Five 55-hour extended weekend closures are the key to Security Paving Co. Inc.'s (SPCI) plan to deliver to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) its $23.2 million Interstate 5 Burbank Pavement Rehabilitation Project.
The initiative that began in winter 2025-2026 to rehabilitate approximately 1 mi. (3.72 lane m.) of the 1-5 highway from the Empire Avenue undercrossing to the Cohasset Street undercrossing in the cities of Burbank and Los Angeles.
I-5 is a major north-south corridor in Los Angeles County, and this section connects the San Fernando Valley to central Los Angeles.
Caltrans will replace and restore damaged and unstable concrete pavement within the project limits.
Thomas Mattivi, Security Paving's project manager, explained to Construction Equipment Guide how the closures advance the project.
"There is an extensive effort during these 55-hour closures with crews working 24/7 around the clock to have the highway opened by Monday 5 a.m.," he said, noting that upward of 100 people are on site, including personnel from three subcontractors. "Crews rotate roughly every 12 hours."
Planning for these closures is critical to maximize every minute.
"SPCI prepares time-scale diagrams planning out down to every 30 minutes of the 55-hour closure," Mattivi said. "During the week, there is saw cutting and planning work ongoing. Extensive equipment, materials and manpower scheduling is reviewed."
Equipment used for the closures is brought in and removed via Super 10 trucks and roll-off trucks. Concrete mixers deliver the concrete. Materials-wise, crews are using jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP), lean concrete base (LCB) and Class 3 base.
Security Paving uses a large variety of Cat equipment. Machinery on site includes excavators, blades, skid steers, skip loaders, loaders, a GOMACO paving machine and other pieces of iron.
Between the closures, which occur Monday through Thursday, crews are engaged in nightly prep work that covers layout, saw cutting, surveying and identifying potential issues. Following the last weekend closure, the work will focus on profile grinding, joint sealing, final striping and electrical work.
This section of I-5, constructed in 1961, carries between 180,000 and 191,000 cars and trucks daily.
"[We are] rehabilitating pavements along two lanes on both northbound and southbound I-5 to improve pavement sustainability, ride quality and safety," Colleen Park, a spokesperson of Caltrans District 7 (Los Angeles and Ventura counties), told Construction Equipment Guide.
Caltrans District 7's design team designed the project.
"There were no design or engineering challenges," Park said. "There was more of a time and project/resource management challenge. Originally, rehabilitation for these lanes was included in the I-5 widening project, which was completed in 2023.
"However, after assessing pavement conditions, it was determined that grinding would not be feasible. Full pavement replacement was required, which was beyond the scope and budget of the I-5 widening project. This standalone project was created to address pavement rehabilitation for these lanes."
The design called for a minimum 40-year lifespan for rehabilitated elements.
Planning is critical for this job, especially the extended closures.
"It is all really time management and making sure you meet your milestones," Mattivi said. "The JPCP, which is the last piece of concrete poured, is a 10- to 12-hour cure. Making sure you allow yourself enough time once that is complete to clean up, pick up the K-rail and restripe is very important. Our progress can be described as fast."
There are no water, soil or utility issues, and all utilities are marked out prior to breaking ground.
"Every minute on this project matters, and SPCI is committed to maximizing productivity while maintaining strict adherence to safety standards," Mattivi said. "Our crews are consistently focused on meeting milestone deadlines while executing the work efficiently and responsibly. SPCI operates as a safety-first contractor. All personnel are equipped with the required personal protective equipment, including hard hats, high-visibility reflective vests, safety glasses and gloves. In addition, K-rail has been installed to provide positive separation between live traffic and the work zone, significantly enhancing worker and public safety.
"For nighttime operations, the work area is fully illuminated to ensure proper visibility for both our crews and passing traffic," he added. "These measures reflect our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, controlled and productive job site at all times."
As noted, following the last extended weekend closure, crews will focus on profile grinding, joint sealing, final striping and electrical work.
"Profile grinding is already starting in the NB direction which was completed recently," Mattivi said. "Once that is complete, joint seal will follow shortly after along with the electrical.
Night work during the week has a large contingent of Security Paving and subcontractor personnel on-site. The subcontractors include Global Road Sealing and California Professional Engineering.
Roughly 16,000 cu. yds. of removals are being generated and hauled to SPCI recycling facilities, which will be turned into class 2 base and either reused as such on future projects and or placed into its concrete materials, as well as being used to create products for other general contractors.
New materials being brought in will include approximately 3,890 cu. yds. of Class 3 base, 2,720 cu. yds. of LCB and 8,550 cu. yds. of JPCP.
For the extended weekend closures, Security Paving has full-time onsite mechanics to address any equipment breakdowns quickly.
The company said it maintains a large, well-maintained fleet.
"It all happens before with our team of mechanics," Mattivi said. "We have 15 full-time mechanics with the company."
Security Paving buys and rents equipment from dealerships such as Quinn Cat, Cal Lowbed and United Rentals.
"We enjoy close relationships with the dealerships that have lasted over generations," Mattivi said.
