Orem and SLC Teams Tour 5300 West Lift Station
September 29, 2025

On August 6, employees from J-U-B’s Orem and Salt Lake City offices visited the construction site of a new lift station on 5300 West in Salt Lake City. The visit provided an opportunity to check on progress, learn about the construction methods being used, and see firsthand how design and construction challenges have been overcome.

The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities contracted with J-U-B ENGINEERS, Inc. for the project, with several key contributors from the Salt Lake office. The design underwent multiple refinements over nearly five years. Today, Whitaker Construction is bringing that vision to life, using innovative methods along the way.

One example is the installation of a temporary lift station to maintain uninterrupted service during construction. This system includes remote monitoring and backup power to ensure reliability.

Another standout feature is the use of secant shoring for the excavation. This technique involves drilling overlapping concrete piles—often reinforced with steel beams—to form a continuous wall around the work area. Once the soil is excavated, a strong, concrete-lined shaft remains. In this project, Malcolm Drilling is subcontracted to complete the shoring, which will also serve as reinforcement for the permanent structure.

Due to the challenging ground conditions near the Great Salt Lake, secant shoring was chosen as the best solution. Construction crews are now placing the rebar system, keeping the project on schedule for completion by January 1, 2026.

The site visit was a valuable opportunity to see years of design work by the J-U-B team take shape, while also gaining insight into techniques that can be applied to future projects.