Saving America’s Crumbling Bridges


Saving America's Crumbling Bridges
Editor: Allison Braswell 

 Despite their importance, bridges are the most neglected components of U.S. infrastructure, especially those on local roads. The inconvenience of closures for inspections and frequency of bridge use too often results in deferred maintenance. The consequences are obvious--bridges are falling apart far faster than they are being repaired.  Bridges are integral elements of America's transportation systems--and 1 in 3 of them needs repair or replacement. This is a tough goal to meet, but International Construction Equipment, Inc manufactures the equipment for such tasks right here in the USA!

One such project is in the quaint, rural community of Hosford in Northwest Florida, where a bypass bridge over Yellow Creek is left with aged wooden piles in need of replacement. Given Hosford's small population of a few hundred inhabitants, maintenance of the outdated bridge has been long deferred due to its infrequent use. As a result of the delay, the wooden piles supporting the bridge were found to have vastly deteriorated during its last inspection. Even with small-town infrastructure, you can never be too careful by conducting regular safety inspections that can keep bridges in reliable operation.

Anderson Columbia Company was selected to build a new bridge over the creek. The team ran the ICE® 150-50 Hydraulic Rotary Head in conjunction with 36" (in) CFA drilling to a depth of 45' (ft), which prepared the final installation of 24" (in) concrete pile. The ICE® 150-50 features high torque producing superior extraction forces that maximized the contractor's drilling production.

Lane closures for bridge inspections and closing bridges entirely for reconstruction can be an inconvenience, but it beats the alternative of letting people drive in unsafe conditions. Thank you to Anderson Columbia for partnering with International Construction Equipment, Inc. for a task that will improve the lives of Florida's rural residents. ICE®'s line of top-quality drills and other deep foundation equipment can manage projects both large and small. For more information about our equipment, reach out to our Sales and Service team who will be happy to assist you.

Learn more about the ICE® 150-50

 

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 Drill Mast. Tagged as #BridgeRenovation, Auger Cast, Bridge, Hydraulic Rotary Head, ICE 150-50, Infrastructure, MunicipalityInstall.

Model 2 Repels Rising Seas


Model 2 Repels Rising Seas
Editor: Allison Braswell

Every summer since 1895, families of East Providence, RI take a spin on the Crescent Park Looff Carousel, a National Historical Landmark that neighbors Rose Larisa Memorial Park. This waterfront park included a seawall that supported several walking paths overlooking the bay, but strong wave action and rising sea levels due to storms over the years have caused the seawall to deteriorate and ultimately fall apart. Without the wall in place, the wearing away of the land has the Looff wooden horses shaking in their shoes. 

Coastal erosion is not a gradual process, it's sporadic, dependent on periodic instances of violent weather. Low-lying U.S. states like Rhode Island are composed of loose deposits of sandy out-wash, which put them in the cross-hairs for erosion when a big storm hits. Considering the unpredictability of these weather conditions, Rhode Island Coastal Management is racing to keep the smallest state from getting any smaller. 

It was determined that a new seawall at Rosa Larisa Park was needed right away to prevent further damage to the shoreline. MAS Building & Bridge of Norfolk, MA is removing the old wall, setting revetment stone, and constructing a new granite block wall. The team was recommended the ICE® Model 2 Vibratory Hammer to drive 180 deposit sheets of 27' (ft) length to form the wall and ensure long-term structural stability. The simple and compact design of the Model 2 allows light-weight sheets and other materials to be driven with the perfect amount of force to secure it firmly in the ground without any risk of breakage, which made it ideal for this job. 

By combining MAS's technical know-how and the reliability of ICE®'s pile driving solutions, the City of East Providence can continue to maintain safe and enjoyable recreation areas like the Looff Carousel for its citizens and tourists. Nice work MAS for helping to protect Rhode Island's national treasures! 

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 

 

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as Environmental Impacts, ICE Model 2, Marine Foundation, Seawalls, Vibratory Hammer.

ICE® 28C Sets Sail in Heart of Marine Business


ICE® 28C Sets Sail in Heart of Marine Business
Editor: Allison Braswell 

 

Buildings on Robinson Bayou in Panama City, FL that were previously used for corporate and college research operations were damaged by Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane that swept through the state in 2018. However, with some restorations, Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan saw a new purpose for the property. 

Suzuki invested 1.7 billion JYP ($11.7 million) into the development of a Marine Technical Center on Robinson Bayou, a testing facility for its outboard engines. As the first of its kind for the company outside of Japan, the 20-acre site provides five refurbished buildings and a large basin area for operations, testing, and boat storage. The eastern region of the U.S. accounts for nearly half of the boat market in the nation, so by conducting development in an environment much closer to its customers, Suzuki aims to better refine its outboard technology in real-world conditions and promote the collaboration of U.S.-based boat builders. 

The marine construction experts at RJ Gorman Marine were entrusted with building a boat ramp for the facility. They were amazed by how fast the ICE® 28C Vibratory Hammer pulled the 60' (ft) PZ-27 sheets after the ramp's concrete was poured. Having this addition on the water will contribute to Suzuki's quality control and even the diversity of Panama City's economy. 

International Construction Equipment, Inc. is proud to have partnered with RJ Gorman to provide them with a time-saving solution for this job. ICE® continues to deliver best-in-class customer service that guarantees high-rated project success.  

Learn more about the ICE® 28C

 

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 #CommercialBuilding, #SuzukiUSA, 28C Vibratory Hammer, Boat Ramp, PZ-27 Sheet piles.

Historic Regional Link Re-imagined

Historic Regional Link Re-imagined
Editor: Allison Braswell

A vision for the future of New Hampshire and Vermont's shared infrastructure has been under discussion for nearly three decades. Now, it is finally coming to life. Since June 2021, NHDOT has been leading long-awaited replacement and repurposing efforts for two deteriorating spans of the 200-year-old, 8-lane bridge that carries traffic between Hinsdale, NH and Brattleboro, VT over the Connecticut River. A new, wider single-span bridge will replace the two older spans, reducing congestion when traveling over the state border. This $61.2 million project also calls for the relocation of the existing bridges for use by bicyclists, canoeists, and people looking for a quiet place along the river. 

As the general contractor of the project, Reed & Reed, Inc. of Woolwich, ME needed the highest quality pile driving equipment to install piles for the bridge's seven piers. With this in mind, Reed & Reed turned to the experts at International Construction Equipment, Inc. to determine the best driving method for the job. The crew started by constructing a temporary trestle to gain access to six of the seven underwater piers. They utilized the ICE® 33 Vibratory Hammer for driving 30" (in)-diameter pipes. Using the tremie method, the ICE® HB55 Hydraulic Rotary Head then drilled out the pipes so that concrete could be poured underwater. 

The anticipated completion date is set for late 2024. The Hinsdale and Brattleboro communities expect to see increased economic growth as their connectivity improves. The better access between the two towns will encourage civic improvement projects such as landscaping and sidewalk expansion on the Brattleboro riverfront, attracting more small business owners and their potential customers. Residents look forward to new recreational opportunities like small concerts or exhibits by the river. ICE® is grateful to supply Reed & Reed with the vibratory equipment necessary to correct structural deficiencies of this historical passageway and give new life to its old structures.

Learn more about the ICE® 33 and the ICE® HB-55

 

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 #BridgeRenovation, 33 Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor, Bridge, HB-55 Hydraulic Rotary Drill, Infrastructure, Marine Foundation.

Big, Little Bridge at Springbrook Golf Course 


Big, Little Bridge at Springbrook Golf Course
Editor: Allison Braswell

A 50-year-old golf course in Naperville, IL is undergoing major renovations. One of the several tasks on their list was to replace the concrete bridge that collapsed in a creek on Hole #9 of the course, raising both safety and logistic concerns. Copenhaver Construction was selected to build the foundation for a new, steel golf cart bridge over the creek bed. Now completed, the new 60' (ft)-long bridge has a capacity of over 20 tons to allow trucks and equipment to get across the creek as needed. 

To help with this job the contractor initially planned to use their previously purchased ICE® I-19 Diesel Impact Hammer, but it did not have the control necessary for such a delicate task due to the precise bearings required. With this in mind, it was decided that the powerful and flexible control abilities of the ICE® IP-3 Hydraulic Impact Hammer paired with a GEN-4 Remote Control were better suited to drive the 12" (in) pipe pile for the bridge 22' (ft) deep, ensuring the strength of its foundation. Copenhaver was pleased with the ease of use and proven ability to control the amount of force this hammer delivers, specifically the ability to supply one (1) blow per inch. This hammer does not include additional features such as a reader, but a bearing chart was necessary for IDOT to deem the bridge safe for public use. Fortunately, International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®)'s loyal sales team was able to provide the engineer with the specs that would serve as a reference for the hammer's full force potential, saving both time and costs. 

Club members are excited to return to the course next summer in 2023 to enjoy its improved amenities. ICE® thanks Copenhaver for choosing its reliable hydraulic equipment to provide a safe path for patrons to get from tee to green and enhance the landscape of this vintage golf course. 

Learn more about the ICE® IP-3

 

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 Hydraulic Impact Hammers, ICE Team. Tagged as Bridge, Hydraulic Impact Hammers, IP3 Hammer, Remote Control.