Page 48 • April 17, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE
Milestone Construction Helps Rebuild ‘Crossroads of America’ Nicknamed “The Crossroads of ment. America,” Indiana is a hub for several From this clear vantage point, operamajor interstate highways that crisstors can drill faster and more accurately cross through the state. Gaining its while avoiding dust, debris and obstanickname from the intersecting of cles, according to the company. Power important roads and its centralized crab steering further boosts efficiency location, the Hoosier state is home to by letting operators drive down the slab more pass-through highways than any without raising and lowering the drill state in the United States. bed. Each year, 1.5 billion tons of freight The Minnich dust collection system travel through Indiana, making it the uses Venturi-style suction to remove fifth busiest state for commercial dust at the source as the operator drills. freight traffic. To maintain and The compact, canister-style unit runs off improve this important web of infraof the same air compressor used for structure, Indiana is taking transportadrilling, eliminating the need for an tion to the next level. Next Level additional power source. Roads, an initiative led by Gov. Eric J. “The speed of the drills got us in and Holcomb, was created to elevate out so we could move forward quickly,” Indiana’s economic competitiveness Burris said. “The safety aspect of the and quality of life through investment drills with the dust collection system is in transportation and infrastructure. phenomenal. It makes it a lot easier on According to the Indiana state govyour workers when you aren’t fighting ernment website, this sustainable, datathe dust.” driven plan outlines approximately The Minnich dust collection system $30 billion in total investment in meets the requirements for dowel pin Indiana’s highways over the next 20 drills found in Table 1 of the years. Nearly 90 percent of those dolOccupational Safety and Health lars are dedicated to improving the In order to drill more than 900 holes per eight-hour day, Milestone Contractors used the A- Administration (OSHA) final respirable four-gang self-propelled wireless drill and dust collection system from Minnich condition of existing roads and 4SCW Manufacturing, a manufacturer of dowel pin drills, concrete vibrators and vibrator monitor- crystalline silica standard when used bridges, enhancing safety and correct- ing systems. with an appropriate filter. ing drainage issues. “One of the things we like to pride One of the Interstates getting much-needed pavement limits. By 2018, all I-74 traffic was shifted to westbound ourselves in is that we are probably one of the few contracreplacement and new bridge superstructures is I-74. The lanes while full-depth pavement replacement occurred in the tors that have the dust collection system on all of our drills,” concrete pavement rebuild includes a 13-mi. section of I-74 eastbound lanes. One lane of traffic, separated by a concrete Friess said. “It’s all about worker safety. We pride ourselves in northern Ripley County, southeast Franklin County and barrier wall, was maintained in each direction of the west- on that. And with the Minnich drills, it’s an all-around win southwest Decatur County. Milestone Contractors L.P. is bound side of the highway. with the safety aspect of what the drills have to offer.” In the last year of construction in 2019, Milestone leading the 2.5-year reconstruction project — a $61 million Contractors shifted all I-74 traffic to the rebuilt eastbound job. Delivering Success Through Service Spanning across six cities in Indiana, Milestone lanes, with one lane in each direction separated by a concrete Operating on half of Indiana’s patching projects over the Contractors L.P. represents more than 75 years of experience barrier wall, while westbound lanes were constructed. years, Milestone Contractors understands what it takes to The dowel-pin drilling aspect of the project represented a meet the demands of projects no matter how big or small the in the construction industry dating back to the 1930s. As a fully integrated highway, heavy construction and site-devel- major challenge for Milestone. Friess said limitations of the job may be. From highway patching to heavy construction, opment general contractor, Milestone takes pride in being a job challenged his company to have hundreds of holes the team at Milestone Contractors has found its greatest drilled, prepped and ready before the pour crews came in, strength is the ability to perform complex projects within a one-stop contractor. “‘One call does it all’ is the best way to say it,” said Steve which meant they had to be off the road at a certain time. tight time frame and deliver a quality product on time within “We had a lot of work ahead of us, and our time frame was budget. Friess, concrete operations division manager of Milestone Contractors L.P. “Being able to provide construction services pretty tight at first,” said Terry Burris, general superintendent Working with 10 Minnich drills at Milestone Contractors for all phases of highway construction has a lot of benefits of concrete operations of Milestone Contractors. “We even- and after using Minnich for most of his career, Friess has for the customer and our employees. We take pride in what tually got more time and more lane closures, which helped found that it’s not just the drills that make a difference on the tremendously. With the extra advantages, we were able to job site, but also the people you work with. we do.” incorporate larger equipment to drill additional holes per This pride was evident on the I-74 project. “The service is phenomenal both from the factory and our day.” local representative,” Friess said. “If we have people out Work Limitations Present Challenges working, someone is always available 24/7. The whole Save Time With Dowel Pin Drill To keep drivers safe and reduce roadway congestion on IMinnich family is involved in their business and it’s great In order to drill more than 900 holes per eight-hour day, working with them.” 74, the project was broken up into phases focusing on patching, shoulder strengthening, widening and building Milestone Contractors used the A-4SCW four-gang self-proTransportation plays a major part of Indiana’s success pelled wireless drill and dust collection system from story, and now so does Milestone Contractors L.P. crossovers for future traffic shifts. Milestone Contractors began the reconstruction project on Minnich Manufacturing, a manufacturer of dowel pin drills, The I-74 project was awarded American Concrete Aug. 7, 2017, with significant challenges. Workable hours, concrete vibrators and vibrator monitoring systems. Pavement Association’s (ACPA) 2020 “Excellence in Minnich on-slab self-propelled wireless dowel pin drill Concrete Pavements” silver award for rural divided hightraffic and maintenance limited when Milestone Contractors could be on the road to minimize traffic impact. Despite the units are designed to increase drilling efficiency, accuracy ways. The awards program recognizes contractors, engiobstacles, Milestone Contractors worked together to meet and safety, according to Minnich Manufacturing. Wireless neers and project owners who completed outstanding projremote-control technology enables operators to drill several ects. the demands of the project. Breaking ground in 2017 operations focused on concrete holes at once and drive down the slab to drill the next set of For more information, visit milestonelp.com and minnichpavement construction at the east and west end of the project holes — all while standing in the grade away from equip- mfg.com.
