U.S. construction firm Granite has been awarded an approximately $19 million contract to carry out the first phase of the Tahoe Cedars Water System Replacement Project, commissioned by the Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) in California.
The project targets water infrastructure on the western shore of Lake Tahoe that has exceeded its operational lifespan. This initial phase covers the installation of 15,000 linear feet of new water mains, the relocation of over 200 existing service lines, the deployment of 29 fire hydrants, and the connection of around 200 residential water meters to support system monitoring.
Work is scheduled to get underway in mid-June 2026 and is expected to wrap up in October of the same year. It forms part of a broader, four-year reconstruction programme.
Chris Burke, Granite's Vice President of Regional Operations, highlighted the collaborative approach underpinning the award: "Reaching this GMP [Guaranteed Maximum Price] is the result of strong collaboration and trust across the project team. Granite's consistent ability to achieve GMP reflects our focus on working closely with owners to align scope, cost, and schedule from the outset."
Beyond reliability improvements and reduced water loss, the scheme carries particular significance for fire resilience. The Tahoe Basin sits in a high wildfire-risk zone, and expanded hydrant coverage forms a central part of the response. The upgraded network is designed to comply with current regulatory requirements and is expected to remain in service for at least 50 years.
The contract was awarded under a Progressive Design-Build structure, a procurement model that brings contractors into the design process early to improve cost certainty and reduce delivery risk.
