Large, extensive projects are challenging enough, but ones that will affect tens of thousands of motorists each day can be especially trying.
Earle Asphalt Company is no stranger to big jobs in New Jersey. The highly respected contractor has earned its reputation by delivering vital infrastructure projects to successful, on-time completions — to do that requires meticulous planning, and among the many things to consider is choosing the right equipment for the job.
Recently, Earle Asphalt began work on a $70 million project along the heavily travelled, iconic Garden State Parkway and its new SANY SCC8200 crane — the first one delivered and working on a job site in New Jersey — will be among the star performers.
The 220-ton SCC8200 will be used to drive piles and sheeting, pick culvert pieces, and bridge beams during the construction of bridges near Brick Township, N.J. Safety is the driving force behind the work along the well travelled New Jersey road.
“On the Garden State Parkway, there is only a two-foot shoulder, so if a car needs to pull over, there is no room to do it,” said Mike Burns, Earle Asphalt construction manager.
The project will redo Interchange 88, making it a four-point access post entrance and exit for northbound and southbound on the parkway. It also will connect Route 70, which is a heavily travelled local road, with Cedarbridge Avenue for local traffic.
“We are going to build four complete bridges that go over top of Route 70, including all of the ramps and new shoulders, importing approximately 450,000 cubic yards of dirt to fill the project,” Burns said.
The project also includes widening Main Line Parkway to the current safety standards. Burns estimated it will take approximately nine months for the first phase of bridges and then nine months for the next phase of bridges. The first phase is the northbound and southbound service roads and all the brand new ramps that divert traffic.
“We are going to create northbound and southbound service roads, build those bridges and create a connection that will tie the traffic back over to the Main Line Parkway. Once that is all built, we will take the Garden State Parkway, put them on the service road, completely shut down the existing parkway, which will allow us to take down the two old bridges, rebuild them and widen the Garden State Parkway, while traffic is on the service roads,” Burns said.
The two-year, $70 million project is scheduled to be completed in December 2014.
Choosing the SCC8200
According to Walter R. Earle II, president of Earle Asphalt, there were several variables involved in the company’s decision to purchase the SANY SCC8200, including the company selling the machine: Binder Machinery Co.
“[Binder Machinery Co.] has always sold us what they promised they would sell us,” he said. “We looked into different crane manufacturers for several months and we really feel this crane has the proper balance of innovation, quality and cost to make the best unit.”
The manufacturer behind the machine also was a determining factor, according to Burns.
“We spent 14 months researching many crane brands, and what sold us on SANY was number one, their innovation; their commitment to quality service, and their commitment to the product,” he said. “It is a solidly, well-built machine. It is well engineered, and they back up their product. We met with the top executives, and engineers at SANY and we feel they are undoubtedly committed to the brand, market, and quality for the long haul. We [Earle Asphalt] are pretty innovative in how we do things. We like to step outside the box. SANY is a company that we feel will step outside the box to deliver the best product, and will deliver to us the ability to perform the way we need to perform.”
The Brains of
the Machine
A key component of the SCC8200 is the LMI (load material information), which is the “brains of the machine,” according to Harry Rice, Binder Machinery Co. sales representative.
“[The SANY electronics division] can make it as simple as possible for the operator.” Rice added. “They can diagnose any problems. They can design a system for that certain machine. They aren’t going to an outside person and saying, ’Hey, I designed this machine … now I want you design an LMI for me.’ They make it themselves. They actually have their own electronics company that makes it. They are not outsourcing to another vendor.
“Electronics are always the thing people scratch their head about. We have been introducing electronics into everything for the past 20 years and it sometimes gets past people. Manufacturers have to make it simple and SANY does.”
Having the machines built and designed completely in-house also helps in terms of servicing, according to Rice.
“If there is an issue, we can immediately get to it. We have the person that designed it; we have the people that made it. They are all under the same roof. It’s not like we are calling up and trying to hunt someone down. It’s just being able to resolve issues and to make a more simple, operator friendly type product and a safer product,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Earle Asphalt is an expert and the go-to contractor for work along the Garden State Parkway. The company has an extensive history and trusted working relationship with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Within the past two years, Earle Asphalt has been involved in several projects on the Parkway. In addition to this particular project, the company completed widening the Parkway in May 2011 between mile markers 70 and 65, and the company is nearly finished with widening work between mile markers 65 and 58 to name a couple.
As with the other projects the company has worked on, Burns sees the primary challenge of it is to keep traffic moving.
“This is our third widening job with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, along the Garden State Parkway,” he said. “We’re pretty experienced with getting these jobs done the parkway, and we know what we’re dealing with.”
About Earle Asphalt
Earle Asphalt Company was founded in 1968 by Walter R. Earle. Earle Asphalt Company was the original entity, and remains today as the construction arm for The Earle Family of Companies. The Family of Companies are operated by Walters three sons, Walter II, Thomas (TJ), and Michael, Earle Asphalt Company handles public, and private road construction jobs with the capability of handling job tasks including grading, milling, paving, drainage, concrete and structures work. The company is based in Howell, N.J.
About Binder Machinery Co.
Binder Machinery Co. has locations in South Plainfield and Winslow Township, N.J. It serves customers in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. In addition to SANY crawler cranes and hydraulic cranes, the company carries Komatsu equipment; Wirtgen milling machines, cold recyclers and slipform pavers; Vogele pavers; Hamm soil compactors; Kleemann mobile jaw crushers, mobile impact crushers and mobile screens; Sennebogen material handlers; JLG telehandlers; Kinshofer demolition tools; Chicago Pneumatic (all products); JRB attachments; Geith attachments; Tramac hydraulic breakers and more.
For more information, call 888/381-6094 or visit www.bindermachinery.com.
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