In the historic town of Stratford, CT named after Stratford-upon-Avon in England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Ultra-Lum and International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) recently marked their 42nd billboard project together. Ultra-Lum, renowned for their expertise in erecting new billboard structures, has been a stalwart in the outdoor billboard industry since 1998 and boasts a significant presence in New England. 

As with any billboard, a deep and strong foundation is paramount. For this project, they employed the dependable ICE® 44 Vibratory Driver/Extractor from International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®). The machine's powerful vibrations drove the steel caisson deep into the ground, ensuring a robust base for the towering structure. The flexible hoses used on the ICE® 44 facilitate efficient power transmission and contribute to the machine's overall performance and durability. 

What distinguished this billboard were the innovative "fins" designed by the Ultra-Lum team. Fins placed at the base of the caisson in the ground, provide additional support. These fins keep the billboard from rotating or moving in areas with high winds. These fins were meticulously crafted to enhance the billboard's structural stability. By incorporating fins, billboard installations achieve superior durability, making them a vital component in the advertising industry. 

This successful installation is a testament to the seamless collaboration between Ultra-Lum and ICE®, showcasing engineering excellence and teamwork. Amazing work to the entire Ultra-Lum Team! The partnership between Ultra-Lum and International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) has once again proven its strength and synergy to create yet another stunning and functional billboard.  

Here's to many more successful projects and enduring partnerships! 

The Neosho River bridge project on U.S. 59, located near Chanute, Kansas, is a vital infrastructure improvement aimed at replacing an aging and potentially unsafe bridge. This upgrade ensures safe and reliable transportation along a key highway route, particularly for traffic traveling between Kansas and Oklahoma. The project plays a crucial role in maintaining regional connectivity, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and people. 

Kicking off in January 2024, this $11.2 million endeavor, awarded by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc., of Atlantic, Iowa, is expected to be completed by May 2025. The scope includes bridge foundation installation, piers, and abutments, with the current focus on the substructure. To tackle specialized pile work, Greg Bair Track Hoe Service, Inc. was subcontracted, bringing decades of expertise in demolition, drilling, and rock breaking--earning a reputation for handling complex projects like bridge demolitions and foundation construction with precision. 

The foundation work for this project involves 6.5 beam 84" (in) OD caissons, each measuring 40' (ft) in length with a 3/8" (in) wall thickness. These caissons are being driven using an ICE® 44 Vibratory Hammer, renowned for its efficiency in handling large-diameter caissons, ensuring a stable and secure foundation for the bridge. 

Supporting the power and reliability of the ICE® 44 Vibratory Hammer, high-performance Hydrauli-flex hydraulic hoses ensure seamless energy transfer, maximizing efficiency while maintaining consistent driving force. Their durability plays a key role in reducing downtime, allowing for precise and effective caisson installation even under demanding site conditions. 

Vibratory hammers, such as the ICE® 44, are essential tools in pile driving and extraction. By generating high-frequency vibrations combined with downward force, they reduce friction between the pile and soil, allowing for deep penetration with minimal resistance--even in dense or cohesive soils where traditional methods can struggle. 

For the Neosho River bridge project, the caissons are being placed at a depth of approximately 40' (ft), providing a strong and stable foundation capable of withstanding environmental factors such as water flow and soil conditions. The river's varied soil composition poses challenges in achieving uniform penetration depth and stability, and fluctuating water levels can further impact the construction schedule and caisson installation. 

Fortunately, the experienced professionals at Greg Bair Track Hoe Service, Inc. understand that operating heavy equipment like the ICE® 44 in a riverine environment requires careful planning and execution. By working closely with their engineering partners and ICE® Pile Driving Specialists, they successfully navigated these challenges, making this difficult process much more manageable. 

Bravo to Greg Bair Track Hoe Service, Inc.! Your dedication to precision and safety ensures that this project will be a tremendous success. International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) is proud to support such outstanding professionals in building a stronger infrastructure for the region. 

A significant transformation is underway onboard a military installation in Newport, Rhode Island. The bulkhead replacement project is not just about updating the infrastructure; it's about providing a solid foundation for future improvements.

The contractor for this project, Reagan Marine Construction (Reagan Marine), brings more than 50 years of experience in marine and waterfront construction. Specializing in pile driving, steel sheeting installation, demolition, and dredging, Reagan Marine has a proven track record of completing complex projects for various military clients. 

Reagan Marine's expertise and dedication to safety, quality, and productivity have been instrumental in the success of this project. The project began with a clear vision: to replace the existing bulkhead system, providing a new and solid foundation for further improvements that will achieve the demands of current and future military activities.  The first step was to remove a portion of the existing pier, a task that proved challenging due to the deteriorated condition of the old concrete filled steel piles.

Enter the ICE® 22 Vibratory Driver/Extractor. This piece of equipment quickly became the hero of the project. Initially brought in because Reagan Marine's own ICE® Model 416 and ICE® Power Pack needed maintenance. After a quick call to their local ICE® Sales and Service Team, an ICE® 22 was rented and its efficiency in the tough driving conditions of the area quickly made it indispensable. Even after their ICE® 416 was repaired, the experts at Reagan chose to keep the ICE® 22 on site, proving its worth time and again. 

By pairing the ICE® 22 with an ICE® Model 55 Clamp, the Reagan team tackled the extraction of the old concrete-filled steel piles. These piles, buried deep and in poor condition, needed to be removed to make way for the new combi-wall. The ICE® 22, with its superior performance, made this daunting task much more manageable, easily breaking through the hard layers and significantly increasing efficiency and aiding in keeping the project on time. To further contribute to its success, the ICE® 22 guarantees peak performance with its robust and flexible hoses that are built to withstand high pressures and harsh environments. Once completed, the new combi-wall will consist of alternating 24" diameter pipes and PZC-19 sheet piles. This structure, tied back to a concrete and HP deadman system, promises to provide the strength and durability needed for future improvements.  During this project, an ICE® I-19-V2 Diesel Impact Hammer was also used to drive the pier support piles to their design bearing capacity, ensuring the stability and integrity of the existing pier, given its condition. 

Throughout the project, the Reagan Marine crews faced numerous challenges, from time constraints to difficult soil conditions. But the reliability of ICE® equipment, particularly the rented ICE® 22, helped overcome these obstacles. The ICE® Model 55 Wood Jaw Clamp effectively transmitted vibratory forces, ensuring efficient extraction of the concrete piles and saving valuable time. This project is more than just a construction endeavor; it's a crucial step in boosting the efficiency of operations on the installation. The new bulkhead and pier will serve as a solid foundation for future uses and improvements, allowing flexibility as their operational demands change.

As the area is a strategic military hub, enhancing its infrastructure ensures it remains a vital location for operations and research. This project, with its blend of modern techniques and reliable equipment, is a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved. 

In the end, the success of this project is a story of innovation, perseverance, and trust in reliable equipment. According to Reagan Marine, the ICE® 22 and other ICE® tools have proven their worth, helping to turn a challenging project into a triumph of modern engineering. Reagan Marine has "trusted ICE® for pile driving equipment, parts, and service due to the reliability and variety of their equipment, as well as the excellent support we receive when we have questions for many years." International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) works hard to maintain the long-standing relationships with our clients based on the reliability of our equipment and the exceptional service they have come to expect. Fantastic work, Reagan Marine Construction! The local community and stakeholders are sure to extend their heartfelt thanks for the exceptional work and dedication to enhancing this important portion of infrastructure.

Disclaimer: The appearance of this information does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) or the Department of the Navy (DoN) for the products or services contained in this release. The DoD and DoN do not have editorial control over the information contained on this website or page.

Ultra-Lum Services, LLC is a company specializing in the construction and maintenance of outdoor billboards and signage. Founded in 1998, they have been servicing the outdoor billboard industry for over 20 years. Ultra-Lum Services operates in several New England states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. They are known for their turn-key installation services and have a reputation for quality and reliability in the billboard industry. 

Using an ICE® 22 Vibratory Hammer with bias weights, Ultra-Lum experts recently completed the 41st billboard foundation completed in partnership with International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®). The installation involves a digital billboard placed on a pole next to I-93. The revenue generated from leasing the land for this billboard is intended to help keep the Polish American Club financially afloat and is a significant development for the community, as the Polish American Club is an important organization in the area. The billboard is also designed to minimize light pollution and reduce the number of billboards in the neighborhood. 

The foundation size for a billboard installation can vary depending on factors such as the size and height of the billboard, soil conditions, and local regulations. Over the past two decades, working with Ultra-Lum, vibrated foundation piles for a standard billboard have ranged between 30 inches and 90 inches in diameter and 20 feet to 140 feet deep. Larger billboards or those in areas with challenging soil conditions require larger or deeper foundations. For instance, this particular billboard required a foundation that was 46 feet deep due to the challenging soil conditions.

Ensuring efficient pile driving, Hydrauli-Flex hoses provided seamless hydraulic power transfer, allowing the ICE® 22 Vibratory Hammer to deliver consistent force while maximizing control. Their durability contributed to smooth installation, helping Ultra-Lum maintain precision and reliability in foundation work, even under demanding soil conditions.

One of the main challenges of this installation was the proximity to the building being close to a building required careful planning and precision to avoid any potential damage to the structure, as its location was only 10" (in) away. Ensuring compliance with local regulations and obtaining necessary permits can also be time-consuming and require careful coordination with authorities. Bias weights are designed to optimize the hammer's performance by balancing the forces during pile driving, which can improve efficiency and reduce vibrations. This combination was chosen specifically to drive piles faster and reduce crane shake, while operating at a 50% power level.

Overcoming these obstacles required a combination of careful planning, the right equipment, and effective problem-solving strategies including conducting detailed surveys and planning to ensure accurate placement and minimize risks. The use of bias weights and wisdom to operate the ICE® 22 at reduced power helped manage vibrations and ensured the protection of the surrounding area from potential damage. 

Amazing work, Ultra-Lum! International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) takes pride in helping our clients select the right equipment for the task and ensures regular maintenance and calibration of the machine, including its hoses, to optimize efficiency and effectiveness on any project.  

Reach out to our experienced ICE® Sales & Service Team now to see how they can help you with your next job! 

Learn more about the ICE® 22