7 Day Challenge - Railroad Crossing Project

Railroad Crossing Project

West Terry Street

7 Day Challenge

Lee County - In June of 2018, I was contacted by Dave Liccardi from the City of Bonita Springs. He stated Seminole Gulf Railway requested we assist them with the West Terry Street Railroad Crossing Project. SGR was amazed at the way we managed our Colonial Railroad Crossing Project and just had to have us on their new project. The City of Bonita Springs also wanted to complete a beautification project concurrently. The challenge was set before us. We had 7 days to complete what would typically be a 3-4 week project. Not only did they need this done in 7 days, but the schedule fell the week prior to Ajax’s July shutdown week. If we had one rain day, this schedule would not work!

Construction Manager Garrett Fons assigned Project Superintendent Charlie McCleaf to the task at hand due to his vast knowledge of the work set before us. After many onsite meetings, phone calls and plan changes, we were ready to do what we needed to make this happen. We hired Bonness Construction and Cougar Cutting as part of our team. We were not allowed to work while Seminole Gulf Railway was working. Their schedule was work all day on Saturday and complete by Tuesday at sundown. So we could not work from sunup to sundown for the first 4 days. The project scope consisted of demolition to the existing crossing and excavation of 25 feet in all directions surrounding the old tub, a new tub installation for the railroad, new sidewalks and curbing, removal of existing guardrail and concrete wall. Also, design and installation of a custom guardrail designed mostly by Charlie, new concrete wall for the new guardrail, 8 corners of the canal drainage ditch regraded and riprapped to the water’s edge, milled, paved and restriped.

That is quite the laundry list to complete in 7 days, but we hit it running on all cylinders. We shut down the project area for 7 days. On Friday night at 10 :00 p.m., our lane closures were done and Cougar Cutting and Bonness began cutting 6’x6’ squares, 2 feet deep, on any asphalt within 25’ of the tub, started removing the existing guardrail and concrete and digging for the new footers. Cougar and Bonness both got out of the way at sunup to let Seminole Gulf Railway do their thing.

By Lee Strauss Estimator

On Saturday night, Bonness finished digging their footers for the new wall, and forming the footers and new curb on both sides of the project. On Sunday, SGR finished their removal of the old tub and started installing their new tub. On Sunday night, Bonness finished their forms and rebar installation and started the pour for the footers and curb. They were out of the way for SGR to get started Monday morning.

Monday night Bonness removed all of the forms and started forming the sidewalk and prepped for the flowable fill they were using adjacent to the new tub. During the day on Tuesday, Bonness worked on the guardrail installation and started the riprap grading and installation all the time staying out of SGR’s way. Wednesday around the clock, they finished the concrete walls. They also completed the riprap and 57 stone that SGR requested to be brought up to tie into their new tub outside of the roadway. Thursday was demobilization and cleanup day to get ready for the milling and paving. Friday we milled and paved and Saturday Bonness completed the striping.

The 7 day challenge was met!

Garrett Fons orchestrated the scheduling and answered all of the questions that I just did not understand (in-between his nonstop phone ringing). I learned a ton on this project! You’re a good coach…most of the time. Project Superintendent Charlie McCleaf was instrumental in making this project run smoothly. Charlie partially designed the railing himself and ordered the custom made pieces. He had long days and some nights and he made it happen. Well done, Charlie!

Dave Liccardi called me on September 20, 2018, to schedule a meeting for two more railroad projects coming up soon.

As for me, I was just the estimator and salesman behind the numbers and phone calls. Also at times, professional guardrail builder and project manager.

Lee Strauss Estimator

A great big “Thank You”to the following:

Jeff Krull and all of the guys at Bonness Construction for making this happen, sticking to the schedule and working with such dedication. Dave Liccardi, City of Bonita Springs and Seminole Gulf Railway for the opportunity to shine and do what we do best. Foreman Chris Ance and crew for making this your third job, on a Friday at 5:00 p.m., and working in the blazing sun until sunset to get the project completed.

Traffic Control Foreman Sevdelin (Sam) Manahov and crew for all your support and MOT expertise. Project Superintendent Chris Lopez for covering over the weekend while Charlie was out catching fresh Mahi Mahi for me. It was fantastic, in case you wanted to know. Project Manager Jason Prokopetz and everyone involved in the Colonial Railroad Crossing Pushbutton Project and for making us look exceptionally good that they HAD to have us do another!