A joint venture comprising Granite Construction Company and MCM Construction has secured a $72m contract from the California Department of Transportation in the US to reconstruct and widen the existing State Route 101 in Monterey County.

Granite’s share of the contract is 67%, or about $48m.

The project includes the rehabilitation and elevation of a portion of the route from Espinosa Road to Echo Valley Road, north of Salinas.

The work also involves the excavation of the existing road, repaving with asphalt concrete, installation of storm drains, the establishment of retaining walls and the fabrication of seven bridges.

Construction is estimated to commence in 2011 and completion is scheduled for 2013.