Utah company gets contract to improve Willow Beach

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- The federal government has awarded a $20.3 million contract to a Hurricane, Utah, firm for a variety of work at a popular recreation area along the Colorado River about 12 miles south of Hoover Dam.

Interstate Rock will make the improvements at Willow Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Park planner Jim Holland said the contract calls for demolition of some buildings on site and the installation of new wells, water lines and electric utility infrastructure. New construction will include a store, a restaurant/snackshop and a campground.

"It'll be an RV-compatible campground with hookups, and the shoreline facilities -- the new fishing pier, the picnic area and the store -- will all be connected to the shoreline trail."

Company Controller Mike Madsen said Interstate Rock will award some jobs to subcontractors and put plenty of its people to work as well.

"We'll be employing about 100 people on the job over a period of time," Madsen said.

Holland said it is hoped that the work will be substantially completed by late 2010, when the new Colorado River bridge bypassing Hoover Dam should be ready for traffic.

A project widening the 15-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 93 is also expected to be completed by then.