Tempe Town Lake dam replacement wins ‘project of the year’
Jun 2, 2017, 5:40 AM
The inflatable dam holding back the Tempe Town Lake waters stretches across the lake as crews work in the Salt River to prepare a new dam, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — A dam replacement project at Tempe Town Lake was given an award by the American Society for Civil Engineers for being the project of the year.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, the ASCE’s Phoenix branch gave the award for the $10 million-plus category after the dam on the west end of Tempe Town Lake was replaced last year. The dam originally burst in 2010, and a temporary barrier was in place until the new project was complete.
The project’s analysis and final design were completed by engineering firm Gannett Fleming, overseen by senior project manager Stewart Vaghti. In the article, Vaghiti called the award “a great honor” and said Tempe Town Lake is a “staple of the Valley.”
ASCE Phoenix president Frederick Tack said via the article that the project came in ahead of schedule and under budget.
The previous dam that burst was made of rubber, and Vahiti said that rubber can be problematic in the desert heat.
Construction on the new dam began nearly two years ago.
