Pacific Northwest 24, November 20, 2022

Sundt-Cannon Rebuilds $111M Interchange in Gem State

Construction crews are making solid progress on the I86/I-15 System Interchange project in the Pocatello/Chubbuck metropolitan area of Idaho.

The joint venture of Sundt-Cannon is serving as the general contractor on the project. Crews recently began pile driving piers for the new bridges, a significant milestone on the massive $111 million project, in the beginning of November.

The old interchange was built in the mid-1960s and the aging and obsolete bridges need to be replaced. In addition,

Pocatello and Chubbuck have grown significantly to the north of I-86 and east of I-15, resulting in more congestion on the interchange.

“The aging bridges will continue to get closer and closer to the end of their design lifespan,” said Project Co-manager Greg Roberts, “They would still be functional, but weight limits would start to have to be imposed on truck traffic. That would negatively impact Pocatello’s economic future.”

The Chubbuck Road overpass has been closed since August. The project consists of the removal of the existing

bridge, excavating new embankments and creating bridges for I-15 to pass over Chubbuck Road. The final Chubbuck Road design will be easier and safer to navigate for motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians.

The area west toward Chubbuck from the Pocatello Creek onramp has been a particularly challenging spot for drivers travelling, which was the catalyst for needed improvements.

“Drivers have just 2,400 feet to move from the right lane to the far left lane to exit to I-86,” said District Engineer Todd

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

The joint venture of Sundt-Cannon recently began pile driving operations for new bridges on the I-86/I-15 System Interchange project in the Pocatello/Chubbuck metropolitan area of Idaho, a significant milestone on the massive $111 million project.

Idaho-Based Farm Equipment USA Joins Hyundai Network

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas announced a dealership agreement with Farm Equipment USA, Fruitland, Ida., under which Farm Equipment USA will sell and service Hyundai construction machines throughout west-central Idaho.

Farm Equipment USA represents a variety of mobile agricultural equipment brands and offers a large selection of new and pre-owned equipment to customers in the Snake River valley area of west-central Idaho. By expanding its product line to include Hyundai Construction Equipment, the dealership now offers a full array of wheel loaders, excavators, compaction rollers and articulated dump trucks.

“The addition of Hyundai construction equipment gives a new dimension to our business that will benefit our current customers,” said Ben Nelson, president of Farm Equipment USA. “And as a Hyundai dealer, Farm Equipment USA has new opportunities to serve customers in a variety of important market segments. Our dealership agreement with Hyundai not only broadens the scope of our product offerings, it also gives us more depth in terms of service, support, training and financing.”

“Hyundai welcomes Farm Equipment USA to our growing network of North American dealerships,” said Matt Brown, district sales manager, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas. “It’s a great fit for both organizations and will result in many successful new customer relationships for Hyundai and Farm Equipment USA.”

For more information, visit www.hceamericas.com. 

The staff of Farm Equipment USA joins president Ben Nelson (rear center, cap and glasses) and executive accountant Connie Jones (center, front) in celebrating the dealership’s new agreement to represent Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas.

Komatsu XT-5 Tracked Harvesters Excel in Tough Conditions

To harvest trees in tight, dense and rugged-terrain forests, operators need machines with maneuverability, power, versatility and reliability. With Komatsu’s XT-5 tracked harvesters, operators can harvest closer to the carrier and maneuver confidently due to a lower center of gravity and off-set boom.

Made to perform in demanding conditions, Komatsu’s XT-5 closed loop tracked harvesters enable operators to simultaneously travel, cut, delimb, harvest and swing timber. Engineered with hydraulic lines for each function, operators can use tracks, boom, arm and tools concurrently.

Benefits of XT-5 Tracked Harvesters

• Significantly greater lift capacity

• 10 percent more horsepower

• 16 percent more torque

• 5 percent lower fuel consumption

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Excellent uptime and serviceability

More Powerful, More Productive

The short-tail swing of Komatsu’s 331 hp harvesters lets operators work through dense forests and clear-cutting environments. The set-back boom allows cutting close to the undercarriage and tracks, while the powerful swing torque excels in demanding applications.

Designed to significantly increase lift capacity, handling trees with the arm fully extended is made easier. With an excellent balance between boom lift and arm holding capacity, the XT-5 harvesters can be equipped with a wide selection of harvesting saw heads.

The harvesters can be adapted to the job with two different working ranges. Use the short reach and larger-scaled head to harvest

larger trees or switch to a longer reach and more compact designed head to grab trees further from the carrier.

Even on sloped terrains operators can work with confidence. The XT455L-5 is equipped with a heavy-duty, four-way leveling system that promotes front/rear/side leveling for enhanced stability. The fuel tank placement lowers the center of gravity for stability.

Helps Lower Maintenance Costs, Makes Servicing Easier

With the XT-5 harvesters, you can save on maintenance costs because the innovative hydraulic tank system design requires 55 percent less hydraulic oil. Pumps are equipped with hydro-nucleation to help prevent pump cavitation and are 17 percent larger to help extend component life by operating 500 rpms slower.

The engine gull-wing and wide swing-out doors on the XT-5 harvesters offer quick and easy access to all engine service points and all key components.

Operator Comfort, Customization Improve Productivity

Help reduce fatigue and support productivity by giving operators a roomy, comfortable work environment. Excellent visibility, especially to the tracks, and powerful heating, cooling and defrosting systems, helps operators be at the top of their game. When working shifts switch, the controls can switch too by adjusting to each operator’s preference (up to three settings). Set preferences for joystick, boom, stick, tool tilt, swing, cab leveling and more.

For more information, visit www.komatsu.com.

Made to perform in demanding conditions, Komatsu’s XT-5 closed loop tracked harvesters enable operators to simultaneously travel, cut, delimb, harvest and swing timber.

Seattle, WA

8207 South 216th St Kent, WA 98032 206.762.5933

Mount Vernon, WA 4128 Cedardale Rd Mount Vernon, WA 98274 360.588.3083

Portland, OR 19255 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97230 503.252.5933

Eugene, OR 1550 Irving Rd Eugene, OR 97402 541.302.3762

Spokane, WA 3515 N. Sullivan Rd Spokane Valley, WA 99216 509.534.5933

Pasco, WA

1249 North California Ave Pasco, WA 99301 509.547.5933

Contractor Utilizes Conveyor Belt System to Move Earth

INTERCHANGE from page 1

Hubbard. “This results in difficult maneuvers.”

In October, the lowering of the ramp for westbound traffic from northbound I-15 to I-86 was completed and work on building the new bridges commenced. Temporary barriers were put in place at multiple locations and crews prepared lane striping as traffic is shifted away from work areas.

Innovation/Safety

One safety innovation that was implemented was the use of a conveyor belt system to move earth fill from one area of the project to another. The conveyor allows crews to move material without using trucks entering and exiting the Interstate. That makes for a safer work zone for drivers and work crews.

Over the next several weeks, cranes were brought in to and begin drilling shafts for new bridge piers. Excavators and other earthmoving equipment also were working in multiple areas to reprofile the land. Throughout the work zone, water trucks were utilized to keep dust down. Inspectors and engineers also were on site daily ensuring safety and compliance with designs.

This project is partially funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Gov. Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.

Project Background

When the System Interchange was built, there was almost no development on the east side of I-15. Today, the Highland area has subdivisions, a high school, the fairgrounds and the Wellness Complex. In addition, development at Northgate has already begun and will result in even more traffic.

“We can only expect traffic volume to increase and with it congestion,” said Roberts. “That will cause the ‘weave’ between the Pocatello Creek onramp and the Chubbuck exit to get worse. Traffic entering, I-15 intending to head toward Chubbuck already has difficulty during peak times crossing all the way to the left to head west on I-86.”

The issue for residents now is finding a gap to slip into so they can head west toward Chubbuck.

The project consists of the removal of the existing bridge, excavating new embankments and creating bridges for I-15 to pass over Chubbuck Road. The final Chubbuck Road design will be easier and safer to navigate for motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians.

“That will only get worse if we do nothing,” added Johnson, “Gaps between cars will become smaller and smaller making it more difficult to safely merge. Drivers will be forced to make more aggressive lane changes to head to Chubbuck. That kind of situation increases collisions. We don’t want to wait until things become dangerous and people get hurt.”

ITD also noted an increase in aggressive lane changes and congestion within the interchange, particularly just north of the Pocatello Creek exit. The rapid motion of entering I-15 at Pocatello Creek and crossing to the passing lane to exit toward Chubbuck did not exist when the interchange was built. However, with population growth and associated development that traffic is now significant. Such “exit left” and “enter left” movements do not meet driver expectations, cause confusion, and results in frustration for drivers.

Another much-needed improvement was a redesign of the Chubbuck Road crossing. The old 1962 bridge is narrow and has limited capacity for pedestrians and bicyclists. With the

In October, the lowering of the ramp for westbound traffic from northbound I-15 to I-86 was completed and work on building the new bridges commenced.

growth of Pocatello and the addition of the Portneuf Wellness Complex, a significant change was needed. ITD’s new design changes Chubbuck Road from being an overpass over I-15 to an underpass beneath the freeway with dedicated bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Removal of the bridge also creates more space for the larger project to handle increased traffic. 

(All photos courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department.)

One safety innovation that was implemented was the use of a conveyor belt system to move earth fill from one area of the project to another. The conveyor allows crews to move material without using trucks entering and exiting the Interstate.

John Deere Introduces New FR27 Disc Saw Felling Head

John Deere’s newest forestry attachment offering is the FR27 disc saw felling head.

Now standard on the John Deere 953M and 959M feller buncher models, and available as an upgrade on the on the 853M, 859M and 903M feller bunchers, this felling head attachment has a larger cut capacity compared to previous felling head models. Building upon the success of the FR24B, John Deere has designed the durable FR27 as a solution aimed to increase productivity on the job.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance operator efficiency and machine capacity. By introducing a larger felling head solution to our line-up with the FR27, we are providing our customers with a larger, more durable attachment to help increase their bottom-line,” said Jim O’Halloran, global product marketing manager, tracked feller bunchers and harvesters & disc saw felling heads, John Deere.

“The newly designed FR27 enables loggers of all experience levels to tackle even

the most ambitious jobs with confidence knowing their machines are built to endure larger timber and excel in a variety of forestry applications.”

The FR27 disc saw felling head is designed to take on a variety of timber applications, from large single stem cutting to mid-sized accumulation, and boasts an allnew design and overall rebranding from previous John Deere felling head models. In addition, this robust, high rotation felling head features excellent cut and accumulation capacity, offering top-of-the-line productivity compared to previous models, according to the manufacturer.

The FR27 features a cutting capacity of up to 27.2 in. and an accumulation capacity of up to 7.5 ft, improving capability in the woods.

Building upon the success of the field proven FR24B, the FR27 features an updated frame and wrist design, which includes a tall horn, long harvesting arms and continuous hose routings that promote easy machine

clean-out. The hardened saw housing wear plates are now standard and offer improved saw housing wear resistance.

Additionally, the FR27 offers bolt-on saw housing for improved serviceability, with three separate saw housing sections with integrated skis getting you back on the job sooner. The incorporated large side chip exhaust chute minimizes build up and plug-

ging, keeping your machine up and running. The side chip exhaust chute also includes a cover that can be added or removed depending on application

Starting now, the FR27 are available for purchase on the 800 and 900 M-Series feller bunchers models.

For more information, visit www.JohnDeere.com/.

The FR27 disc saw felling head is designed to take on a variety of timber applications, from large single stem cutting to mid-sized accumulation, and boasts an all-new design and overall rebranding from previous John Deere felling head models.

The new FR27 felling head offers increased cut capacity compared with previous models.

Seattle, WA 8207 South 216th St Kent, WA 98032 206.762.5933

Mount Vernon, WA 4128 Cedardale Rd Mount Vernon, WA 98274 360.588.3083

Pasco, WA 1249 North California Ave Pasco, WA 99301 509.547.5933

Spokane, WA 3515 N. Sullivan Rd Spokane Valley, WA 99216 509.534.5933

Portland, OR 19255 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97230 503.252.5933

Eugene, OR 1550 Irving Rd Eugene, OR 97402 541.302.3762

Construction Crews Help Give Idaho Airport New Runway

A $1.7 million grant from Gov. Brad Little’s pioneering Idaho initiative helped repair and replace sections of the badly damaged runway at St. Anthony’s small community airport in October. The funds were used in conjunction with Idaho Airport Aid Program funding to complete the reconstruction of the runway and eliminate a significant safety hazard.

The consultant managing the project, T-O Engineers, worked with the city of St. Anthony to help rebuild its only paved runway and to build a new partially parallel taxiway for additional hangar development. The existing runway pavement was rated in “poor” condition in 2021 and projected to be “very poor” within the next five years. The new partial parallel was constructed to provide access to the runway for existing and future hangars, as well as to improve security at the airport.

Jared Norton, aviation program manager of TO Engineers, explained that the design involved using a CRABS (concrete recyclable asphalt base stabilization) process on existing runway pavement that was still in good condition and could be salvaged, allowing construction cost and time to be reduced

while providing a high strength pavement section.

The project was not without its challenges, Norton said.

“During construction, we encountered unexpected subsurface conditions that affected the process,” Norton said. “T-O engineers worked with the city and contractor Depatco to quickly revise the design and allow the project to proceed on schedule Finally, the city was able to complete the entire project on time and under budget.”

The new runway will better meet the agricultural spraying needs and general aviation operations at the small Eastern Idaho airport.

“The Aeronautics Division is honored for having the ability to collaborate with airport sponsors to ensure the safety and economic viability of the statewide aviation system,” said Jennifer Schildgen, Aero’s airport planning manager. “It’s wonderful to see the amazing work being done through the completion of the project and the partnerships that are helping communities. It’s one of the reasons I look forward to working every day.” 

(All photos courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department.)

The design involved using a CRABS (concrete recyclable asphalt base stabilization) process on existing runway pavement that was still in good condition and could be salvaged, allowing construction cost and time are reduced, while providing a high strength pavement section.

Teo Engineers worked with the city of St. Anthony to help rebuild its only paved runway and to build a new partially parallel taxiway for additional hangar development.

Ground Broken for Willamette Valley Oregon Temple

Ground was broken for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Elder Valeri V. Cordón, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the North America West Area Presidency, presided at the ceremony.

“We pray that the temple will be a beacon of hope and peace that inspires this community to come unto Christ even in its construction phase,” said Elder Cordón in the dedicatory prayer.

Elder Cordón also paid tribute to the Latter-day Saints of Oregon, both past and present.

“We acknowledge the first saints who came to this valley to live peacefully in their humble circumstances,” said Elder Cordón. “We are grateful for the faithful saints who live in this area for their sacrifice, devotion and obedience.”

The temple will be built on a 10.5-acre site located at the intersection of International Boulevard and Corporate Way in Springfield, Oregon, a suburb of the city of Eugene. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 30,000 sq. ft.

Carolyn Schultz, a Latter-day Saint who has lived her entire 83 years in the Willamette Valley area, expressed her appre-

ciation for the many people who prepared the way for a temple to be built in this place.

“Each [congregation] in this Willamette Valley area has its own beloved history and memories of special people who helped build the kingdom,” said Schultz.

The temple was first announced during the April 2021 general conference by Church President Russell M. Nelson.

Oregon is home to more than 150,000 Latter-day Saints who worship in over 300 congregations. The Willamette Valley Oregon Temple will be the third in the state, following the Medford Oregon Temple and

the Portland Oregon Temple. This house of the Lord will serve more than 30,000 Latterday Saints in central-western Oregon.

Eleven-year-old Thomas Fuller of Springfield, Oregon, shared his excitement for the temple’s completion.

“I am looking forward to seeing the Willamette Valley temple be built and to go inside someday,” said Fuller.

Melanie Lambson of Coos Bay, Oregon, talked about why temples are important to her.

“I feel like the act of visiting the Lord’s house in itself helps me to work on becoming a better person,” Lambson said. “Visiting the temple gives me a better focus and reminds me why I’m here on earth.”

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints differ from meetinghouses or chapels, where members meet for Sunday worship services. Each temple is considered a house of the Lord, where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man.

(All photos courtesy of Church of Jesus Christ.)

FALCON WINCH ASSIST

FALCON GRAPPLE CLAW

Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 30,000 sq. ft.

The temple was first announced during the April 2021 general conference by Church President Russell M. Nelson.

Kenworth Sales Company Opens Idaho Service Dealership

Kenworth Sales Company recently held a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration at its new Post Falls, Ida., location at 4373 W. Expo Parkway.

The 42,000-sq.-ft. facility sits on 10 acres, with convenient visibility and access to Interstate 90. It offers 14 full service bays, six body shop bays with frame rack plus a full-length paint booth, full service alignment center utilizing Hunter alignment equipment and a 9,000-sq.-ft. warehouse with an expanded parts inventory.

Kenworth Sales Company Board Director Elliott Morgan and Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson joined Kenworth Sales Company District Manager Wayne Beal for the ribbon cutting.

“This new store will allow us to better facilitate the needs of our customer base in the Post Falls and Northern Idaho area,” said Beal. “Kenworth has been servicing this area for many years. We are always looking for

ways to better serve our customers and look forward to enhancing customer experience with this new, state of the art location.”

“We are proud to be a fourth generation business,” Kyle Treadway, president of Kenworth Sales Company stated. “We want to support and work with our neighbors in an effort to be good contributors to the community today and moving forward.”

Kenworth Sales Company employs 15 employees at its Post Falls facility. Nick Hartt is the service manager, Justin Scott is the parts manager and Dan Rodgers is the body shop manager.

Founded in 1945, Kenworth Sales Company began as a “Mom & Pop” business in Salt Lake City and has since grown to more than 1,200 employees at 33 branch locations in the Intermountain West and Mid-Atlantic.

(All photos courtesy of Kenworth.)

(L-R): Rick Perreault, Kenworth R&D Center; PACCAR’s Joshua Schillereff and Josh Lemke; Matt Lobe, PACCAR Parts; and Kenworth’s Airam Batdorf, Sarah Abernethy and Mark Buckner. The group supported company recruitment efforts at the Hiring Our Heroes event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) featuring a Kenworth W990 and booth displays.

(L-R): Rick Perreault, Kenworth R&D Center, and Kenworth’s Mark Buckner, with a Kenworth W990 displayed at the Hiring Our Heroes event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

Mark Buckner, Kenworth section manager for battery electric vehicle development, stands next to a Kenworth T880.