Pulice Construction Inc. is expected to deliver the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) $43.95 million I-40: Rancho Santa Fe Traffic Interchange project in the city of Kingman by late spring or early summer 2026.
The initiative, which began in December 2024, involves building a new interchange and roads. The work, in coordination with the city and the Federal Highway Administration, addresses area congestion and population growth.
"This project is providing access and accommodates future traffic volumes generated in the rapidly growing east Kingman area and to relieve congestion at the existing East Kingman interchange (Andy Devine Avenue/State Route 66, Exit 54 — three miles east of the work zone)," according to the project web page.
Pulice Construction photo
The average daily traffic on I-40 near the future Rancho Santa Fe interchange is approximately 24,000 vehicles. Just 3 mi. west at Andy Devine Avenue, the count increases to approximately 32,000 vehicles.
"Population is growing rapidly in the city," said Zachary Johnson, Pulice's project manager. "Most of the land around the interchange is owned by developers or is currently being developed. This interchange will provide immediate access to the I-40 for thousands of residents, cutting their commute time by up to 10-15 minutes."
Widening Existing Bridges, Building New Ones
The future Rancho Sante Fe Parkway, now called the Flying Fortress Parkway, includes widening the two I-40 bridges over Rattlesnake Wash, constructing two new I-40 bridges at the Ranch Santa Fe interchange and building four ramps at the interchange.
Pulice also is building two four-lane streets — one along Rancho Santa Fe Parkway, north of I-40 between I-40 and Santa Rosa Drive, and another along Rancho Santa Fe Parkway, south of I-40, between I-40 and Louise Avenue — which include bicycle lanes, sidewalks, curb and gutter and a raised center median.
Pulice Construction photo
In a separate project, the city is constructing a two-lane street along Parkway, north of I-40, between Grand Canyon Road and Industrial Boulevard, that will connect to the Kingman Municipal Airport.
The drainage and underground infrastructure elements include installing pipe culverts, concrete box culverts and storm drains.
The project was designed by AECOM.
"[The challenges included] designing for future development, and working with both the city and ADOT details," Johnson said.
The Flying Fortress Parkway is based on PCCP (concrete) lanes, while the ramps are asphalt (AC), as is the I-40 main line.
So far, Pulice has completed the following elements: widening the Rattlesnake Wash bridge and detouring traffic onto ramps. The remaining work consists of finishing the construction of the Rancho Santa Fe Parkway bridges, four ramps and the Flying Fortress Parkway.
"Our schedule has been very accurate," Johnson said. "[We're] aiming to finish the job later this year. The city and ADOT did an amazing job relocating all of the utilities that were in our way prior to construction. They also provided water meters for us swiftly.
"The soil on our job site is very rocky — this can cause some challenges, [although] nothing that we cannot overcome. We have very minimal night work on this job, and most of our night work will be our traffic switches."
The new interchange will feature two new bridges on I-40 — 147 ft. long with two lanes — and the widening of the existing bridges over Rattlesnake Wash to accommodate the new ramp center lines.
Pulice Construction photo
Phased Work
This work is being done in three phases.
Phase 1 involves widening the bridges, extending all existing box culverts and permanent portions of the ramps and constructing the westbound and eastbound detours. Each bridge has a pier in the middle and 10 girders. The bridges have rustication on it that is made to resemble rattlesnake skin.
Phase 2 will switch traffic onto the westbound and eastbound detours, construct the new I-40 bridges and finish the new box culverts and drainage across the I-40.
Phase 3 will finish the on- and off-ramps and construct the Flying Fortress Parkway under the I-40 bridges.
Pulice used a Cat 349 excavator and Cat 745 rock trucks for most of the roadway and drainage excavation.
"We had minimal demolition on this job," said Johnson, "primarily consisting of the box culverts and RSW. Our site prep consisted of a ton of clearing and grubbing. Many flat tires came from the wild cholla cacti that are native to this part of Arizona. We will seed any areas that we disturbed that are not part of the construction at the end of our job."
Heavy Iron Aplenty
Equipment operators are using Cat 325, 336 and 349 excavators, Cat 966 loaders, John Deere 710 backhoes, Cat 140 motor graders, Genie 60 ft. articulating manlifts, a 90-ton crane, Cat 613 scrapers and Cat 745 rock trucks, among other pieces of iron.
Construction of the two four-lane streets, whose ultimate length is tied into future expansion, is progressing.
"We excavated our roadway using a Cat 349 and Cat 745 rock trucks," Johnson said. "We prepped our subgrade using a 140 motor grader and a 613 scraper. We then poured curbs, ADA ramps, sidewalks and catch basins. We then lowered all of our manholes and valves.
Pulice Construction photo
"Then we prepped our AB finish grade using a 140 motor grader and a 613 scraper. Then we will asphalt pave. Where we are doing our concrete paving, the roadway comes before the catch basins, curb, sidewalls and ADA ramps."
Flying Fortress is a four-lane road with 12-ft. and 14-ft. lanes, and a 6.5-ft. bike lane shoulder.
The installation of the drainage and underground infrastructure is based on the job's phasing.
"Everything flows from south to north, and the large culverts span the width of I-40," Johnson said. "All of this work is complete except for the storm drain under the Rancho Santa Fe Parkway bridges.
Busy days have 45-60 Pulice and subcontractor personnel on site, Johnson said.
Many subcontractors are working on the project.
They include Qualil Construction, Howe Precast Concrete Barriers, Construction Arizona, A Core Concrete Cutting, Professional Police Services, Western Technologies, Mohave Engineering Associates, Ammex Rebar Placers, Vulcan Fence, Precision Sweeping Services, Keller North America, Roadway Electric, Hoque & Associates, Paveco, PAP Construction, Arizona Super Trucking, WSP, Desert States Contracting and JSC Trucking.
Pulice Construction photo
Other subcontractors include Bedrock Landscape Products, Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, Apache Construction Co., Gallagher Reclamation, Franklin Striping, Encon Arizona, Hot AZ Helle Welding and Fabrication, DD Wheeler, Big Bob's Transport, EPC Transport, DLM Excavation & Construction, Iinad Trucking, Auza Contracting, Quality Testing, Signature Trucking & Transport, Ochoa Hauling, Consor North America and Bragg Investments Co.
Excavation operations generated 465,887 cu. yds. of material, along with 46,428 cu. yds. of embankment.
Pulice has assembled a large fleet for the project, as well as others in the Southwest region.
"[We're experiencing] normal wear and tear, tires, hydraulic lines, etc.," Johnson said. "Empire CAT has been amazing about getting out here the same day to fix our large equipment."
Gavin Hazen is serving as Pulice's onsite mechanic.
Asked about the project's maintenance keys, Johnson said: "We refresh our own traffic control every week; this ensures the safety of our crew and the public." CEG
