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August 19 2018
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Vol. III • No. 17
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On the Right Track: $55M SR 347 Expansion Over UPRR By Jennifer Rupp CEG CORRESPONDENT
A $55 million project in Maricopa, Ariz., is under way, following an extensive traffic and accessibility study. SR 347 is the city’s main transportation corridor through the community, serving as a regional connector to major employment and recreation areas. Traffic averages more than 31,000 vehicles per day and future (2040) projections of double that amount sparked a study to improve access and capacity. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), in conjunction with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the city of Maricopa evaluated a total of 10 alternatives which would provide improvements to access, capacity and traffic operations through 2040. The study also con-
sidered a future grade separation (bridge) to replace the existing atgrade intersection of SR 347 at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) track. Following a public hearing and environmental assessment, Alternative H was selected. Just south of the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, SR 347 crosses the existing UPRR where there are currently 40 to 60 trains per day; the UPRR has plans to expand service, which would increase train traffic upwards of 100 trains per day. Additionally, the Amtrak station is located just west of the intersection and vehicular traffic is routinely delayed for its passenger operations. The two-year project aims to free Maricopa commuters from long waits as trains cross busy SR 347 in the central part of the city. see ADOT page 7
ADOT photo
Bridge Rebar – Ames Construction erects the bridge piers for the new SR 347 bridge over the UPRR tracks.
South Mountain Freeway Sound Wall ‘Fins’ Start to Take Shape Frank Lloyd Wright’s Early Work in Arizona Influences Freeway Aesthetics Shark Week may be history, but you can see fins along a stretch of the emerging Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Ahwatukee, Ariz. Standing at intervals atop the sound wall between 40th and 48th streets, these customdesigned panels resembling fins are decorative accents inspired by some of modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s early work in Arizona. They’re painted a reddish accent color that extends in a saw-toothed pattern down the sound wall and also appears on retaining walls, abutments and bridge barriers in the area. These accents are a throwback to Wright’s design experimentations from his late 1920s
ADOT photo
Standing at intervals atop the sound wall between 40th and 48th streets, these customdesigned panels resembling fins are decorative accents inspired by some of modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s early work in Arizona.
desert winter encampment, known as the Ocatillo Settlement that was located about a half mile from the current freeway alignment near 32nd Street. The architecture at Wright’s camp included triangular wood and canvas-clad structures rising above low wooden walls with horizontal bands, according to Joseph Salazar, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s roadside development, project landscape and architecture coordinator. “The accents are designed to give a sense of rhythm and movement to travelers on the freeway. The fins angle into the line of travsee SOUND page 7
Page 2 • August 19, 2018 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Out With the Old. In With the New Demolition Specialist Sorts, Recycles Construction Waste in Phoenix, Ariz. Residential construction in Phoenix, Ariz., is going so strong that developers are paying contractors to demolish existing homes and make space for newer, bigger and more expensive homes. This is especially true in Arcadia, an affluent area of Phoenix and Scottsdale, where citrus farmers previously grew oranges, lemons and grapefruits. The median home value in the area is above $500,000, and home values have gone up 12 percent in the past year. Demolition specialist Bill George has carved a successful niche for himself, working with a select group of developers to demolish structures and grade lots for new homes. “We will demo a $350,000 house, and a developer will build an $800,000 or $900,000 house,” he said. “On the more expensive side, we’ll tear down a $1 million or $1.5 million house and they’ll come back in and build a 3.5 million or $4 million house.” George, now in his 40s, got an early start operating heavy equipment and loading and
transporting materials when he was still in high school. Shortly after high school, he started his own company — Bill George’s Dump Truck and Loader Service — and his business quickly took off, due in part, to advertisements in the local newspaper. “I liked trucks and tractors and I decided I was going to buy a five-yard dump truck and skid-steer loader, and start a little business,” George said. But in May 2006, tragedy struck — George was hit and run over by a passing truck. The damage was significant. The accident caused fractures in his neck and back, and he was forced to sell his company. Life was difficult. He lost the use of his right hand and was not able to operate equipment. “I missed running equipment for the seven years and seven months that I was out of business,” he said. “I missed it constantly.” Seven years later, in December 2013, George started his comeback. He got himself Demolition specialist Bill George has carved a successful niche for himself, workback in good physical shape and he restarted ing with a select group of developers to demolish structures and grade lots for new see DEMOLITION page 6
homes.
Operators demolish homes and commercial buildings using the excavators with buckets and clamps. They grab onto debris, lift it and empty it into a roll-off container.
Bill George’s crew separates the trash from the bricks and blocks.
George has built a loyal following from his nine employees, including his 75-year-old father, who are instrumental in the company’s ongoing success.
Bill George, now in his 40s, got an early start operating heavy equipment and loading and transporting materials when he was still in high school.
Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 19, 2018 • Page 3
Page 4 • August 19, 2018 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
ADOT Begins Phase 2 of $32M I-19/Ajo Way Interchange Project in Tucson The Arizona Department of Transportation is beginning preliminary work for Phase 2 of the Interstate 19/Ajo Way traffic interchange project. About three months after completing the first phase of improvements to the interchange of Interstate 19 and Ajo Way in Tucson, ADOT crews have begun the second half of the project. Work on water and sewer lines to clear the way for the project is under way. Drivers likely won’t see restrictions on area roads until this fall. The $32 million project includes building a new bridge over the Santa Cruz River; widening Ajo Way between I-19 and Holiday Isle Boulevard; replacing the pedestrian bridge at Michigan Street; and creating a braided ramp south of Ajo Way (State Route 86). The Pima Association of Governments, the regional transportation-planning agency, is contributing about $6 million toward the cost. The braided ramp will have the
entrance ramp to southbound I-19 at Ajo Way going over the exit ramp for Irvington Road. The design avoids having drivers maneuver around each other as they enter or exit the freeway. Some of the work to create the braided ramp was completed during the first phase of the project. Work on the second phase is expected to take about 18 months and should be complete in January 2020. Key elements of the project include: • Reconstruction and widening of southbound I-19 within the project area; • construction of a “braided” ramp alignment with the southbound Ajo Way on-ramp to I-19 passing over the southbound Irvington Road off-ramp from I-19; • widening of northbound I-19 to add an auxiliary lane between Irvington Road and Ajo Way; • completion of I-19 noise walls south of Michigan Avenue and along
the south side of Ajo Way between Kostka Avenue and I-19; • completion of drainage improvements and improved drainage collection features; • replacement of the Michigan Avenue pedestrian bridge; • replacement of the Santa Cruz River Bridge on Ajo Way; • reconstruction and widening of Ajo Way from Holiday Isle to I-19; • construction of bank protection and the new Rodeo Wash outlet into the Santa Cruz River; and • applying a rubberized-asphalt pavement overlay on I-19 from Irvington Road to north of Ajo Way. Work is expected to continue through early 2020. For more information, visit azdot.gov/AjoWay. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Arizona Builders Alliance...
ABA Members Answer Call to Help Soldiers With Donations The Arizona Builders Alliance participated in a cell phone drive to donate minutes to soldiers overseas. A total of 1,015 cell phones were collected by more than 100 ABA member companies between February and May of this year. The phones were donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. They collect cell phones and sell them to recycling firms, and use those dollars to buy calling cards for soldiers overseas. For every two phones collected, onehour of calling time is donated. Due to the volume of phones collected by ABA members: • 507.5 hours of calling time for soldiers overseas were donated • 30,450 minutes of calling time for soldiers overseas were donated Kerwin Kortman, director of Business Development of Kortman Electric, was
ADOT photo
About three months after completing the first phase of improvements to the interchange of Interstate 19 and Ajo Way in Tucson, ADOT crews have begun the second half of the project.
ADOT Crews Beat the Heat
Construction and maintenance crews working on Arizona’s highways are taking every precaution to beat the heat. Having received training on managing the dangers of extreme heat, these workers stay hydrated, have sun protection, monitor instrumental in the success of the cell phone themselves and co-workers for signs of heat drive, acting as the liaison between the ABA stress, take regular breaks and schedule work and Cell Phones for Soldiers, promoting, to avoid the hottest parts of the day. While all Arizonans need to prepare for sorting and packing the phones for delivery intense heat, it’s especially important for the to Cell Phones for Soldiers, personally. many ADOT personnel and contractors’ Kortman said, “Thank you to all who employees working outside every day, from have donated to the 2015 cell phone drive. the crews maintaining state highways to Each year is a reminder to me that the people those building the Loop 202 South Mountain in the construction industry have the biggest Freeway in Phoenix. One reason: Asphalt and most generous hearts that I have ever and concrete get far hotter than the air temseen. Your donation makes a difference.” perature. The ABA collects cell phones for the drive For the South Mountain Freeway project, all year-long, with a special emphasis on col- crews with Connect 202 Partners, the devellection between February and May. The cell oper responsible for building the 22-mi.-long phone drive was discovered and is managed freeway, are taking breaks in designated by the ABA’s Community Service Board, cool-down areas including shade tents, chaired by Josh Marriott of McCarthy awnings and air-conditioned vehicles. Building Companies. The Community More than 1,500 South Mountain Service Board also manages the ABA’s Freeway workers have completed a mandabackpack drive and toy drive. tory heat-stress training class, and there have (This story also can be found on been no reported heat-related illnesses since Construction Equipment Guide’s website at major construction started last year. That www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) training includes arranging for immediate
medical attention if someone appears to be succumbing to the effects of heat. Connect 202 Partners provides shaded areas and cold bottled water supplemented with electrolyte powder. Certified emergency medical technicians can conduct medical monitoring such as checking blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and temperature. These strategies used by ADOT can help everyone deal with extreme heat: • If possible, start work earlier in the day and finish before the hottest hours of the afternoon. • Use a buddy system to watch for early signs of heat illness. • Stay hydrated with cool water. • Have sun protection including a hat, a light-colored and long-sleeved shirt, and sunscreen. • If you lack experience working in the heat, acclimate over several days by taking extra time to rest and stay hydrated. In addition, ADOT has tips for traveling in extreme heat at azdot.gov/extreme-heat. For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 19, 2018 • Page 5
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Page 6 • August 19, 2018 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Arizona Demolition Company Relies on Doosan Machines DEMOLITION from page 2
his business. Having been out of business and without heavy-duty equipment, George and his father tackled their first project since the accident, operating just his skid-steer loader and a dump truck. It took the pair seven days to demolish a home. When he was done, the person who hired George said, “If you want to demo a lot of houses, go buy an excavator.” George did just that. He bought an old excavator, described as “worn out,” but it got him started on the right path. As soon as he bought the excavator, he shared a picture of it with a contractor and the contractor sent him four or five addresses where he could demolish the homes. Today, George positions his company as “experts in demolition,” as well as grading and drainage. “I’m not a builder, I’m a contractor,” he said. “I’m a demolition and a grading contractor.” Rebuilding the Business As George was rebuilding his business, his biggest headache was with his older, worn-out excavator. He said it was always breaking down. That is when he met Pat Gallagher from the local Doosan equipment dealership in Phoenix. It took some time for George to decide on the Doosan brand. Gallagher was persistent yet gave him the time he needed to make the decision to switch to Doosan. George said he really struggled with not buying his previous brand of construction equipment over Doosan. “I liked the way the Doosan excavator worked better, especially the machine’s reach,” he said. “It took me a couple months of renting both machines before I made a decision on which machine I was going with — Doosan.” George purchased his first Doosan crawler excavator — a DX140LCR — and was pleased with the reducedtail-swing machine’s performance and its size, which fit nicely on his residential demolition job sites. The 113net-horsepower excavator weighs approximately 15 tons, and its shorter tail-swing profile helps customers working in tight spaces. “The new excavator eliminated so much of my headache because the machine wasn’t breaking. It was working. It was working like it was supposed to be working,” he said. “Pat was really good to work with and did a good job of selling me on the aspect that the dealership is there to help, which they’ve proven time and time again.” Not long after he purchased his first Doosan excavator, George purchased a Doosan wheel loader, then a second Doosan excavator, a DX235LCR. He chose to step up from the DX140LCR to the larger DX225LC-3 size for more power (166 hp) and reach (31 ft., 10 in.). The larger excavators have no problem demolishing swimming pools as they work alongside home demolition projects. “My Doosan machines work five days a week, and they work hard,” he said. “Small guys, as busy as we are, we can’t have equipment that doesn’t work. I have good confidence in my Doosan equipment.” Tearing Stuff Up Operators demolish homes and commercial buildings using the excavators with buckets and clamps. They grab onto debris, lift it and empty it into a roll-off container. If the property has trees, they’re taken down and placed
into a container that goes to a local firewood company. Then the crew separates the trash from the bricks and blocks. The trash goes to a transfer facility. Once trash is removed, the operator uses the excavator to take the walls down on top of the concrete slabs. The brick goes into a container where it is transported to a landfill for disposal. Concrete, the last step, is broken and loaded into containers to be transported to a local recycling facility. “The excavator’s reach is nice, because sometimes it can be tough to load my dumpster trucks, but now with the reach, the machine makes it easier,” he said. “Demolition is tough on machines, and we’re so busy, I can’t afford for them to be down. “Everything revolves around the excavator working. It’s my reputation. We get in, we get the job done and we get out. We’ve done houses as fast as a day with everything being done, including concrete, on a smaller 1,500square-foot house. It may take two or three days if there’s a swimming pool. It’s fun. Who wouldn’t want to tear down a house for a living?” Makes Dirt Look Pretty After George’s crew demolishes a home, they almost always go back and build a certified house pad. An employee operates the Doosan DL250-5 wheel loader with a bucket to spread the fresh dirt. “We over-excavate where the new house will be built — about two-and-a-half feet — and then we roll it back in for compaction,” George said. “The wheel loader is a great machine. The soil testing company that I use has made the comment that they’ve never seen anybody move as much dirt as fast as my guy Brian does.” Employee Brian Richardson likes the Doosan wheel loader so much that he put his name on it. “He’s the best wheel loader operator that I’ve ever seen,” George says.
If the property has trees, they’re taken down and placed into a container that goes to a local firewood company.
Tightknit Family George has built a loyal following from his nine employees, including his 75-year-old father, who are instrumental in the company’s ongoing success. “I’ve got the greatest bunch of guys,” he said. “My dad still works 50, 60 hours a week because he wants to. The team is as important as the equipment.” Residential construction in Phoenix, Ariz., is going so strong The following individuals work for George: Brian that developers are paying contractors to demolish existing Richardson, David Richardson, Ken Taelman, Tom homes and make space for newer, bigger and more expenCravens, Bubba George, Justin Sayer, Tony Smith, Jason sive homes. Theodore, Luke Swihart and Pam Wright. Business is so good today that George doesn’t need those newspaper ads from his younger days. He has embraced a new means of sharing his story and what his equipment can do — Facebook. His page features photos • Location: Waddell, Ariz. and videos, including his Doosan • Team: Brian Richardson, David Richardson, Ken Taelman, Tom equipment, doing what it does best — Cravens, Bubba George, Justin Sayer, Tony Smith, Jason Theodore, demolishing homes and grading lots. Luke Swihart and Pam Wright For more information, visit • No. of employees: 9 DoosanEquipment.com. • Types of projects specialized in: Residential and commercial demolition (This story also can be found on • Services provided: Demolition, grading and drainage Construction Equipment Guide’s • Equipment owned: Two Doosan crawler excavators; one Doosan website at www.constructionequipwheel loader; skid-steer loaders and numerous trucks and dumpsters mentguide.com.)
Bill George’s Dump Truck and Loader Service at a Glance
Construction Equipment Guide • Arizona State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • August 19, 2018 • Page 7
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ADOT Expansion Aims to Sound Wall Accents Give Increase Mobility, Safety Travelers Sense of Motion ADOT from page 1
The project also includes an overpass connecting southbound SR 347 to MaricopaCasa Grande Highway, and a new route for northbound drivers on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. ADOT received a $15 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to cover a portion of the cost, and the city of Maricopa is contributing nearly $14 million. “By enhancing mobility and safety, this project and the partnership that made it a reality will improve the quality of life in Maricopa and the region,” said John Halikowski, ADOT director. Maricopa officials held a groundbreaking event in November 2017 and ground work began in March of this year with ADOT crews clearing vacant homes acquired for the project along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Ames Construction of Scottsdale is the prime contractor. “This marks the culmination of 14 years of work and fiscal prudence,” Maricopa
Mayor Christian Price said. “This crucial infrastructure project has been one of our biggest hurdles to growth and safety. We now begin a new chapter and look forward to working with ADOT to build our overpass.” SR 347 will have a new alignment just east of the current highway, a move that will allow most of the work to be accomplished without restricting highway traffic. The bridge is being constructed at Desert Cedars Drive and connecting with the current alignment north of Honeycutt Road. Northbound drivers on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway will travel north on an alignment near the current Fourth Street and turn west at Honeycutt before connecting with SR 347. The project is on track to finish as scheduled by late 2019. For more information, visit maricopaaz.gov/web/overpass-tracker. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG
SOUND from page 1
el, adding a sense of dynamism and direction to the roadway,” Salazar said. “The angles of the accents loosely reflect the geometry of the South Mountains in a similar way to how Frank Lloyd Wright geometrically interpreted the mountain in his Ocatillo camp. “The top edge of the sound walls’ major accents, for example, alludes to the bold shape of the mountain when viewed against the broad horizontals of the distant desert landscape,” he added. More than 60 painted precast concrete fins will be placed periodically depending on the grade of the freeway. On flatter stretches the fins are farther apart, while on steeper stretches they are closer together. There are multiple character areas along the freeway and equal treatment for each segment, including the Ocatillo Settlement pattern between Ahwatukee Foothills and the Interstate 10/Loop 202 interchange,
which features simple materials and patterns on architectural features that celebrate that area’s desert landscape and vegetation. ADOT and Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, collaborated with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on aesthetic patterns prior to construction. The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a muchneeded alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley. For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Page 8 • August 19, 2018 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Arizona State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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