SR 76 is a vital artery linking coastal North San Diego County to inland communities. As the population increased, traffic on the two-lane road skyrocketed, prompting Caltrans to initiate a multi-phased reconstruction program to widen the highway. Ames Construction is constructing the final (East Segment) portion of the nearly two-decade-long improvement project, replacing five miles of the two-lane highway with a four-lane divided highway.

Crews began the widening project in October 2014, which features doubling the size of a Park & Ride and widening 5-1/2 miles of State Route 76 to a divided highway with two lanes in each direction.

The project identified key goals for safety enhancements and environmental benefits. To improve safety, the new roadway includes a median barrier to separate oncoming traffic and realigns curves to improve visibility and stopping distances. Inside and outside shoulder lanes will be ten feet wide in each direction to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians and emergency parking.

Environmental benefits of the reconstruction extend to both wildlife and the community. Construction of animal under-crossings will facilitate safer wildlife movement, habitat areas will be created, restored and revegetated, and the water quality will be improved by mitigating storm water run-off by implementing biofiltration swales and new drainage systems. Throughout the last decade, Caltrans has also been working closely with the county to develop a regional recreational park along the banks of the nearby San Luis Rey River that would span nine miles and 1,700 acres.

The East Segment serves local, intraregional and interregional traffic. When completed in August 2017, the wider, realigned four-lane highway will meet both present traffic demands and accommodate future travel growth. The three-segment reconstruction will be a continuous four-lane highway stretching from the coast to I-15 and completes one of the high-priority transportation projects of the region’s TransNet Early Action Program.

DID YOU KNOW? To protect the San Diego County Water Authority’s water supply pipelines, the 140-foot-long, 7-foot-high bridge girders had to be placed without touching down over the pipelines. Using a 450-ton crawler crane and a 385-ton hydro crane, each girder was transferred in a mid-air exchange near the mid-span of the bridge alignment.

Ames crews are working on the final segment of a three-segment improvement project of the SR 76 corridor located between I-15 and I-5 in San Diego County, California. The resulting East Segment will be a wider, four-lane divided highway with an improved interchange at SR 76 and I-15.

Keeping traffic flowing throughout construction.50 51 52

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RECONSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTIONVICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA | I-15 Freeway Widening

In March 2016, Ames Construction crews began a project to widen the I-15 freeway in Victorville, California, approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles. In addition to widening I-15 in both north and south directions, Ames crews will realign an existing frontage road on the east side and construct a new one on the west. Crews will also widen six bridges, and demolish and build two new bridges with one crossing over the BNSF railroad.

Bridge construction over the Mojave River will be one of the more challenging construction locations. Careful coordination is needed to perform dewatering activities, and there are multiple environmental

considerations. Preliminary work included netting installation to secure the nesting of endangered birds and relocating bat colonies.

Located in Southern California’s high desert, the project is on the major thoroughfare for weekend traffic to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lane closures have been designed to accommodate the Vegas-bound traffic, while safety remains the highest priority since travelers often exceed speed limits in the desert’s open spaces.

Project completion is expected in December 2018 followed by a one-year landscape plan.

MEET TODD COLEMANGeneral Counsel, Southwest/West Coast Region

Welcome Todd Coleman, our regional general counsel in the Southwest/West Coast region. Todd joined Ames in March of 2016, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the legal profession.

Raised on a farm outside of Salem, Oregon, Todd attended the University of Oregon, where he earned his B.A. in political science before entering law school at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, Todd clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice James Moeller, followed by 18 years with Lewis and Roca, where his practice specialized in construction and real property litigation.

Todd is an avid hiker who backpacks the Grand Canyon every year. He also enjoys bicycling and recently participated in a two-day 217-mile ride for charity. Todd and his wife, Nicole, who is an elementary school teacher, have two children. Kyra is a sophomore at Westmont College in Santa Barbara,

California, and Ethan is a junior at Arizona School for the Arts in Phoenix.

With our continued growth in performing complex, multi-faceted projects, we are confident that Todd will be a valuable asset to the Ames team.

Aerial view of the I-15 widening project.

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SHAPING UP: Overburdened interchange gets new shape to improve efficiency

Aerial of Ajo Way interchange to replace cloverleaf with Single Point Urban Interchange design.

RECONSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTIONVICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA | I-15 Freeway Widening

TUCSON, ARIZONA | SR 86 Ajo Way Interchange

A 50-year-old cloverleaf interchange at I-19 and West Ajo Way in Tucson is receiving a much-needed improvement to accommodate the more than 100,000 vehicles that currently experience daily traffic-clogging congestion and backups.

Ames Construction crews are constructing a new traffic interchange in Tucson to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion at the interchange of I-19 and West Ajo Way. Built in 1965, the current cloverleaf design is being replaced with a SPUI (Single Point Urban Interchange) designed to move large volumes of traffic through limited amounts of space safely and efficiently. The SPUI will control traffic flows from a single set of signals at the center of the interchange.

In addition to constructing a new, wider, two-span bridge, the project will consist of widening Ajo Way from two to three lanes in each direction between 16th Avenue and the Santa Cruz River bridge, and widening the southbound off-ramp to include an additional turn lane. Noise walls will be added on both sides of I-19 between Ajo Way and the West Michigan Avenue pedestrian bridge, with drainage improvements, road reconstruction and repaving.

The construction zone is tight due to traffic flow constraints. The work plan, equipment staging and construction phasing have been customized to the location to accommodate the traveling public. Special lightweight fill will also be placed behind retaining walls in order to use smaller wall footings.

Construction began in early January 2016, with the project slated for completion year-end of 2017.

In March 2016, Ames Construction crews began a project to widen the I-15 freeway in Victorville, California, approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles. In addition to widening I-15 in both north and south directions, Ames crews will realign an existing frontage road on the east side and construct a new one on the west. Crews will also widen six bridges, and demolish and build two new bridges with one crossing over the BNSF railroad.

Bridge construction over the Mojave River will be one of the more challenging construction locations. Careful coordination is needed to perform dewatering activities, and there are multiple environmental

considerations. Preliminary work included netting installation to secure the nesting of endangered birds and relocating bat colonies.

Located in Southern California’s high desert, the project is on the major thoroughfare for weekend traffic to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lane closures have been designed to accommodate the Vegas-bound traffic, while safety remains the highest priority since travelers often exceed speed limits in the desert’s open spaces.

Project completion is expected in December 2018followed by a one-year landscape plan.

MEET TODD COLEMANGeneral Counsel, Southwest/West Coast Region

Welcome Todd Coleman, our regional general counsel in the Southwest/West Coast region. Todd joined Ames in March of 2016, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the legal profession.

Raised on a farm outside of Salem, Oregon, Todd attended the University of Oregon, where he earned his B.A. in political science before entering law school at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, Todd clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice James Moeller, followed by 18 years with Lewis and Roca, where his practice specialized in constructionand real property litigation.

Todd is an avid hiker who backpacks the Grand Canyon every year. He also enjoys bicycling and recently participated in a two-day 217-mile ride for charity. Todd and his wife, Nicole, who is an elementary school teacher, have two children. Kyra is a sophomore at Westmont College in Santa Barbara,

California, and Ethan is a junior at Arizona School for the Arts in Phoenix.

With our continued growth in performing complex, multi-faceted projects, we are confident that Todd will be a valuable asset to the Ames team.

Aerial view of the I-15 widening project.

Detail of SPUI intersection.

Bridge work performed on Ajo Way project.

Aerial view of pedestrian bridge.

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WIDER CANYON CROSSING STRENGTHENS CRITICAL TRAVEL LINK

Demolition of the old Hell Canyon Bridge being performed next to completed new bridge. 56

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YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA | SR 89 Hell Canyon Bridge Replacement

The 62-year-old, two-lane bridge over Hell Canyon served as a key link between Prescott and Ash Fork in northern Arizona. However, years of deterioration had rendered the narrow crossing structurally deficient with a growing urgency for replacement. ADOT advanced the project and awarded the contract to Ames Construction, who began the bridge replacement in May of 2015.

Just thirteen months later, the new four-lane 665-foot-long bridge was opened to traffic giving travelers a wider crossing over the canyon that included a fourth span, making it stronger than the old bridge.

Construction required building an access road into the canyon that also accommodated needs for access to demolish the old bridge steel truss and piers. Crews blasted the north side switchbacks for Pier 1 access and then placed in excess of 50,000 cubic yards —about 2,800 truckloads — of fill for the south side road to access Piers 2 and 3. Once demolition of the existing bridge was completed, the bridge material and the fill would have to be removed and the excavation replaced.

Traffic was switched to the new bridge in June 2016, and crews started Phase 2 of the project to demolish the old bridge, which was a highly sensitive operation. Crews dismantled and removed the bridge deck and then used an implosion technique to melt the bridge’s rusted girders, allowing the structure to collapse. The debris from the implosion and the fill used previously for access was then removed.

The land surrounding the bridge belongs to Prescott National Forest whose main concern was how the canyon would look once access was removed. The challenging restoration required crews to place weathered rock that had been removed and set aside during construction, along with staining existing rock to blend in with the disturbed area. Patience, planning and coordination with ADOT, Prescott National Forest and the US Army Corps of Engineers were key to ensure this vital component of the project completion was successful.

The Hell Canyon project was completed in November 2016.

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After Ames crews completed the construction of a new 665-foot-long bridge over Hell Canyon in Arizona, a critical challenge was still ahead —restoring the protected canyon after crews demolished the old bridge.

DROUGHT TRIGGERS EMERGENCY WATERLINE INSTALLATIONPORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA | Emergency Water Supply Repair

Often referred to as the “ground zero” of California’s three-year drought, upwards of 1,000 East Porterville households have lost access to running water, with the water quality further threatened by increasing nitrate contamination. Residents have been relying on deliveries of bottled water and non-potable water held in large tanks temporarily installed on their properties. These efforts have been funded by the State at a monthly cost in excess of $650,000.

The city, the county, and three state agencies came together to initiate the East Porterville Water Supply Project designed to connect homes to the City of Porterville’s water system.

Ames Construction is performing the first phase of the project, which began in September 2016, to install

municipal water service and fire hydrant stubs as quickly as possible. Crews who were brought in from Southern California and Arizona are working a six-day week to expedite the schedule.

Approximately 500 homes are being connected during this first phase with completion expected at the end of January 2017. Crewmembers experience personal satisfaction from performing a job well done while helping a community get through a devastating challenge.

A second project phase will be initiated in 2017 with an additional 1,300 homes expected to be connected to the City of Porterville’s water system.

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DIVERSITYOur ability to adapt to any project challenge sets Ames apart.

With diverse capabilities, a large workforce and expansive fleet of

equipment, we respond quickly to ever-changing project needs.

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Robert HeathRegional Manager,Ames Construction Canada, ULC

As we begin 2017, I marvel at how

quickly the last year seems to have

passed. It was a very busy year for

the folks in Western Canada as we

reached the completion stages for

work that had been awarded in 2014

and 2015, and have substantially

completed our more recent K+S

Potash Canada projects.

Our focus on developing our people,

managing risk and upholding our

commitment to building client

relationships strengthened our ability

to perform in this competitive market,

with the goal to deliver a win-win for

our clients and for the company. I

am very impressed with the efforts

and dedication shown by our team

to see these jobs through to their

completions and to remain persistent

to achieve such important milestones.

Construction is challenging work,

and I want to thank all of our people,

both in the field and in the office, for

pulling together to work as a team,

and for doing your best every day on

behalf of Ames Construction.

I extend my sincere wishes to you all

for a healthy and safe 2017.

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K+S POTASH CANADA LEGACY MINE SITE DEVELOPMENT

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BETHUNE, SASKATCHEWAN | TMA and Cooling Pond Construction

The K+S Potash Canada Legacy mine site is the first new greenfield potash mine in Saskatchewan in nearly four decades. Ames Construction’s performance on its first contract at the site in 2014 led to additional contract awards that kept crews at the Legacy site through commissioning.

TMAAmes Construction’s initial contract at the K+S Potash Canada Legacy Project mine began in July 2014 to construct a tailings management area (TMA). The scope of the TMA consisted of a 70-acre brine reclaim pond with keyed-in berms and five internal baffles, a 240-acre salt storage area with twin containment berms, soil storage area and excavation of a surface water diversion channel.

A key challenge for the team was the need to acquire a large amount of rip rap — a scarce material in the Prairie region. Ames crews screened the material from a glacial deposit located approximately one hour from the Legacy mine site, thus instilling client confidence in an ability to resolve challenges that arise with ever-evolving project conditions.

Performance on the TMA project prompted K+S to award Ames additional contracts, including a cooling pond. With Ames crews on site for construction of the cooling pond, the TMA schedule was revised to ensure efficient use of combined resources.

Cooling pondThe 14-month project scope for the excavation and construction of the 160-acre cooling pond included keyed-in exterior berms and 11 interior baffles that were covered with two types of liner. For erosion protection, HDPE liner and geocell were used on the slopes while geotextile and geogrid were used on the surface of the baffles and exterior berms to provide a traffic surface.

Ames crews continually demonstrated their flexibility to adapt to weather delays, environmental challenges and unexpected site conditions. For example, permitting protocols limited pumping water and disturbing nesting habitats at the cooling pond site. Ames re-sequenced its work while affected species were moved from the area, and crews removed unsuitable wetland material from the cooling pond footprint during the 2016 winter to mitigate nesting birds in the spring.

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RAIL SPUR EXPEDITES KSPC PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONBETHUNE, SASKATCHEWAN | Rail Spur Construction

Ames crews working on new rail spur.

Wetlands adjacent to rail spur project.64

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In July 2013, K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) partnered with Canadian Pacific railroad (CP) to connect to the CP rail-direct network for expediting its product distribution from the Legacy mine to various markets. However, the CP rail spur that would be used to connect to one of its mainline tracks had not yet been built.

In preparation, KSPC committed to building the connecting track in advance of the CP rail work to ensure the track would be in place and commissioned prior to the start of production mining at the Legacy site. Ames Construction was awarded the KSPC contract to build the connecting rail spur between the mine and the site of the future CP rail.

The project scope for the 13 kilometers (approximately 8 miles) of a “track to the future” included the realignment and new construction of three existing access and county roads that connect to the mine site.

Construction of the rail spur faced a unique challenge. Materials used for the project had been widely sourced throughout North America and would typically have arrived by train. Since the CP mainline had not yet been built, construction materials and equipment had to be shipped to a rail yard about 200 km (125 miles) from the project, then transported by trucks to the job site.

Crews also applied strict environmental controls and carefully managed disposal of waste material throughout construction since the 14 kilometers of rail embankment crossed approximately 50 wetlands.

Work began on the rail spur in October 2014 and was completed in late 2016.

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35-YEAR LEGEND:BOB DELLWOSTATSHIRED BY: Jim Reed, Superintendent

FIRST JOB: Laborer at Center Village Project, downtown Minneapolis

CURRENT JOB: Superintendent, MidAmerican Energy Impoundment Closure, Iowa

NOTABLE PROJECTS: • Jim Falls Hydro, Wisconsin

In 1981, Bob Dellwo came to Ames Construction thanks to a little neighborly advice. “Back in the day, Jim Reed was a superintendent for Ames,” recalled Bob. “He was also my next-door neighbor and when he found out I was looking for a job, he said I should come work at Ames.” Bob took Jim’s advice and started his long career with the company as a laborer working on the Center Village project in downtown Minneapolis.

Bob learned the business by watching and learning from those around him. “You learn how to do the job from anyone willing to teach you, but I learned the work ethic from John “Bud” Brennan,” said Bob. He felt fortunate to work alongside Bud for his first few years with Ames. “There is nobody else like Bud. He was the hardest working guy I have ever known.”

Throughout his more than three decades with the company, Bob

has worked his share of memorable projects, but the one that sticks in his mind the most is the Jim Falls Hydro project during the mid-1980s. “I had been with the company a few years and was the foreman on that job,” said Bob. It was Ames' first hydroelectric project and most of the work was performed in the river channel, including large amounts of rock excavation below water level. “It was an interesting but tough job with a lot of challenges. We worked during a really cold winter and there was a lot of rock that had to be blasted.”

Although Bob has travelled to work on outstate projects, Minnesota remains his home base. “I’ve worked most of my years with Ron Ames and at times with Butch Ames, so we go way back,” said Bob. “Ames has gotten so much bigger since I started, but it is still a family-oriented company.” That family commitment

has affected Bob personally over the years. “They definitely took care of and stuck with me when I had a number of health issues — they’ve always got your back.”

Looking back on 35 years, Bob is quick to acknowledge that any success in his job would not be possible without those who surround him. “I have worked with really great people over all these years. I want to thank the men and women who made my life easier on every job — it takes all of us helping each other to get the job done.”

As for Bob’s advice to newcomers, “At Ames, the sky’s the limit for somebody who wants to move up. Stay aggressive, learn your trade and listen to the people who came before you. There’s room for you here if you’re willing to work for it.”

Advice to newcomers:

“At Ames, the sky’s the limit for somebody who wants to move up. Stay aggressive, learn your trade and listen to the people who came before you.”

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Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

This is to affirm the Ames Construction policy of providing Equal Opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action laws, directives and regulations of Federal, State and Local governing bodies or agencies thereof.

Ames Construction will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, marital status, affectional preference, ancestry or status with regard to public assistance, genetic information or military membership status.

Ames Construction will take Affirmative Action to ensure that all employment practices are free of such discrimination. Such employment practices include, but are not limited to the following: hiring, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, selection, layoff, disciplinary action, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship.

Ames Construction prohibits the harassment of any employee or job applicant because of sex, national origin or race.

Ames Construction will use its best efforts to afford minority and female business enterprises with the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the performance of subcontracts for construction projects that this employer is engaged.

Ames Construction will commit the necessary time and resources, both financial and human, to achieve the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Ames Construction will maintain a hostile free work environment, and good work conditions for all employees and supervisors.

EEO/AA & SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES

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ANNIVERSARIESCORPORATE5 YEARS: Thomas Bessel Kenneth Brandt

10 YEARS: Patricia Campbell

15 YEARS: Robert Edberg Pat Mason

MIDWEST5 YEARS: Mark Cochran Mark Conrad Mario Deanda Chad Forland Jacob Ham Kevin Holst Paul Schaefer Nicholas Swenson Brian Thiel Andrew Trible Idonna Valencia-Contreras Steven Wiech

10 YEARS: Joseph Carter Michael Engstrom James Geerdes Jeffrey Geers Timothy Kilpatrick Donald Mathison David Matsch Michael Mier David Thomas Josh Thomas

15 YEARS: Derrick Kobus Murray Theis

20 YEARS: Robert Brisk Steve Franzen Mick Mitchell Chris Stay

25 YEARS: Bradley Jacobs Butch Trebesch

ROCKY MOUNTAIN5 YEARS: Brian Ashline Humberto Franco Cody Pace Christopher Castle Bruce Coleman Maurilio Lozano Elizondo Kyle Hanson Shaun Thomson Gabriel Soto Ruperto Garay Shawn Kronebusch Gary Hansen Paul Pretti

10 YEARS: Elias Alejandre Michael Boss Troy Degruy Sundara Ananda Didde Cody Moore Joseph Reason Albert Vanderhoof Jaryd White

15 YEARS: Bill Clemens Eleazar Galvan Catherine Harrison Jose Parra Javier Quintana Casey Shade

20 YEARS: Efrain Alejandre Bradley Andersen Ramon Chavarria Edgar Long Millard Nealey Bradley Newton Javier Norato Daniel Villarruel

25 YEARS: Johnny Floryancic David Kaminen Richard Marquez Philip Martinez

SOUTHWEST/ WEST COAST5 YEARS: John Baker Ryan Carey Anita Gagnon Oscar Garcia Martinez Steven Groseclose Stephen Hendrickson Bruce Koehne Joseph Nygren Jose Quadalupe Rodriguez Gregory Thomas Willard Thompson Ethan Todachine

10 YEARS: Theodore Begay Casper Boyer Jason Dyer Timothy Garvin Richard Hawk Steven Hernandez Curtis Hightower Christopher Kane Darrin Lewis David Mccann Bill Sullivan

15 YEARS: Henry Chaddock Richard Doud Joe Fuller Thomas Horward Sean Sanchez

20 YEARS: David Arambul Steven Hernandez Steven Martin Stephen Poolson

25 YEARS: Lars Rasmussen

WESTERN5 YEARS: Jose Acosta Gonzalez Cody Anderson Michelle Baker Josh Boyden Shawn Christiansen Douglas Gourneau Donald Hansen Jeffrey Haskell Ian Kirk Chris Kleinman Lawrence Krish Mitchel Lloyd Stacey Mast Primojesimo Orosco Zavala Kenneth Paterson Elesban Sandoval Blanco Kirk Strong Susan Tolson-Stoddard Richard Wyler Linda Zavala

10 YEARS: Venancio Alarcon Paul Althoff Michael Coker Becky Cox

Thank you to all of our employees for their years of dedicated service. Congratulations to those celebrating a milestone with the company this year.

David Eldridge Luis Gomez Reggie Fisher Derek Heiner Venita Henderson James Hewitt Justin Hillis Clifford Kilian Sean Kirk Russell Mccoy Jacob Mcmillan Joshua Meador Jose Lopez Alfonao Serrato Colby Warner

15 YEARS: Leonard Boteilho Dana Coker-Brennan Ronald Graverholt Gregory Neff Scott Nelson Jeff Rocco Jaysen Selley Joseph Warnick James Wells Lewis Young

20 YEARS: Rodney Cottam Joshua Davenport Jay Davis Kevin Davis Steve Mcpherson Sixto Nunez Valerie Portwood James Schaefer

25 YEARS: Delton Brunmeier Brandon Evans Brice Larson Wayne Remillong

Keith Cummings Robert Eisenmann James Jarrett Bradley Kite

Celebrating 30 Years

Michael Mayer Van Rassmussen Dave Thomas68

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Doug Franzen came to Ames in 1994 on a referral from a mechanic he knew who worked here. “I called Ron Ames, met with him, and was hired that same day as a grade foreman.” Although Doug worked many difficult jobs, he thinks the most memorable will be the new U.S. Bank Stadium. “It might look like a big area, but

when you put that many people and equipment down in a hole like that, everybody is fighting for every inch. If you got a little piece of it, you stood your ground.”

Retiring as a grade superintendent, Doug spent 17 of his 22 years traveling, which took him away from his young family. Yet Doug is quick to tell you he stuck with Ames because the Ames family stuck with him. “In the lean years, Ames didn’t want their people to be out of work so they went wherever they could find it.” The company kept going — and growing. “They genuinely care about their people. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”

When Ames Construction needed scrapers for a dam project in Wyoming, the company leased them from Jim Day, who had a small construction business of his own. “After we sold out, I got a call asking if I would be interested in working for Ames,” said Jim. “So, I said ‘yes’ and never left!”

Although hired as a foreman, Jim spent most of his time as a superintendent working on projects throughout the Western region, including the I-15 reconstruction project near Salt Lake City — Ames' first $1 billion contract. “I watched the company grow and Mark Brennan is as good of a person as a man could ever work for.” Yet, retiring after 27 years with the company isn’t slowing Jim down. He has a ranch with a small herd of cows that he, his wife and daughter continue to work. “I stay busy farming now, but I appreciate how well I was treated — it has been a total pleasure working for Ames.”

Congratulations to Our Retirees

Jim Day

Teresa "Tina" Knickerbocker

Doug Franzen

For 28 years, Brad Jacobs commuted 200 miles from Wheaton, Minnesota, to the Twin Cities and back again every week. “Arnie Zimmel and I grew up together,” said Brad. “Ames was looking for a rock picker and he hired me in 1988, so I drove back and forth.” One of Brad’s first jobs was at the Target Center and parking ramp projects in

downtown Minneapolis where he recalled an unexpected encounter while inspecting a clay pile for foreign objects. “There were big holes all over and I came face to face with a guy living in it!” After a little coaxing, the crew convinced him to move along, but that would be the first of many memories as an Ames employee.

In the late 1990s, Brad became a Teamster and spent his last 18 years with Ames as a truck driver. “I enjoyed my time with Ames. I’ve had a lot of fun and have a lot of memories.” Yet, Brad is glad to be home now. “After traveling every week for 28 years, it’s nice to sleep in my own bed every night.”

Brad Jacobs

In 1989, Ames had a big job on I-394 in Minnesota and Teresa “Tina” Knickerbocker saw an opportunity. “I like being outside and doing physical work so I thought it might be a good field for me to get into.” Retiring after 27 years with the company, it definitely has been. Tina began as a laborer and started flagging but was soon moved

to a pipe crew, then became a roller operator in 2004. Among many memorable projects was working the night shift for the U.S. Bank Stadium. “Lots and lots of trucks hauled dirt to the stadium, with a lot of interesting conversations on the CB!”

Although the company has grown over the years, Tina says the Ames family values have remained the same, and that’s why she stayed. “Ames is my second family. We all care about and look out for each other, and I love and miss everyone so much.” Yet, she expects retirement to be busy as she carries out her very important duties as “new grandma” to her one-year-old grandson.

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TOM FLICK RETIRES Vice President Design-Build, Rocky Mountain Region

When Tom Flick retired in June 2016, he had been working at Ames for 30 years, but he had also been working with Ames for nearly 20 years prior. “I was with a company that did a lot of compaction testing so we worked with Ames pretty steadily.”

When the testing company was bought out by a pharmaceutical company, the new owners were more interested in the chemistry lab than materials and soil testing. Tom wandered over to the Ames office in Burnsville, met with Butch and said, “You know, we’ve been doing so much work together, couldn’t you use somebody like me on staff?” With Tom’s technical background and expertise, the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ and in 1986 Tom came on board as a regional engineer.

“The year I started, Ames was awarded the first of two contracts for Minnesota Interstate 394,” said Tom. “Those projects stick in my mind because it was major highway work on a high-volume corridor, and the largest highway project Ames had acquired up to that time.”

Yet, the most significant project during Tom’s early years was in Denver. “The Denver International Airport project was just getting started and the company needed someone to come out and give Larry Ames a hand.” As a result, Tom was transferred to the Denver office in 1991. Although it would become a historical

project for the company, the move didn’t go over well with Tom’s wife or middle school-aged daughter. “It was not a very pleasant trip,” he recalled. “And even to this day, Dick and Butch occasionally ask Kathy if she is still mad at them for moving us.”

Just as design-build emerged in the mid-1990s, Ames became involved in its first design-build project for a toll road around Denver. “E-470 is memorable because we worked on the proposal for about four years before it ever started construction in 1996,” recalled Tom. The team kept redesigning and moving the alignment closer to town until traffic and revenue studies finally justified the cost. “Larry used to claim that we priced 18 different alignments before financing was finally approved,” said Tom. “I’m not sure it was 18, but it was a lot!”

Tom worked on a long list of great projects over the years and leaves the company on a high note with the six-year-long Eagle P3 project all but wrapped up. “Eagle P3 was a big deal,” said Tom, “and it still is because it involved new and different things for Ames.” The civil work and project partners involved were familiar, but the project type was completely new to Ames. “We had never done anything with electric commuter rail, transit or P3 before so it was exciting to be part of it.”

When asked about the biggest changes he has witnessed over the years, Tom remarked on the increased size of both the projects and the company. “Back in the day, there were only a handful of engineers and it was easier to keep track of all of the major projects, regardless of what region they were in.” Today, each office has to remain focused on the work in its own region. “There is less opportunity to maintain that overall knowledge,” said Tom, “and definitely more paperwork!”

Looking back, Tom admits that retiring has been bittersweet. “The Ames family has been fantastic to work for. They are all hard working and have successfully promoted a real team spirit in the people they’ve surrounded themselves with over the years. I felt an immediate loyalty to the company when I got on board, and it was hard to walk out that door at the end of June.”

Looking forward, Tom is trading in his time-management skills to make way for a little chaos in his life. “I am excited to spend more time with my family, including seven grandchildren, and I am looking forward to doing some traveling that is not work-related.”

FLAG FOOTBALL FUNDRAISER TACKLES IBD!

More than $175,000 raised for Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

On Saturday, September 10, 2016, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)—Minnesota/Dakota Chapter held its first Touch of Football event at the U.S. Bank Stadium. It was also the first charity event held at the Vikings’ new home since the stadium’s opening.

An Ames team made up of 14 individuals joined 25 other teams to compete in either recreational or competitive games, and 12 local celebrities took the

field to play a bonus game. More than 600 spectators enjoyed exclusive tours and access throughout the day. The inaugural event raised more than $175,000 to support the CCFA’s mission to find cures and better treatments for IBDs (inflammatory bowel disease) like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Thanks to our Ames volunteers for taking part to support this important cause.

DICK FAHLAND RETIRESVice President Special Projects, Design-Build

It is clear that 1999 was a very good year — for both Dick Fahland and Ames Construction. The company was about to enter the design-build arena and Dick was the man hired to take it there.

A native Minnesotan, Dick lived and traveled “all over” while working for a different company. “I wanted to return to Minnesota and specifically wanted to work for Ames,” said Dick. He had known about the company for a long time since they had been competitors on a number of jobs. “Ames had a great reputation and I wanted to finish my career here.”

It didn’t take long for Dick to acquire Ames' first design-build project. In 2000, the team bid a contract for the Legacy Project, a new highway along the Great Salt Lake shoreline in Utah. The project launched design-build as a new capability for the company.

Jobs that stood out for Dick include the first two design-build projects Ames performed in Minnesota: Highway 52 through the heart of Rochester, and TH212 that spanned three Twin Cities’ suburbs. “They established us as a major design-builder in the Midwest.”

Yet, the project that stands out the most for Dick is the I-15 Corridor Reconstruction in Utah. It was the company’s first $1 billion contract. “We were well-positioned for it,” said Dick. “We could self-perform a lot of it, and Mark

Brennan and his group in Utah worked hard to give us advantages in the aggregate production and scheduling.”

Dick stated that the company hasn’t changed much since he started. “The owners are still involved in the business and the people heading the regions have been here a long time.” Working with the owners has meant a lot to him. “I have appreciated the chance to work directly with Butch Ames because he is a man of great character. He really cares about the people who work for him, and maintains a high standard of ethics in all of his business dealings.”

Dick also enjoyed working with Mark Brennan and John Ames on opportunities in their regions. “Mark and John are passionate in what they do,” he said, “and we actually had some fun after working long days on our big pursuits.” He also appreciated that Dick Ames always asked about the family whenever he stopped in and told a story or two about the company’s history.

Dick expressed pride in having been part of Ames and watching it grow. “We’ve more than tripled the volume of the company since I’ve been here. It has been fun getting into design-build, and exciting that Ames is now a major player in it.”

Although Dick is officially retired, he is helping with the changeover. “At Ames' discretion, I will help Nick Ruba move into his new job, introducing him to key industry people and being a resource for him throughout the transition.”

As important as his career with Ames has been to him, Dick sees an even more important opportunity in retirement. “I will be able to spend more time with family, especially my wife, to try to make up for all of the time I’ve spent traveling.” Now, traveling will be something that they do together, including at least one month each year in a warmer climate. “Fishing is also a passion of mine, so I will spend a lot of time fishing at our cabin in Wisconsin.”

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STEWARDSHIPWhen our company was founded in 1962, Ames coined the phrase “working in harmony

with nature” and we keep that pledge with every client on every project. Ames has made

a lifetime commitment to protecting our natural resources and special species, like the

burrowing owl encountered on the I-15 project in Victorville, California.