Construction Equipment Guide
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Wed October 25, 2000 - Northeast Edition
Beginning next year, the 3,000 motorists who use New York State’s Route 26 in Broome County will have a smoother, safer ride. Work is currently under way to increase safety and improve mobility in the towns of Maine, Nanticoke and Triangle.
Carrying a price tag of $3.8 million, the rehabilitation work begins approximately 1,600 ft. (485 m) northeast of Dunham Road and proceeds northeast for approximately 3.5 mi. (5.6 km), where it stops, resuming in Whitney Point about 1,600 ft. (485 m) southwest of Park Street and ending at the intersection of Routes 26 and 11.
“This project consists of replacing superstructures, upgrading three bridges and flattening one horizontal curve to increase safety,” explained Jim Matto, project engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYDOT).
“We have also widened the shoulder in some areas in order to bring them up to standard. New sidewalks and curbs were installed downtown in Glen Aubrey, and new guardrails and a bridge rail were put in on the Whitney Point Bridge. In addition, drainage was improved by adding ditches and four boxed culverts and 90 other culverts were installed. The boxed culverts were used where the volume of water going across the road was high,” said Matto.
Work on the 100-percent state-funded project began on June 29. With three-quarters of the job expected to be finished by the end of November, it is anticipated that completion will be well before the July 31, 2001, deadline.
During construction traffic has been maintained in one lane using flaggers in the work zone. In Glen Aubrey, a temporary traffic signal was used during bridge rehabilitation.
“The project is moving along well,” said Joseph Compagni, president and chief estimator for Economy Paving of Cortland, NY, the job’s primary contractor. “We have special concerns that we are good neighbors down there. It appears that the people who live along the road are making an effort to live with the project so we are hurrying along, especially on their behalf.”
In addition to accommodating property owners, special attention also had to be paid to the area’s wetlands. “During construction, we could only build up to an agreed upon limit,” Matto reported.
Compagni thinks the Route 26 project might warrant wetlands mitigation. “Wetlands mitigation is not uncommon with a construction project. In certain circumstances where wetlands are consumed by the work being performed, new wetlands are created to compensate for that.”
Thanks to an innovation in asphalt and concrete technology known as Superpave, the service life of the improved roadways will increase from a 15-year service life to 20 years. Additionally, this new asphalt will save New York taxpayers $200 million in material costs alone over the next 30 years.
Superpave was developed to overcome many of the problems associated with asphalt pavements, such as rutting and cracking caused by low temperature and fatigue. The process ensures that each mix will be the most effective for local situations, including specific climate and traffic conditions.
“New York State adapted this technology about five years ago. Imported from Europe, it is now almost universally employed throughout the country,” Compagni said. “It entails special testing procedures, both in the laboratory and on construction sites. Although it is more expensive to use, it is a better product.”
Economy Paving, nearing its half-century mark of operation, was founded by Compagni’s father and uncle. The duo began their business with residential paving. Today, the firm has evolved into a business that reconstructs highways and bridges, primarily for New York’s DOT, the New York State Thruway Authority and other municipalities.
For the Route 26 project, Economy used over 100 pieces of equipment. However, one piece stands apart from the rest.
“We have a machine that is unique to our operation called the Badger model 1085D Hydraulic Excavator. It is a full-size excavator on wheels. We have been operating four of them for 20 years. We use them for excavating and grading,” Compagni said.
Among the other New York State subcontractors contributing to this project were: Elderlee Inc., J & E Pile Driving, Apex Striping Inc., Bothar Construction, Capital Concrete Cutting, Cardona and Sons, Cooks Tree Service, D & L Landscaping, Donnelly Construction Inc., E.J. Construction, Husted Concrete Products, P & M Stakeout, Simpson Seeding Inc. and Syrstone Inc.