U.S. 59: Project engineer works behind the scenes to keep the new road rolling

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

Eric Chiasson knew at a young age that he wanted to work in construction.

“Ever since I was a little kid with my first set of Lego blocks, I’ve been interested in building things,” he said.

Now a project engineer with Ames Construction Inc., one company involved with the construction of the new U.S. 59, Chiasson said his interest in building at a young age isn’t exclusive to him.

“Most guys on the site are like that,” he said.

On the job

While working on U.S. 59, Chiasson splits his time between his office and the site. Behind the scenes, he works on planning, scheduling and costs of the highway while also communicating between superintendents, foremen, landowners, subcontractors, the community and others involved in the project.

Chiasson’s job varies from place to place, project to project. Working mainly in Kansas and Colorado, the weather is one aspect of construction work that always is unpredictable.

“The weather is out of our control,” he said. “If we get delayed, we have to come up with ways to catch up on time.”

On the move

Being away from family is a difficult part of some construction workers’ lives, but Chiasson, who lives in Olathe, moves his family to wherever he’s working.

“Right now the kids are young, so it works out,” he said of his 5- and 2-year-olds, adding that he and his wife are expecting another child this month. “We’ll have a Kansas-grown one here pretty soon. One day we’ll settle down, but that day is a little ways away.”

Missing family isn’t a factor for some workers, though.

“We try to hire as many locals as we can,” Chiasson said. “It’s more economical and beneficial for us and the community.”

Looking ahead

With U.S. 59’s projected end date of 2011, Chiasson looks forward to being in the area for awhile and possible future projects with the Kansas Department of Transportation.

“KDOT has been great to work with,” he said. “They’re really specific about what they’re looking for so it’s challenging, but it’s a good thing.”

For Chiasson, the best part of his job comes every day.

“I like to see how the project is progressing and hear people say how they can see things changing,” he said. “The project looks different every day.”

Herald staff writer Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.