Granite opens new facility in California

Granite recently opened its Solari Aggregate Plant in Arvin, California.

According to Granite, Solari will provide aggregate and asphalt to private and public customers in the Bakersfield market.

The new 700-acre Solari facility, which Pit & Quarry featured in a recent issue, replaces a depleted Granite facility near Arvin, the company adds.

Designed with efficiency and sustainability in mind, Granite says automated plant controls maximize the plant feed rate and crusher production. Also, a new wash plant produces concrete aggregate while minimizing the demand for fresh water with its engineered three-stage water management system. Both variable-frequency drives and plant automation, which staggers large motor startups, reduce the facility power demand.

“The new facility is Granite’s 77th materials facility,” says Brad Estes, vice president of construction materials at Granite. “We’re excited to open another top-notch facility supporting Granite’s vertically integrated business in the Bakersfield market.”

Exploration of the Solari aggregate deposit began in 2006. Permitting began in 2008, and facility construction began in September 2019. Aggregate production began in December 2020, and asphalt production will begin during the second quarter this year.

Granite’s construction materials business stretches across the Western U.S., specializing in aggregate plants, asphalt plants and recycling operations that supply external customers and support Granite’s vertically integrated business.