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Today's announcement that the Utah Department of Transportation will put millions of dollars worth of construction projects on hold means no money will be coming to the construction companies the department usually contracts with, which filters down to many Utah workers losing their jobs.
Even before today, the economic slowdown meant layoffs. Now, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction in Draper is looking hard at bidding on other projects that aren't related to transportation.
In the meantime, the company is just doing whatever it can to keep its guys working.
In just a matter of months, Eric Lee went from constructing big, heavy interstate overpasses to constructing sidewalks. "Staying busy and keeping working is extremely important, especially at this time," he said.
Lee works for Ralph L. Wadsworth, a construction company, like so many across Utah, that relies heavily on UDOT contracts. "UDOT has been our main provider, I would say, for the last 20 years," said Todd Wadsworth, vice president of Ralph L. Wadsworth.
But after today's announcement, many in the heavy highway construction business are wondering where their company's next contract is going to come from.
"We've already had to reduce out workforce by 20, 30 people in the last three or four months; and you hate to do it," Wadsworth said.
Those who were laid off had the least experience. Lee has almost two years in and is hoping, for his family's sake, another round of layoffs can be avoided.
"That's really scary," Lee said. "It's my income. It's everything."
That's why the company is looking at other projects that aren't UDOT-related, like the sidewalk Lee is working on.
It's a lot different from last summer, when it seemed like there was a lot of work and not enough workers. "I remember back at that time, guys would think they need a vacation. Now, a vacation is the last thing on our minds," Lee said.
Of course, Ralph L. Wadsworth isn't the only construction company dealing with these tough times. The company is even putting more workers on a project than maybe what is needed just so those workers can get some hours in.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
