Sean shares valuable insights for aspiring surveyors interested in Construction Staking and Layout: “Witnessing the creation of new construction is extremely rewarding. Although it can be stressful work, the benefits to Utah’s communities are truly remarkable while observing the development of new infrastructure for businesses and housing. It’s crucial to recognize that these projects require a collaborative effort from a large diverse team. Never hesitate to seek guidance, ask questions, and continuously expand your knowledge.”
Looking for a new campground for you and your family to enjoy for the rest of the 2023 season and beyond? We’ve got just the place — in fact, we’ve got two!
Meridian Engineering has been hard at work with the state of Utah-DFCM, and the Department of Natural Resources to bring you more recreational opportunities, and we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve recently finished two of the four state-funded projects.
The DNR Northeast State Park campground and day-use projects for both Deer Creek and Rockport Reservoirs are now complete! Keep reading to learn about what these sites have to offer all of Utah’s nature lovers.
Rockport Reservoir
The first project to cross the finish line is the brand new day-use area at Rockport Reservoir’s Cedar Point. The project was completed last September by PRT Builders and recently celebrated the official ribbon cutting on July 6, 2023.
While this stunning reservoir already offers ample year-round recreational opportunities for fishing and camping, we’ve greatly added to its appeal and functionality with the following installments:
12 new scenic picnic sites
10 pavilions
An access road
Parking stalls, including ADA stalls
Two new restrooms
Rockport Reservoir is located off SR-42 and is easily accessed by I-80 by turning right at the Wanship exit.
Deer Creek Reservoir
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On July 12, 2023, we celebrated the opening of the new Fox Den campground at Deer Creek Reservoir. This outstanding development adds 31 new campsites to the area, each fully loaded with full hookups, new restrooms, and an upgrade to the overall water and sewer systems for campsites near the marina.
According to Deer Creek State Park Manager, Ranger Stephen Studebaker, the Fox Den increases the reservoir’s camping opportunities by a third.
Deer Creek Reservoir lies at the base of towering Mount Timpanogos in the southwest corner of Heber Valley. Its primary park activities are water-based, including boating and sailing, swimming, water skiing, windsurfing, and year-round fishing.
How We Did It
We didn’t accomplish this great feat alone! Meridian Engineering started by assembling a team of qualified state park-savvy consultants to bring these projects to reality; hats off to GSH Geotechnical, SPE Architects, MGB+A, Colvin Engineering, and WHW Engineering!
Meridian’s innovative contributions include coordination with existing utility agencies and stakeholders for utility impact analysis, UAS flights and conventional topography surveys, and civil site design phases for all four projects, including grading and drainage plans, stormwater retention plans, and construction administration.
The new developments at Deer Creek and Rockport Reservoirs will enhance recreational activities tremendously for years to come, while easing the growing local demand for campgrounds and day-use activities.
What’s Next?
Big things are underway at the northeast side of Jordanelle Reservoir! Meridian Engineering and our partners are currently working on an exciting expansion of the Ross Creek day-use area beach expansion. The project will provide an array of new installments, including the following features:
11 beach cabanas
12 traditional picnic cabanas
trail access
enhanced parking improvements
new restrooms
a new entry station
Ross Creek is expected to be fully opened for Labor Day 2023. In addition to this beach expansion, we’re also working on the Rock Cliff RV and van campground on the eastern end of Jordanelle, and are set to be ready in the fall of 2024. This campground will offer 24 RV sites, 18 van sites, 9 tent sites, and 3 new restrooms.
Head over to Rockport and Deer Creek Reservoirs to take advantage of the new recreational opportunities, and keep your eyes peeled for these exciting new projects from Meridian Engineering!
This year’s Engineering Fair Competition welcomed Meridian’s Tyler Baron, PLS, Vice President & Right of Way Department Manager, and Nick Baron, Civil EIT, as judges for the event. Held at the gym of West Valley Elementary on January 18th, 2023, our judges were able to review student participants from the 4th Grade as they showcased their accomplishments.
Meridian’s team was happy to be involved and admire great design ideas for the industry.
Meridian was also part of the original design team providing survey and civil design services for the new build of West Valley Elementary while working with TPH and Granite District back in 2000.
Why is being a civil engineer in Utah a great career? One of the most important reasons may well be that Utah’s growth isn’t slowing down. In fact, projected growth in Utah shows the population increasing from 3,284,823 in 2020 to 5,450,598 in 2060 — a 66% increase.
This strong, steady growth means more development across the state for highways, businesses, schools, and more. The engineers at Meridian Engineering are a talented and dedicated group that’s not just meeting Utah’s needs for expansion but delivering projects that are advancing engineering standards in the state.
To learn more about Meridian, the day-to-day of our engineering department, and why it’s a great place to work, keep reading for an inside look at our operation.
About Meridian Engineering
Meridian Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a civil, transportation, and land surveying firm. Located in South Jordan, Utah, our company is in the heart of the Salt Lake City metro area, the area that’s experiencing the most growth in Utah.
As a top full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm, our projects and people have gained the notice of industry leaders in Utah. Recently, for example, we’re proud to have worked on a few of Utah Construction & Design’s most outstanding projects for 2021: the Salt Lake County Kearns Library, ARUP Building 4, Architectural Nexus Office Renovation, and Jacobsen Construction Corporate Headquarters . In addition, one of Meridian’s own, Brad Mortenson, PE, PLS, won Utah Council of Land Surveyors’ 2021 Surveyor of the Year award, and held the nomination for 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year. Meridian is an exciting place to work for those looking to advance their career and learn from the best.
Jacobsen Construction HeadquartersSalt Lake County Kearns Library
Meridian provides a select number of services, which allows us to carefully control quality for exceptional results including:
Civil Engineering
Right-of-Way Design
Land Surveying
LiDAR Scanning
GIS/Mapping
Transportation Engineering
Let’s take a closer look at the Civil Engineering department.
Daily Life for Engineers at Meridian
As a streamlined team, every facet of a project — from utility planning to bioswell design — requires close collaboration. A typical day in our office sees project managers and principals working together with the rest of the team to push projects past the finish line.
At their desk, the civil planning and infrastructure design our engineers accomplish is done with Civil 3D software. This industry-wide software can support and improve the large-scale projects Meridian brings to life. Our engineers are often using Building Information Modeling to improve preliminary designs, adjusting designs in the model-based digital environment to problem solve for real-world issues, or documenting project goals, and site design tasks.
For project managers, site meetings often fill the calendar; regularly meeting with the architect, contractor, or other engineering teams guarantees smooth transitions and clear communication across complex projects.
At any given time, our Engineering Department also has interns and EITs (Engineers in Training) working toward their state licenses. Job training at Meridian comes with plenty of applied experience. Our all-hands-on-deck mentality means these team members get to meaningfully contribute to current projects to grow their engineering knowledge.
Why Meridian is a Great Place to Work
Our engineers love the challenge that civil engineering presents each day, but there are other reasons they love their jobs, too! Meridian makes sure our company is a rewarding place to work.
Perks & Benefits
Events – Meridian hosts bimonthly lunch and learn events for continuing education, and periodic company recreational events for our team members, including summer gatherings for both you and your family at fun locations like Hogle Zoo or Lagoon.
Spacious office space – Our new office features high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and fresh, modern finishes. It’s an inspiring and inviting place to work during the week …we even have a ping pong table.
Health Insurance & 401(k) – Our great benefits package offers health, vision, and dental insurance coverage as well as retirement savings plans with an employer match.
Career development – Our involvement with some of the top engineering associations benefits employees, too. Engineers are encouraged to attend trainings, events, and courses from the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Public Works Association or Utah Facilities Operation & Maintenance Association and Meridian covers the cost.
Flexible work week – Schedules are built for individual staff that are working to both fulfill clients’ needs and our employee’s needs.
Great Clients & Unique Projects
Meridian is not a cookie cutter firm; unlike some firms that specialize in one area, we do various types of projects for a range of clients. From private residences to 80-million-dollar commercial developments, we provide challenging and interesting work that’s packed with variety. Some of our most notable recent clients include Blue Sky, DFCM, State and Private Universities, Local K-12 School Districts, and some of the best architectural firms in the state.
Lodge at Blue Sky
A Generous Company Policy Handbook
When projects have tight deadlines, we know longer hours may be needed to produce the highest quality of work in a shorter amount of time. While most salaried engineers never see “overtime” pay, we instituted a policy where you receive a paid at an hourly rate for every hour you work over 40 hours a week. It’s our way of recognizing our team’s hard work and preventing burnout.
Are You Ready to See Yourself at Meridian? Contact Our Team
While projects change, our opportunities for civil engineers are always here. We’d love to show you why it’s a great place to work as an engineer at Meridian! To learn more about our current openings and submit your resume, visit our Careers page.
