Beavers really are “Worth A Dam”


Beavers really are "Worth A Dam"  
Editor: Debbie Reaney 

Located in Westerly, Rhode Island along the southern border of Newton Swamp, the Cottrell Bridge, which carries Westerly Bradford Road (Route 91) over McGowan Brook, was one of many around the state deemed structurally deficient. The replacement and upgrade of this structure was vital to ensure the safety of the surrounding wildlife habitat as well as the over 4,300 vehicles that traverse it daily. The Newton Swamp Management Area is comprised of 111 acres (about half the total floor space of the Pentagon) of shrub bog and marsh habitat and is part of the much larger Aguntaug (Chapman) Swamp, which is the largest contiguous freshwater wetland complex in the state of Rhode Island. 

Cardi Corporation out of Warwick, RI was awarded the $5.5 million project through the state Department of Transportation and is among the leading heavy, highway, site, and utility construction contractors in New England, and is Rhode Island's leading public works and site-work contractor. NSI Contracting was hired by Cardi this past June to remove and replace the aging culvert bridge along with the installation of a new beaver fence. This was necessary, as the indigenous beavers had plugged up the original culvert. Keeping beavers from the entrance or interior of a culvert/bridge is priority one because beavers are hard-wired to impound water and to repair leaks.  

When culverts are plugged, roads can be washed away by flooding, this can be very costly and create safety concerns. To help mitigate some of these issues, culvert protective fences are necessary to stop flooding problems created by beaver dams. In this instance NSI drove 35-foot-long sheet piles, spliced and at staggered heights, around the existing culvert to ensure structural integrity prior to the removal of the original bridge. Utilizing their own ICE® 22D Vibratory Hammer, this temporary sheet wall, or cut-off wall, was used to support safe excavation. Due to the swampy terrain and difficult to reach location which included powerlines in certain areas, it was determined that an ICE® Model 7E-SG (Side Grip) Excavator with its 360° swivel ability would be necessary to complete those portions of the job safely. Once the old culvert was removed, a new bridge was built. The new bridge is made with polymer girders that resist corrosion instead of steel beams. NSI then pulled the temporary sheet piling and installed H-beams with care to hold the panels needed for the beaver fence. According to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation accelerated bridge building methods allowed this portion of the project to be completed in three months.  

The Trapezoidal Fence is intended for situations where the beavers' dam is clogging a culvert and may cause damage to the culvert itself. The fence is placed in front of the culvert, extending at least 12' (ft) out from shore with a closed floor so the beaver cannot dig under it. Beavers usually then build their dams along the sides of the fence but not the back allowing water to flow through the fence into the culvert. Beavers are classified under general law (RIGL 20-16-1) as a protected furbearer in Rhode Island. Harvest is strictly regulated by the DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife to ensure the long-term viability of beaver populations in the state. 

American beavers (Castor canadensis) have long been revered as a natural resource for their precious fur, but their value as a keystone species is what truly sets them apart. As ecosystem engineers, beavers create and maintain wetland habitats that many other species rely on. Their near extinction in the late 1800s, resulting from habitat loss and unregulated harvest, impacted much of the wildlife that depended on their services. Reintroduction efforts in surrounding states, along with new regulations and protections for wildlife, led to the re-establishment of beavers in Rhode Island. The first colony in the state after their disappearance was observed in 1976. Today, beaver populations have grown, and they continue to provide habitat for wildlife in Rhode Island. The ability to balance the continued growth of our nation while maintaining conservation efforts is not an easy task. Bravo to Cardi Corporation and NSI Contracting for a job well done! International Construction Equipment, Inc. is thrilled to have been able to supply equipment used to support Rhode Island's wildlife and infrastructure.  

Learn more about the ICE® Model 7E-SG and the ICE® 22D 

This bridge replacement project is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island's infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks

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 

Posted in Excavator Mounted Pile Drivers, Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as 7E-SG Excavator Mounted Vibratory, Beaver Fence, Bridge, Environmental Impacts, ICE 22 Vibratory Pile Driver, Powerlines.

Keller Promotes Student Achievement in Illinois


Keller Promotes Student Achievement in Illinois
Editor: Allison Braswell 

 

The complete overhaul of Lanphier High School in Springfield, IL will have its 1,200 students excited to go to class! Renovations of the 85-year-old school that began in Spring 2022 are expected to convert it into a state-of-the-art learning environment, revamping the entire property while making sure to preserve its historical nature. Major upgrades call for a 2,000-seat field house, a fully-functional auditorium, and an E-sports room for competitive gaming. Memorial Stadium, home for the school's athletics, will get a new field, resurfaced track, and locker rooms. The Springfield community is delighted that this project will bring a fresh start to the North side of the city.  

To help kick off the project, O'Shea Builders selected Keller to prepare the foundation for the $93.2 million-worth of new amenities. The Keller team was pleased that the ICE® EM30 Drill Mast could drill over 500 14" (in) auger cast piles at a 25' (ft) depth with ease. This excavator-mounted drill combines industry-leading torque with ICE®'s reliable design to accelerate job speed and profits. 

These new additions will be open to students and staff in 2024. Thank you to Keller for choosing International Construction Equipment, Inc. to play a part in this monumental event in Lanphier's history. Go Lions! 

Learn more about the ICE® EM30. 

 

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 

Posted in Excavator Mounted Pile Drivers. Tagged as #AugerCast, Commercial Build, EM-30 Mast, Ex-Mounted Vibratory Pile Hammer.

ICE® 216D Spruces Up Aged Apartment Complex


ICE® 216D Spruces Up Aged Apartment Complex
Editor: Allison Braswell 

 

Residents of the long-troubled Sandpiper Cove apartment complex in Galveston, TX have been feeling trapped in their homes with terrible living conditions, yearning for overdue repairs to the building. The 192-unit complex was built in 1971, but its foundation dates back to the early 1900s. 

For the past century, the original, red brick foundations beneath Winnie Street have been reused over and over again for new structures. This may have been the most cost-effective option at the time of Sandpiper Cove's construction, but the infamous soil of Texas is abundant in clay content. As the soil absorbs water from rainfall, it acts like a sponge, expanding and putting pressure on a building's foundation. This can cause foundational cracks and leave the foundation open to sinking water. On the other hand, the contraction of clay-rich soil caused by dryness can create a gap between the foundation wall and surrounding landscape, making it easy for water to collect and settle. Both of these factors could wreak havoc on floors and plumbing in buildings like Sandpiper Cove. The owner of the apartment complex vowed to spend up to $17 million to upgrade the units to more livable conditions. 

One of the upgrades involves remediating the existing foundations. Putnam Builders was selected to construct a sheet pile wall that will prevent any water intrusion caused by storm surge. The contractor's selection of equipment was critical because too large of a hammer would cause more damage to the apartments. They found the ICE® 216D Vibratory Hammer to be the perfect size for driving the $1.5 million-worth of sheet pile material. 25' (ft) sheets were driven 2600' (ft) around the whole apartment block, similar to a storm levee. A storm-water pump station with automatic water control gates will be also installed to move excess rainwater from lower to higher elevation for further protection. On an interesting note, the construction crews made an eerie discovery: 14 empty coffins used as ground fill back when the foundation was first established! 

Sandpiper Cove residents will live with better peace of mind knowing that this upgrade will improve their current living situations. Equipping your property with proper drainage systems can maintain a balanced level of moisture in your soil and uphold your foundation for years to come. Thank you to Putnam for making ICE® a part of Galveston's mission to preserve affordable housing developments for residents needing good-quality, low-cost rental accommodations. 

Learn more about the ICE® 216D

 

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 

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as #Texas, 216 Vibratory Hammer, Sheet Pile.

Enhancing Seniors’ Quality of Life


Enhancing Seniors' Quality of Life
Editor: Allison Braswell 

 

By 2030, all baby boomers will be age 65 and older. With life expectancy rates on the rise, the population of seniors in the Washington, D.C. area could grow as much as 24.4% by the same year. Many older adults living in urban areas like D.C. are likely to vacate their homes to dwell in communities where they can spend their leisure years among like-minded peers and away from the commotion in the city.

Having considerable expertise in senior living projects, Wagman Construction was selected to construct the foundation for a new retirement community in D.C. that will promote the socialization and active lifestyle seniors need to keep their minds sharp and achieve overall wellness. Using their ICE® HB-85 Hydraulic Rotary Drill, 277 16" (in) holes were drilled at an 80' (ft) depth. Rebar cages were fitted in the holes and filled with grout to fortify the foundation of the structure. Additionally, the combined power of the ICE® Model 101 Spotter and its ICE® 475G power unit enabled precise installation of the rebar cages. 

Thank you to Wagman for taking the time to build a strong foundation that will keep our seniors safe. International Construction Equipment® is excited that the new facility will allow retired adults of D.C. to relish in their newfound freedom from everyday responsibilities. 

Learn more about the ICE® HB-85 , ICE® 475G, and ICE®'s selection of spotters

 

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 

 

Posted in ICE Team. Tagged as #ResidentialBuilding, 475G Power Unit, HB-85 Drill, Hydraulic Rotary Head, Model 101 Spotter.