Two freight railroads reach Sterling's industrial users, which means the track geometry, the loading area and the building footprint have to be designed together or not at all. We build rail-served storage, processing and equipment buildings for agricultural and energy-related users, and we start every job by drawing the track, the truck apron and the building as one plan.
The local economy explains the mix of work. Union Pacific and Burlington Northern both provide rail service to Sterling's industries and businesses, and the city's economy is based on agriculture along with oil and gas production. Those two sectors ask for different buildings: bulk storage, packing and handling space on one side, shop, yard and equipment buildings on the other. Both want a site where a rail car can be spotted, a truck can be loaded and a forklift can move without crossing the other's path.
At 3,931 ft elevation on the eastern plains, Sterling has few terrain constraints and a lot of open ground, which helps. The constraints are wind, frost, drainage across flat land and the long mobilization distance for crews and materials, and we plan for each in preconstruction.
Track, apron and building as one layout
A spur serving a building has to be sited for the car length, the turnout geometry, the clearance envelope and the loading position. We coordinate rail spur and site improvements with the serving railroad's requirements early, because their review sets the schedule. The track, the ballast section and the crossing protection are designed by qualified rail engineers, and we build the surrounding concrete, drainage and fence work to match.
Truck access comes second. We locate the truck apron so a trailer can load from the building without crossing the spur, and we size the concrete so wheel loads from loaded trailers and lift trucks do not cause rutting or joint faulting. The result is a facility where rail and truck loading do not compete.
Agriculture and energy on the same industrial ground
Interstate 76 serves Sterling through its business loop, which ends at a diamond interchange at exit 125 where US 6 continues east. US 138 and State Highway 14 also serve the city. For a processor or a service company, that road network is the outbound route for finished product and the inbound route for supplies, and we site driveways and aprons to use it without conflicts.
Agricultural users want warehouse and processing space with dry storage, pest control details and washdown surfaces. Energy-related users want shop space, outdoor pads and laydown yards. Because the same site often serves both, we leave room for a yard and a second building and design utilities with spare capacity.
Buildings that suit the two main customers
For food and agricultural handling we build to the cleanability standards the process calls for: sloped floors with trench drains, sealed joints, smooth wall finishes and washdown-rated electrical. Food and beverage users often coordinate with their own sanitation consultants, and we accept their requirements in the contract documents.
For oil and gas support we build equipment shops, pipe racks, chemical storage with containment and heavy yard pads. Many of these are pre-engineered metal buildings on reinforced slabs because the buildings are functional, quick to erect and easy to add to. Containment, spill control and fire separation are checked against the adopted rules for the specific materials stored.
Distance, wind and flat-ground drainage
Sterling is about 128 miles from Denver, and that distance affects both materials and specialty labor. Steel, electrical gear and some specialty trades come from the metro area, and freight plus travel time is a real line in the estimate. We price it openly and buy in bulk when possible so deliveries are consolidated.
Flat ground makes drainage a first-order design issue. Without natural fall, storm water has to be moved by graded swales, inlets and basins, and the detention volume can occupy a surprising amount of the lot. We lay out drainage at the start so the owner does not find out after the building is placed that the basin has nowhere to go.
Working beside rail and live operations
Rail adjacency brings specific safety rules. Work near an active track requires coordination with the railroad, clearance envelopes, flagging where required and strict control of equipment swing. We write a site safety plan that covers rail work, crane operations and the interface with plant traffic, and we review it with your operations lead before mobilizing.
A 1998 report described Sterling's new correctional facility, the state's largest, as an employer of about 850 staff housing about 2,500 inmates, with a local chamber director calling corrections a clean industry that would steady the regional economy. We cite it as historical context: institutional employers in a small city create steady demand for maintenance, vendor and support buildings, and we plan crews and delivery windows with that kind of secure-perimeter work in mind.
From Sterling to neighboring plains markets
Crews working in Sterling can also reach Fort Morgan and Brush along the I-76 corridor, so owners who operate in more than one town can get one estimate method and one project team. That consistency matters for companies standardizing buildings across several sites.
We also work with owners who need to coordinate a rail-served site with a yard, a scale, a truck wash or a new office, and we scope those pieces as a single package so the schedule shows how they interact.
Send the track plan and the product flow
Send us the site plan, the railroad's contact if one is involved and a description of what moves in and out. We will return a track, apron and building layout with a scope and schedule that include the railroad review.
Common Questions
Do I need the railroad's approval before I build a spur?
Yes. The serving railroad reviews the connection, the track layout and the crossing protection, and its schedule often sets your critical path. We submit the site plan early, coordinate with the railroad's engineers and design the surrounding concrete and drainage around their requirements.
Can one building handle both rail and truck loading?
Yes, if the layout keeps the two apart. Rail doors sit on one side, truck docks on another, and internal aisles allow forklifts to work both without crossing. We confirm the geometry on a plan before the footprint is fixed.
What does flat ground mean for stormwater?
It means water has to be moved by design, not by terrain. We plan swales, inlets and detention early and check the outfall with the reviewing office. On a flat lot the basin can use a large share of the land, so it belongs in the first sketch.
Is a metal building suitable for processing or storage?
For dry storage, equipment shops and many support uses, yes. For food contact areas, we add the interior finishes, drainage and ventilation the process needs. The decision depends on the process, not just the structure.
How does Sterling's distance from Denver affect the budget?
It adds freight and travel time for materials and some trades, which we show as separate lines. Consolidated deliveries and early orders reduce the impact. We discuss alternatives with the owner when a lower-cost source is available.