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Crews Pour Concrete for I-17, Central Avenue Bridge Project
The project to build a new, expanded Interstate 17 bridge over Central Avenue in Phoenix is heading into its stretch run, now that crews have poured the concrete for the new northbound side of the bridge.
The Arizona Department of Transportation’s $13.5 million project is on schedule for completion this fall. Work started in May 2020. The project team is building a wider I-17 bridge that also provides more clearance for traffic and future light-rail trains along Central Avenue.
Crews used an extended boom pump system to ship the concrete from trucks on Central Avenue up to the level of the bridge’s deck. In all, 545 cu. yds. of concrete were poured for the northbound bridge span. Specialized equipment, including a pavement roller, was then used to smooth the concrete and form the steel-reinforced deck.
Construction of the new bridge has taken place in stages, allowing for the need to keep I-17 traffic moving as much as possible with two lanes in each direction within the work zone. A limited number of full freeway closures have been needed while work has been underway to construct a bridge that will be wide enough to support additional lanes when future I-17 expansion projects are scheduled.
Previous Construction
The first stage of work last year involved demolition of the old southbound half of the I-17 bridge followed by construction of an improved steel girder structure. I-17 traffic was switched to that new section of the bridge earlier this year, which has allowed the project team to work on the reconstruction of the northbound side of the bridge.
The original I-17 bridge at Central Avenue opened to traffic in 1962. The new bridge will be wider to accommodate regional plans for additional lanes along I-17 when future funding is available. Increased clearance will provide more room for commercial trucks as well as Valley Metro’s future South Central Avenue light-rail line.
The project is funded in part by Proposition 400, a dedicated sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.
For more information, visit azdot.gov/I17CentralBridge.
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Pages 24-29SECTIONAttachments
For more information about these attachments and more, visit our Attachments Section on our Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Is Your Quick Coupler Compliant?
For construction contractors, equipment dealers and manufacturers, safety should be the number one responsibility. Protecting employees and customers is not negotiable and must be the number one priority in the decision-making process.
Every day, across the world, buckets fall from machines causing serious injury and even fatalities. As reported by OSHA, this is frequently caused by buckets disengaging unintentionally from excavator quick couplers. Geith believes it’s everyone’s responsibility in this industry to prevent these accidents from happening.
From its experiences it has found that there are three main reasons why buckets accidently fall from excavators when using a non-compliant ISO 13031 quick coupler: 1. Misconnection
If using a quick coupler without a front lock and misconnection occurs (the operator doesn’t attach the bucket correctly) the bucket may fall from the quick coupler when operations begin. 2. Cylinder failure/Loss of hydraulic pressure
If using a quick coupler that relies on hydraulic pressure to engage the attachment and the quick coupler loses hydraulic pressure through a leak or cylinder failure, the engagement system can gradually open causing the bucket to fall unexpectedly during operations. 3. Accidentally opening a Quick Coupler in an unsafe position
Using a quick coupler with a control system that allows a quick coupler to be opened in any position or orientation can result in unintentionally releasing a bucket in a dangerous position, causing a bucket to fall.
ISO 13031 Earth-Moving Machinery – Quick Couplers – Safety
The development of quick coupler related safety standards such as ISO 13031 Earth-Moving Machinery – Quick Couplers – Safety, has been a game changer across the global construction sector.
It was developed in cooperation between global health and safety organizations, machinery and quick coupler manufacturers with the goal to eliminate growing safety concerns following several fatal accidents where excavator buckets became detached from some quick couplers during operation.
The standard outlines minimum operation and safety requirements that quick couplers must meet in order to be compliant.
By using a ISO13031 safe compliant quick coupler this helps prevent buckets accidently falling from excavators in these three scenarios mentioned above. How? 1. Misconnection
By using a quick coupler with a front lock, if misconnection occurs the bucket is secured by the front lock preventing it from falling. 2. Cylinder failure/Loss of hydraulic pressure
By using a quick coupler that has added additional locks to the engaging process this keeps the bucket in a default locked position even with the loss of hydraulic pressure or cylinder failure via internal safety springs. 3. Accidentally opening a Quick Coupler in an unsafe position
By using a quick coupler with a curl to release control system (a two-step operation control system). This only allows the attachment to be released in a safe position after getting a signal from the hydraulics. This prevents a Quick Coupler being opened in an unsafe position and prevents a falling bucket.
All quick couplers are not equal. Regardless of the quick coupler you use, ask yourself this question: Is your quick coupler safe and compliant?
The development of quick coupler related safety standards such as ISO 13031 Earth-Moving Machinery – Quick Couplers – Safety, has been a game changer across the global construction sector. The MaxDRP Plus J-Series replacement teeth are currently available in abrasion, chisel and sharp profiles in 450 through 800 sizes. R-Series replacement teeth are offered in popular abrasion and penetration profiles in R450 through R550 sizes.
ESCO Offers MaxDRP Replacement Teeth
ESCO recently increased the offering of the MaxDRP replacement teeth with the MaxDRP Plus System for J-Series teeth and R-Series rippers.
Caterpillar assemblies are easily converted to MaxDRP Plus replacement teeth with no modification to the existing nose, according to ESCO.
ESCO’s MaxDRP teeth have enhanced profiles over conventional J-Series and R-Series teeth that provide greater strength, improved production and longer wear life.
Designed for safety and ease-of-use, the MaxDRP Plus system utilizes a unique pin and collar locking system. The hammerless system does not require any special tools which increases site safety and allows faster tooth replacement.
In addition, ESCO superior point alloy has an average hardness of 525 Brinell without sacrificing impact toughness. The closest competitor is in the 470 Brinell hardness range, according to ESCO.
The result: ESCO alloys and refined profiles deliver up to 25 percent longer wear life - significantly reducing maintenance costs and unplanned downtime.
The MaxDRP Plus J-Series replacement teeth are currently available in abrasion, chisel and sharp profiles in 450 through 800 sizes. RSeries replacement teeth are offered in popular abrasion and penetration profiles in R450 through R550 sizes.
For more information, visit www.esco.weir.
Palfinger has extended its Epsilon range of timber grapples with an adapted product: the existing FG53S grapple has been equipped with additional features and launched as the FG53S-V.
Together with Scandinavian customers, EPSILON has taken a closer look at its requirements and optimized the grapple to make sorting work even more efficient. "Especially in Scandinavia, logs often have a thinner diameter, which can cause the grapple to become wedged in the wood and interrupt the workflow," said Dominic Lanner, product manager at EPSILON.
Mission ‘V-Shape’
On the new V-shape model, the grapple tip contour has been modified to make it even easier to penetrate the log pile. The following improvements were made to the grapple to create this V-shaped bottom line: • Rounded grapple lip; • Optimized geometry of the chamfer at the tip; • Minimized transition from the lip to the jaw.
Due to these adaptations, handling lighter logs with the EPSILON FG53S-V is even easier and more efficient, according to the manufacturer.
Precise and Durable
The new FG53S-V timber grapple is available for cranes in the EPSOULTION and NEXT EPSOLUTION series. The entire EPSILON timber grapple product range is equipped with the latest seal technology and has generously dimensioned bearings. Adjustable pins and bronze bushings eliminate bearing play and ensure that the grapple remains a precision tool even after years of use, the manufacturer said.
For more information, visit www.palfingerepsilon.com.
Rototilt Introduces HB450 Compact Ripper for Contractor’s Tough Jobs
Rototilt continues its investments in high-quality tools with a new, compact ripper with high breakout force. Featuring robust construction and wear-resistant steel in HB450 at the front, rear and sides, it’s just the tool for those truly tough jobs. The new model has received consistently solid ratings from the operators who have had the opportunity to test it:
“Excellent breakout force, you could feel right away. The new design has a shorter and more curved shape that lets me get under the frost much better than before,” said Niklas Bjöörn at Br Bjöörn AB.
The new, shorter ripper is ready for delivery for machines rated for 2.2 to 35.2 tons (2 to 32 t) and is a complement to the existing ripper family. It is optimized for Rototilt machine couplers and tiltrotators with attachment sizes S40, S45, S50, S60 and S70. The new ripper can manage high breakout forces due to its reinforced attachment frame, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, visit www.rototilt.com.
