A Creative Solution for a Concrete Problem

Concrete processing barge for project in Kittery, Maine

EQUIPMENT

n By Chris Jarvais

The Cianbro Companies has a large and diverse project portfolio. As our capabilities continue to increase, it seems the more challenging the project, the better the team performs.

When the project team in Kittery, Maine was tasked with planning a massive concrete operation with little real estate, they quickly came to the conclusion that the operation needed to be waterborne. Knowing that Cianbro did not possess the necessary equipment, they contacted Cianbro’s Equipment Team. “The team had roughly six months to begin the concrete operation placing 2,000 cubic yards/shift efficiently,” said Purchasing Professional Tony Foster. “The process involved two barge mounted operations, one to provide raw materials and the other to process the concrete. The material barge operation contained space for the raw materials, two skid steer loaders, a cold feed plant and a Super Stacker conveyor. The processing barge contained six fly ash tanks, a mobile batch plant, a concrete remixer, a support conveyor, a Telebelt conveyor, a water tank, and a large excavator.”

Upon delivery, the project team had to make sure everything worked properly. Project Superintendent Ryan Collet was up for the challenge. “We had to modify everything designed to work on land so it would work on the water,” Collet said. The biggest challenge on the install was the ballasting of the barges to ensure everything was level and worked properly together. Operationally, the limiting factor is reloading the material barge. To process 33,000 tons of stone and 5,000 tons of sand successfully, the operation must be insync and efficient.”

QA/QC Supervisor Bill Hood elaborated on the challenges. “We really had to be creative with the Telebelt,” said Hood. We had to reinstall all of the hoses properly and modify the base to achieve the proper elevation. The most critical element is having the right people. It is essential to have people who understand the work we are doing.”

The project in Kittery, Maine is immense in scale and complex in execution. With the Cianbro team’s innovative approach and focus on people, it is sure to be successful!