Beaumont Wharf Expansion on the Horizon  

Edited by Debbie Reaney 

The City of Beaumont, TX celebrated breaking ground at Riverfront Park, more than five years after Hurricane Harvey devastated the area in 2017 shuttering the facility. This $17 million restoration project will include rebuilding the park's pavilions, picnic tables, lighted benches, boat docking area, and walking paths. Approximately 90 miles east of Houston and 60 miles west of Louisiana, Beaumont has over 115,000 residents and is considered by some to be the "Golden Triangle," due to its coastal location and potential for unlimited growth. 

In early 2023, local government officials selected Galveston-based construction company, Callan Marine Ltd., to lead the Riverfront Park reconstruction project which broke ground in April. So far, the experts at Callan Marine have completed the installation of interlocking concrete mats for the revetment wall to protect against erosion of the bank on the north side of the park as well as completing a large outfall structure that stabilizes two large storm lines that run through the park and discharge into the Neches River. A substantial part of this job is being completed from barges, which can be a challenge. However, Callan is a specialty marine contractor, making them a perfect fit for this project. The company will also be tweaking some drainage under the park as they go through the construction process.  

Currently, the dredging needed for the area is 59% complete and the installation of a bulkhead wall to protect the bank is in process. An ICE® IP-10 Hydraulic Impact Hammer powered by an ICE® 350 hydraulic power unit and fitted with 120' (Ft) of 36" (In) swinging leads was used to drive 18" (In) pipe piles using custom pile cradles to support the weight of pile and hold it in place while hammer drives at angle, placing them on a 1 to 1 batter to help stabilize and support the wall for the Beaumont Wharf Expansion. Twenty-five (25) of the required ninety-eight (98) batter piles were driven as of January 2024, and about 84' (Ft) of water was installed, connecting the batter piles together and providing support for the sheet pile wall. Simultaneously, an ICE® 50B Vibratory Hammer paired with an ICE® 595H Power Unit has made driving the sheet pile work a smooth and straightforward process, with eleven pairs of sheet piles already installed. 

As only 550 calendar days are allotted for this project and a tentative completion date of September 6, 2024, time is of the essence. However, the dedicated crews at Callan have been running on time and within budget and will soon be using other deep foundation equipment for marine dolphin installation as well as pile for the new dock and bulkhead along the river shoreline. Congratulations, Callan Marine and thank you for trusting the International Construction Equipment (ICE®) Sales & Service Team to provide the tools needed to complete this project in a safe and prompt manner. Your skill and performance with specialty dredging projects and knowledge of berthing depth restoration for ship docks and navigation channels will surely ease transportation in our nation's waterways and bring an economic boost to the coast of West Texas.  

Learn more about the ICE® IP-10, ICE® Model 50B and our line of ICE® Leads and Custom Accessories 

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   

I-495/ I-90 Improvements Project
Edited by Alan Zimmerman 

As Massachusetts continues to grow, it is not surprising that the I-495 and I-90 interchange needs to be renovated to improve the flow of traffic and commuters' safety. With heavy traffic volume and sharp turns, the area can create a recipe for disaster. On an average day, I-495 carries approximately 110,000 vehicles and I-90 will carry 100,000 vehicles. This important interchange connecting the highways is used by nearly half of freight trucks entering eastern Massachusetts, serving as a major junction for commuter traffic; with approximately 75,000 vehicles using the interchange every day. The project will eliminate the old toll booth area (on the Pike) and weaving areas, all while working with an extremely sensitive environmental resource area and the various neighborhoods close by. 

J.F. White, a multi-disciplined contractor, with strengths in heavy/civil, design/build, electrical, mechanical, and deep foundation systems have been chosen as a subcontractor to oversee renovations that will improve the safety and traffic conditions of the interchange. J.F. White and MassDOT are focusing on reducing the crashes in the project area for all movements. Another problem being addressed is the recurring congestion within the interchange along with the potentially dangerous queuing extending from the main lines of I-90 and I-495. Addressing these issues will help bring down the crash rate in this area which is nearly double the state average.  

To help construct this project, J.F. White used an ICE® 44E Vibratory Hammer and an ICE® IP-7 Hydraulic Impact Hammer configured with an ICE ® 48 Off-Shore Leader. The powerful 44E was first used to place 36" pipe piles into position, followed by the ICE ® IP-7 to drive the pipes down to bedrock. This project is currently over a wetland, so a temporary work trestle was also necessary. An ICE® 28 Vibratory Hammer is being used to build the temporary access bridge while the new roadway is being completed. At the same time, the ICE ®28 is also being utilized to create a temporary cofferdam, driving sheet pile to create a safe and dry working area for the J.F. crew. This project is just in the beginning phase and is expected to be completed in early 2027. 

International Construction Equipment (ICE®) is honored to be supporting J.F. White with this ongoing project. Amazing work, J.F. White! The upgrade to this critical artery for commerce and transportation across the Commonwealth will certainly improve commuters' travel and safety for generations to come and will ease some of the "pains" as Massachusetts continues to expand.  

Learn more about the ICE® 44E and ICE® IP7.  

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   

Soil Improvement Modernizes Mexico 

Edited by Debbie Reaney 

Ingenieria Proyectos y Construcciones IPC SA de CV (IPC), a leader in maritime and groundwork construction across Mexico, is working on a particularly important soil improvement job in Hormiguero (near Paraiso) Tabasco Mexico. Once completed, the area will be utilized by the Mexican Navy/Marines to construct new modernized barracks and education buildings. 

This soil improvement technique, also known as stone columns, involves construction of concrete columns with a bottom-feed, down-hole vibratory probe to transfer loads through weak strata to a firm underlying stratum. Mainly used in big fields with soft soils, a tremie is used to pour concrete underwater in a way that avoids washout of cement from the mix due to turbulent water contact with the concrete while it is flowing, producing a more reliable and strong foundation. Correctly performing soil stabilization or earthmoving is crucial for contractors and construction projects, as it not only improves safety and efficiency on the job site but also helps to minimize ground settlement and improve the bearing capacity of existing soil, ultimately keeping construction costs down.  

For this project, IPC reached out to the experts at International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) and after some discussion, they chose to utilize an ICE® 55HB Rotary Drill with ICE® Leads and 105 Spotter using an ICE® 350 Power Unit to predrill the 14" (in) & 12" (in) diameter holes required. The IPC crew also used an ICE® 44B and an ICE® Model 416L vibratory driver with sheeting clamp and hopper tool to vibrate the stone columns to achieve the required soil densification. Due to the tight schedule of this job, the IPC team is running 24 hours a day, with three crews rotating continuously and have been quite pleased with the performance and abilities of the equipment- helping them remain on time and within budget. Fantastic work, Ingenieria Proyectos y Construcciones IPC SA de CV! International Construction Equipment, Inc. looks forward to continuing to work with our international partners like IPC and thanks them for the opportunity to aid in the modernization of Mexico. 

Learn more about the ICE® 44B Vibratory Driver/Extractor, ICE® 416L & ICE® 55HB Rotary Drill 

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   

GSI Strengthens Cellular Infrastructure 

Edited by Debbie Reaney 

A recent cell tower retrofit was performed by GeoStabilization International (GSI), experts at providing solutions for protecting wind, solar, storage, power & energy infrastructure. GSI was selected as a subcontractor for this project, working for General Contractor, K-Co Enterprises out of Piedmont SC. K Co Enterprises serves all phases of commercial concrete, foundation, and tower construction needs in the south-eastern United States and are the go-to specialists in drilled caissons for towers, light poles, canopies, and other industrial applications.  

While cell towers are still relatively new in comparison with other structures, cell towers are an integral part of our critical telecommunication infrastructure, making them just as essential to society as roadways. In the past, humans were limited by where they could communicate from and how. Now dispatchers can use advanced software on a cell phone to send and receive communications, in real time, all thanks to cell towers. 

Towers are generally constructed on caisson or other large diameter pile foundations. Due to their ever-growing importance to our daily lives, changes to the building codes and additional equipment added to cell towers, including increased cell tower height, many cell tower foundations require additional support in the form of micropiles. Many new cell towers are supported on micropiles, as they are often more economical than other types of foundations.  The micropiles in this case were installed to increase the load bearing profile of the tower for equipment upgrades on the tower itself. Accepted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the Micropile Design and Construction Guidelines Manual, Hollow Bars are also being used increasingly for micropile applications. Through the increased bond stress resultant from the simultaneous drilling and grouting operation, Hollow Bars are the reinforcement bar choice in collapsing soil conditions. 

For this short yet significant project in Bayboro, NC the GSI crew chose to rent a Comacchio MC-8D unit for its versatility and powerful hydraulic drilling capabilities from their regional ICE® (International Construction Equipment, Inc.) Drilling Specialists. Designed for civil engineering works such as micropiles, anchors and ground improvement in general using all rotary and/or rotary- percussive drilling systems, the use of this rig made this retrofit a breeze. Utilizing the MC-8D, holes were drilled with 76mm (about 2.99 in) hollow bar approximately 30' (ft) into the ground and then grouted in place. This supplement to strengthen the foundation will also allow the addition of the new hardware required to update this tower.  

Magnificent work, GSI! Thanks to your team the folks of Bayboro and the surrounding area can feel confident that they will be able to communicate with loved ones, co-workers, emergency systems, both near and far due to this retrofit to local cell tower infrastructure. ICE® is happy to have been able to provide the deep foundation equipment necessary to help make this job a smooth one.  

Learn more about the Comacchio MC-8D and other Fully Articulated Multipurpose Rigs offered by the ICE Drilling Sales and Service Team and find out how they can help you with your next project.    

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   

Anchoring Lover's Leap 

Edited by: Debbie Reaney 

Route 58 is Virginia's longest highway, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest tip of Virginia. It traverses five separate Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) districts - Hampton Roads, Richmond, Lynchburg, Salem and Bristol; making it an important 508 miles. In the spring of 2022, VDOT's chosen design-build contractor, Branch Civil Inc. (BCI), began work on the fourth phase of a $300 million project to widen Route 58 over Lovers Leap Mountain in Patrick County, known as the PPTA Project. As of October 2023, overall project construction was over 30 percent complete with the final completion anticipated in summer 2026. 

Currently, widening is underway at Lover's Leap between Hillsville and Stuart; starting 0.7 miles north of Stuart and extending 0.3 miles east of Route 610 in Patrick County. The Lover's Leap section is the fourth and most critical section out of the six sections to be constructed between Hillsville and Stuart with Branch Civil being the Design-Builder for the first four sections and will consist of widening 7.4 miles of Route 58 over Lovers Leap from two to four lanes, improving safety on the mountainous portion of this roadway.  

Work initially began at the top and bottom of Lovers Leap Mountain, the mountainous terrain and amount of excavation making this a significant project that includes excavating more than 10 million cubic yards (cy) of soil and rock at elevations that range between 1,300 and 3,000 feet. Approximately 3.3 million cubic yards has been moved so far. As excavation continues, the BCI crew is widening the road to four lanes, improving alignments and grades, expanding the shoulders, adding turn lanes at all secondary road connections as well as enhancing the Lovers Leap Overlook. In addition, brake check areas and escape ramps for trucks will also be added along with erosion control measures, trap installation, silt fencing, and clean water ditches.  

To aid in the construction of this critical corridor, Branch Civil selected subcontractor, GeoStabilization International (GSI), to complete the necessary tieback work. Understanding the need for safety and environmental restrictions, GSI chose to utilize a Comacchio MC22 Drill Rig they rented from International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) to work in conjunction with a Comacchio MC15P already onsite to install the tie back anchors 40' (Ft) into the newly constructed retaining walls at Lovers Leap outside of Stuart, VA. These rigs will be onsite until March of 2024 for the installs and are suitable for any type of rotary and rotary-percussive drilling. They also provide an added layer of safety with their remote-control functionality. Even with the challenges of working alongside and maintaining safe traffic operations on the existing roadway, the steep terrain and heavy rain events, and stringent EPA regulations, the professionals at Branch Civil, Inc. have remained on schedule. Safety is a priority for the team and full-time safety personnel and traffic maintenance workers are assigned to the site while a project safety committee monitors the work regularly. 

Branch Civil's attention to safety is essential with the prevalence of large pieces of equipment rumbling around the project and active operations. ICE® is thrilled to have provided some of the equipment that has made this difficult job a bit easier and thanks our partners, like GeoStabilization International, for trusting in our team and rigs. Congratulations Branch Civil Inc., your team's diligence to deliver this roadway improvement will enhance safety and support economic development opportunities; allowing Route 58 to remain a vital road for locals, tourists, and commercial traffic, while connecting southern Virginia from the beach to the mountains. By successfully widening this key section, the project will open this portion of Southwestern Virginia to faster, safer travel and more economic investment.  

Learn more about the Comacchio MC-22 and other Fully Articulated Multipurpose Rigs offered by the ICE® Drilling Sales and Service Team 

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   

Sandcastles & ICE®
East Coast Marine Supports Seawall Restoration 
Image Provided by East Coast Marine

Edited by: Debbie Reaney 

At least 7,000 homes and close to 1,650 buildings in Volusia County suffered severe flooding and structural damage during the 2022 hurricane season. According to local officials, 40 local small businesses in the area were destroyed completely. Located along the east coast of Central Florida, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided $103 million directly to Volusia residents for home repairs, rental assistance and other needs, along with nearly $9 million to help local governments and nonprofit organizations responding to Ian and Nicole. 

East Coast Marine Construction & Design (ECM), a local leader in Florida marine and dock construction, is one of the construction crews working toward rebuilding the seawalls in Daytona Beach Shores near Sunglow Pier. It is a critical part of businesses getting back to where they were before Hurricane Ian hit followed by the massive storm surge during Hurricane Nicole only 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) later, bringing heavy damage to the beach. Many of the businesses and residents along this stretch lost their pools, hot tubs, automobiles and in some cases substantial portions of their homes to the sea. The concrete chunks that once littered the shore have been cleared, and beachgoers have returned to the sand. However, even a year after the storm there are still miles of seawall damage to be fixed. 

Most recently, East Coast Marine was selected to restore the seawalls to three area hotels. Two of these hotels have been on Daytona beach since the 1960's, making them some of Daytona's oldest hotels still in operation. To help save these treasures, ECM was required to clear all equipment off the beach daily, so it was crucial to have something they could drive on the road and store in a parking lot. A Terex truck crane was chosen for maneuverability on the beach and its ability for quick and easy resets. Once the area was prepared, an excavator was used for its ability to move a lot of material quickly along with being used for demolition, site work and digging debris from the lineup. Afterwards, an ICE® 216D Vibratory Hammer and ICE® 95 Sheeting Clamp paired with an ICE® 150G Power Unit was brought in to drive the 22' (ft)long JD Fields AZ-14 770 steel sheets to create the new seawall. ECM professionals were thrilled with its ability and stated that "the ICE® 216D with its perfect combination size and capability for a project like this. The relatively light-weight hammer combined with the power and driving force needed, made the decision to use it easy. It was also important that a whip-line hammer was used to ensure that the hammer would hang plumb, and the sheets would drive straight and efficiently." Cutting down on the amount of time and jetting required for the job and helping bring these projects in on time and on budget. 

While driving sheets is a relatively straightforward operation, it is far from easy. The sandy condition on the beach generally offers good driving conditions, however the East Coast crew did encounter a layer of cementitious sand that slowed them down to a 50+ blow count. According to the project manager at East Coast, the biggest challenge was that they were working on the beach: against both time and mother nature. Additionally, permitting authorities are understandably very protective about the beach and its wildlife, so East Coast Marine worked diligently to ensure that habitat was not destroyed and that protected species like sea turtles were not harmed. These safety measures also included ensuring that all contaminants (Hydraulic oil, gas, grease, etc.) were kept off the beach. Another challenge on this project was the tide. The team's window to drive sheets and import material was limited, as some days there were only 4 workable hours due to tidal patterns and on days when the wind was particularly rough onshore the crew at East Coast was not able to make any progress at all. These seasoned professionals know that once you demolish an old oceanfront seawall the property is vulnerable to any storms that may develop, so hurricane and storm planning was also particularly important to the team, as they did not want to cause any undue damage to the properties they were trying to protect. 

East Coast Marine Construction & Design was extremely pleased with the equipment, as well as their ICE Florida Branch Sales & Service team. Project Manager, Michael Fletcher, felt that ICE® "were lifesavers on these projects. Not only was Billy there for most deliveries, but he also had a good technical eye and a great imagination, which helped us overcome a lot of the difficulties we faced early on. Any time we needed assistance, whether it was an issue with the equipment itself or just advice on how to use the equipment more efficiently, Billy and the ICE® team had our back. They would move heaven and earth or even a 90,000LB piece of equipment across the USA if we needed it". 

International Construction Equipment, Inc. would like to express our sincerest gratitude to East Coast Marine Construction & Design for their kind words and support. Building relationships with our clients is what truly sets us apart from many other companies. Well done, Billy, and team! Thank you for your commitment to providing amazing customer service! And Bravo East Coast Marine, the residents, tourists, and beach goers of Volusia County can feel safer knowing that the seawalls placed by dedicated professionals like you will continue to provide the deep and secure foundations needed to restore and protect the areas they have come to love, safely and conscientiously. 

Learn more about the ICE® 216D or contact your local Sales & Service Team and find out how they can help you with your next project.  

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   

Mohawk and URI on Course for New Dawn 
Edited by: Debbie Reaney 

The University of Rhode Island's (URI) Narragansett Bay Campus has begun a multi-year series of infrastructure improvements that will modernize its facilities and enable it to build upon its global reputation for oceanographic research and education. Optimization of ship operation is priority #1, as one of the country's newest National Science Foundation research vessels, the Narragansett Dawn, is expected to arrive at the pier in the Spring of 2024.

In 2021, Mohawk Northeast, Inc. (Mohawk), one of the leading heavy civil/marine contractors in the United States was awarded the contract to replace URI's almost 60-year-old pier. The existing pier was at the end of its useful service life and did not meet the requirements to properly support the operations of the new, larger research vessel. This project included the removal of the existing pier and utilities, as well as the construction of a new state of the art pier, re-grading of the upland approach, marine dolphin installation, and a new saltwater pump house facility. Mohawk crews demolished the original pier and erected a larger, more capable, steel-and-concrete pier supported by steel pipe piles making it more robust than its predecessor. Construction began during the spring of 2022, and although the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the project by several months, the Mohawk team worked diligently becoming more efficient at driving piles. Mohawk was able to complete the project in May of 2023; well before the arrival of the Narragansett Dawn. 

The new pier, which is approximately 5-feet higher and built to withstand severe weather, was designed using contemporary codes, practices, and construction materials. The pier was constructed with long-term durability and resiliency in mind in order to achieve the required minimum 50-year service life. Its major load-bearing elements include 24-inch diameter epoxy coated steel pipe piles, cast-in-place concrete pile caps and edge beams, precast concrete deck planks and a topping slab with a built in utility trench. Two unique features of the pier are a two-ton crane for lifting small boats and research shed that will be utilized to store sensitive scientific equipment to monitor water quality in Narragansett Bay. An access trestle was also constructed within the original trestle's footprint to avoid permanent impact to mapped eel grass beds to the north and south. The new pier is 200 feet long and 42 feet wide, while the connecting access trestle is 210 feet long and 24 feet wide consisting of concrete decks and beams supported by concrete-filled steel piles driven between 120 feet to 150 feet deep into the sea floor. A pile supported abutment connects the access trestle to land. The abutment is supported by fifteen HP14x117 piles that are 100' long with a mixture of battered and plumb piles.

While pile driving was in the base scope of the project, Mohawk also utilized sheet piling to temporarily retain the earth while they excavated for the new concrete pumphouse. Using their previously purchased ICE® Model 416L Vibratory Driver/Extractor the crew installed seventy-seven 24" (In) diameter steel pipe piles, followed by an ICE® Model D-50 Single-Acting Diesel Pile Hammer in 32" ICE® leads to drive them to tip. Thirteen 65' (Ft) long timber piles were also placed as part of a secondary fender system. One of the crews' biggest challenges was battling the weather and working on the water while using hanging leads. Even with these difficulties, the experts at Mohawk were able to modify the ICE® leads to hang at the correct batter, completing 22 plumb piles, 25 battered piles at 4:1 and 30 battered piles at 3:1. Due to the importance of this pier, both economically and environmentally, a pile indicator program was also part of this project.  

Spectacular work to the entire Mohawk Northeast team! Thank you for choosing to partner with International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) and trusting us to supply your crew with the deep foundation equipment they can count on. The overall construction of this monumental pier is outstanding. From the foundation up, this pier was constructed with attention to detail and the greatest of workmanship, easily meeting the stringent requirements for this campus modernization. The entire world will truly benefit from this important infrastructure upgrade to one of our nation's most important scientific research and educational facilities.  

Learn more about the ICE® Model 416L Vibratory Driver/Extractor, ICE® Model D-50 Single-Acting Diesel Pile Hammer & ICE® Pile Driving Leads & 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