ForConstructionPros.com

You've got to have a well-coordinated construction team to build this much work this fast," says Larry H. Lemon, chairman of Haskell Lemon Construction Co. "But that's part of the fun of construction — you always wake up to something new. It's always a challenge to make things happen."

And make things happen they did. In less than five months the Oklahoma City-based paving contractor cleared 111 acres of low-lying land, stabilized the soil — twice, constructed numerous retention ponds and a drainage system, and paved 52 acres, receiving a 2003 Quality in Construction award from the National Asphalt Pavement Association.

The project was construction of Union Pacific Railroad's Midwest City Rail/Auto Transfer Center. But it involved much more than that.

"The driving force behind the job was General Motors assembly plant in Midwest City," Lemon says. "Burlington Northern had a contract to move all the units built at the plant but Union Pacific acquired the contract. By September 1, 2003, Union Pacific had to have its own storage and transportation facility up and running."

But as of mid-April 2003 Union Pacific had nothing but construction plans and land. Primary contractor, Minnesota's D.H. Blattner & Sons, which specializes in railroad construction, brought in Haskell Lemon to do the site work. On May 1 Haskell Lemon learned it had four months to get the 52-acre paving job on the 111-acre site done, and at another early May meeting it became clear that some of the preliminary planning and permits for the project were not quite complete.