CH 650 Signals a Faster Future for NYC Subway 

Popular Transit System Undergoes Major Upgrades 

Editor: Allison Braswell

New York City is the city that never sleeps--and same goes for its world-famous and well-used public transit system. Every day, 268,000 suburbanites and sightseers ride the Eighth Avenue A/C/E subway lines between 59th Street in Manhattan and High Street in Brooklyn. The problem is, the Automatic Block Signaling currently being used by the subway system is not complementing the city's hustle-and-grind culture. Implemented in the 1930s, the fixed block system detects when a train occupies specific sections of the track but does not consider the status of trains' speeds, travel directions, and braking distances. This method results in longer head-ways and does not make use of all the space on the tracks. Furthermore, replacement parts for this aging signaling system have become scarce, which raises concerns about the safety of riding the trains. The last thing a New Yorker needs is sluggish, unreliable transit, but a modern touch may help the subway pick up speed. 

In efforts to improve riders' travel experiences, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is installing a new signaling system using communications-based train control (CBTC) that will allow trains to continuously communicate their statuses down the line. With this upgrade comes increased track capacity and thus the need for more reliable power, so MTA is also constructing an underground electrical substation on West 28th Street that will boost power to trains running on the Eighth Avenue line. It will convert AC power, provided by New York energy company Con Edison, into voltage that the subway system can handle. Scheduled to be completed by Fall 2025, this $80-million project will shorten head-ways between trains, boost train frequencies, and ultimately modernize the dated subway system. 

To support the excavation on the site, which is 36'x 110' (ft) and 40' deep, Underpinning & Foundation Skanska (UFS Skanska) of Maspeth, NY (Queens) is constructing a secant pile wall. This type of in-ground retention wall consists of intersecting cast-in-place concrete piles braced with steel beams, forming a continuous structure that prevents soil, water, and hazardous materials from entering the excavation site. Secant pile walls are an ideal solution for urban construction projects because their increased alignment flexibility makes them easy to install in narrow spaces and they do not produce much vibration or noise during construction. In this case, West 28th Street is an angled road with manageable traffic, which will help to further mitigate disturbances to the surrounding neighborhood. Secant pile walls also have higher wall stiffness compared to sheet pile walls due to their overlapping shafts. 

The crew is utilizing a Comacchio CH 650 Drill Rig to drill holes 50' (ft) deep to prepare for the installation of 1000mm (about the length of a baseball bat) double wall casings, which will prevent dirt from collapsing into the holes while the concrete is poured. The casings will be extracted after the poured concrete is partially dried. UFS Skanska was grateful for the availability of this drill rig at International Construction Equipment, Inc as well as its affordable rate that was lower than another drilling solution they considered for this job. Thank you, UFS Skanska, for making ICE® deep foundations equipment your top choice for clearing the path to faster, more frequent, and more dependable service on this key corridor in the concrete jungle. 

Learn more about the Comacchio CH 650 and other large diameter drill rigs of the Comacchio fleet. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  

Vice President IT and IT Comm 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

Omaha's Newest & Tallest Tower 

Editor: Allison Braswell

A new 44-story statement piece in Omaha, NE is set to dominate its cityscape! Construction of the 677-foot Mutual of Omaha tower, a leading insurance company headquartered in the city, began in January 2023. The $600-million project calls for 800,000 square feet of office space, luxury apartments on the upper floors, and amenities such as a fitness center and a rooftop terrace. The chamber of commerce forecasts 30,000 new jobs and 30,000 new residents in the downtown area over the next two decades as an outcome of this project. Once it is open in 2026, the tower will be Omaha's tallest building and a symbol of the city's economic development and bright future ahead. 

Hayes Drilling, Inc was selected to construct the foundation of the skyscraper. Their portion of this project involves driving 81-foot-long pipe piles of 1 ¼" (in) wall thickness and 36", 78", and 96" diameters. However, one vibratory hammer cannot efficiently drive all piles of these various sizes without adjusting the clamps, which can add to the crew's production time. To stay on schedule, they are employing an ICE® 130 Vibratory Driver/Extractor to install large-diameter caissons and an ICE® 66C Vibratory Driver/Extractor to install small-diameter caissons. The two clamps of the ICE® 66C are a perfect fit for the 36" caissons whereas the four clamps of the ICE® 130 can tackle the 78" and 96" caissons, helping to avoid moving clamps between hammers and thus saving time. If more driving force is needed for smaller piles, the crew has the capability to slide two clamps out of the ICE® 130 and keep two clamps in so that its driving force of 415 tons can be applied. 

The client has appreciated ICE®'s courteous servicing team members who respond promptly to requests to make sure the equipment stays in top operating condition while the construction crew focuses on what they do best. International Construction Equipment, Inc commends Hayes Drilling for laying the foundation for Omaha's latest addition to its skyline and contributing to the city's vision of being a center for business, commerce, and urban living. 

Learn more about the ICE® 130 and ICE® 66C. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  

Vice President IT and IT Comm 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

A little ice doesn't snow down Price Marine Construction, who was hired to build a dock on the recently frozen Upper Prior Lake in Prior Lake, MN. After 2 or 3 weeks of freezing temperatures, a solid sheet of ice will begin to form on a lake. How safe it is to walk on a frozen lake is determined by the thickness of the ice. If the ice is less than four inches thick, then it is susceptible to breakage and therefore not safe to stand on. Ice at four-inch thickness can usually support 200 pounds, suitable for fishing or skiing. Five inches is enough to hold 800 pounds or a snowmobile, a small car at eight inches, and a medium-sized truck at 12 inches or more. A rule of thumb is that clear ice is twice as strong as white ice, and you should never attempt to walk on ice that has cracks or holes. Wait to venture out onto a frozen lake until the weather stabilizes after several weeks. 

With safety in mind, the professionals at Prince approached this formidable task by first drilling 18" (in)-diameter holes through the ice layer. Once this was completed, the team brought out an ICE® Model 2 Vibratory Driver to drive pipe piles of 6-8" (in) diameter and 20-30' (ft) length in the holes that will support the new dock. This compact machine provides maximum pile amplitude and has remote capabilities which aided in maintaining a safe work environment for PMC's team while driving on the ice. Prince Marine was especially pleased that each piling took only 1-2 minutes to fully install into the lake floor, helping the crew stay on schedule and the contractor keep labor costs down. 

As the contractor has succeeded with the ICE® Model 2 on previous projects, they knew this lightweight hammer was a reliable option for pile driving through a challenging, icy surface. Now as summertime is in full swing, families can enjoy the brand-new dock during their fishing and skiing adventures out on Upper Prior Lake. Thank you to Price Marine Construction for your continued business with International Construction Equipment, Inc. and for allowing us to provide you with the most efficient and safest pile driving solutions for your projects. 

Learn more about the ICE® Model 2. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  

Vice President IT and IT Comm 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

Connecting the Crossroads of America
Long-Awaited Interstate Rehaul Enters Final Phases 

Editor: Allison Braswell 

For the last leg of a project that has been decades in the making, the State of Indiana rewarded more than $1 billion in construction contracts to finally complete the reconstruction of Interstate 69 between Evansville and Indianapolis. First imagined in the 1970s and beginning in 2008, this $4-billion project on the 142-mile corridor has created new local access road connections, interstate access points, and overpasses and underpasses. According to INDOT, it was the longest contiguous new terrain interstate construction project in the country at the peak of construction in 2012. This has set the stage for new business and career opportunities, better access to education and healthcare, and potentially $4.1 billion in positive economic impact in southwestern Indiana over the next two decades. 

The sixth and final section of the project that the State recently funded, named I-69 Finish Line, takes place between Martinsville and Indianapolis, and is expected to be open to traffic by late 2024--three years ahead of the initial completion date. This portion includes, but is not limited to, over 26 miles of new interstate highway, 8 miles of new lanes for a wider I-465, more than 35 lane miles of new local access roads, dozens of bridges to be built or restored, and enough new pavement to cover 469 football fields. Upon completion, INDOT predicts 11 minutes of travel time saved for drivers between Martinsville and Indianapolis and 1,300 fewer accidents in the region annually. 

As their part in the journey to the finish line, Walsh Construction of Chicago is taking on the last stretch of the interstate, starting in Johnson County. To boost production time, they employed two ICE® I-19 Diesel Impact Hammers for driving 14-inch diameter H-piles of 70-80' (ft) length for the pile driving template. For the foundation of the bridge, 10-foot-long spiral welded pipe piles of 54" (in) diameter were driven by the ICE® 110C Vibratory Driver/Extractor.  After the soil was drilled out, rebar cages were fitted in the piles and filled with cement to strengthen the piles. 

To minimize impacts on the natural environment, chain link fencing was put in place to direct wildlife to a safe crossing underneath the interstate at Little Indian Creek in Martinsville. The I-69 Finish Line project includes the construction or preservation of over 30 acres of wetlands, 350 acres of trees, and over 14,000 linear feet of stream improvements. International Construction Equipment, Inc is honored to partner with Walsh Construction to add the finishing touches to the nation's newest interstate and help uphold Indiana's status of having the finest Crossroads of America! 

Learn more about the ICE® 110C and the ICE® I-19V2. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  

Vice President IT and IT Comm 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

Floating Dock on Dorchester Bay
Editor: Allison Braswell 

Located on Dorchester Bay and just seven miles south of Boston, Safe Harbor Marina Bay in Quincy, MA offers its members an unparalleled nautical experience. Its 686-slip marina grants access to northern New England's pristine waters, while members can also be entertained by upscale restaurants and lounges along the boardwalk. 

Safe Harbor Marina Bay is expanding its fun-filled atmosphere by adding another floating dock to the marina. A floating dock is an unsinkable platform that rises and falls with water levels, making it a convenient solution for docking boats in tidal waters because it is always perfectly leveled with the water. Some floating dock exteriors are made of plastic or treated timber filled with a polystyrene (Styrofoam) interior that keeps the dock afloat if the exterior drum were to get punctured. The dock being built for this job consists of concrete, which is highly effective at withstanding high tides and strong winds. Two pilings, or dolphins, are typically required to anchor the dock to the shore. 

Before constructing the new dock, several old pipe piles must be removed from the job site to make way for the fresh pile. Atlantic Coast Tug & Marine out of Derry, NH used their ICE® 22D Vibratory Driver/Extractor, which they purchased from International Construction Equipment, Inc in 2022, equipped with a Model 99 Pipe clamp to extract the old pipe pile of 16" (in) diameter and 80' (ft) length. The contractor was impressed with the seamless job that the Model 99 Pipe clamp made of pulling the piles that were full of clay, picking up production time by around 50% according to the client Adrian Whitamore. Many other clamps cannot grab 12-inch H-beams securely without trimming the tops first, but the straight jaws of the Model 99 Pipe clamp require no cutting of H-beams to achieve a firm grip, saving thousands in costs and hours of labor. This hammer and clamp pairing was also used to install the new dock's piles of 14" (in) diameter and 50' to 60' (ft) lengths. As a finishing touch, plastic sleeves were fitted over the newly-driven piles to bedeck the new floating dock.  

With their expertise in deep foundations, ICE®'s sales representatives keep clients like Atlantic Coast Tug & Marine informed throughout their experience with their pile driving equipment. The ICE® servicing team is always available to step in and tackle any challenges to make sure your project succeeds. Nice work, Atlantic Coast Tug & Marine, for creating a safe and comfortable place for Safe Harbor members to dock their vessel and utilizing a clamp that can do things that could not be done before. 

Learn more about the ICE® 22D and Model 99 Pipe clamp. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  

Vice President IT and IT Comm 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com