Abernethy Contracting of Charlotte, N.C., is working in Huntersville, N.C., where crews are transforming 70 acres of raw land into a commercial development featuring two tilt-up buildings totaling nearly 10 acres under roof.
Serving as the site contractor on the Axial Commerce project for general contractor Evans General Contractors, Abernethy Contracting is responsible for every phase of site development, including grading, underground utilities, curb and gutter, sidewalks, paving and construction of six stormwater ponds. The turnkey contract showcases the company's ability to manage every aspect of complex site preparation while maintaining an aggressive construction schedule.
Work began in March 2026 and is scheduled for completion in March 2027. By securing the grading permit ahead of schedule, crews were able to begin earthmoving early, helping offset weather-related challenges and keeping the project on track.
Scope of Work Is Substantial
Abernethy Contracting photo
Crews will move nearly 350,000 cu. yds. of material across the site while installing several miles of storm drainage and underground utilities, including a private lift station. The project also includes approximately 19,000 lin. ft. of curb and gutter; 22,500 sq. ft. of sidewalk; roughly 32,000 sq. yds. of asphalt; and more than 40,000 tons of stone.
Approximately one-third of the grading work has been completed. Fifteen employees are dedicated to grading operations while another 10 are installing underground utilities, with that workforce expected to grow as utility work intensifies.
One of the project's biggest early challenges involved establishing erosion control while excavating steep drainage areas containing poor soils. Crews also experienced a tremendous amount of weathered rock that was difficult to excavate and hard blue rock which required blasting.
Despite the project's size, Abernethy Contracting has worked to minimize impacts on neighboring businesses and motorists.
When complete, the development is expected to create new commercial opportunities while supporting continued economic growth and future job creation in the Huntersville area.
Large Fleet for Large Project
Equipment has played a critical role in maintaining production on the massive earthmoving operation.
Much of the fleet was supplied by James River Equipment, Abernethy Contracting's local John Deere dealer. Equipment on the project includes a new John Deere 670 P-Tier hydraulic excavator; a John Deere 470 excavator; a John Deere 700 dozer; two John Deere 750 dozers; a John Deere 850 dozer; a John Deere 410 water truck; five John Deere 460 articulated dump trucks; and two Hamm 120 padfoot rollers.
The John Deere 670 P-Tier hydraulic excavator has become one of the project's most valuable production machines. Weighing approximately 154,000 lbs. and powered by a 462-hp John Deere Power Systems engine, the production-class excavator is designed for high-volume earthmoving and demanding rock excavation.
The machine features three power modes, a high-capacity hydraulic system and enhanced digging forces that allow operators to maximize productivity while maintaining fuel efficiency. Depending on bucket configuration, it can be equipped with buckets exceeding 9 cu. yds., making it well suited for mass excavation applications like the Axial Commerce project.
On the Huntersville job, the 670 P-Tier has been excavating weathered rock, constructing stormwater ponds and moving large volumes of material across the site. Its size and digging power have enabled crews to excavate significantly more rock mechanically rather than relying on additional blasting. In harder ground conditions where smaller excavators would struggle to maintain production, the larger machine has helped Abernethy Contracting save both time and operating costs while keeping work moving.
Company leadership was evaluating a significant fleet investment but, rather than making the decision from a conference room, they turned to the people responsible for delivering the work every day.
“We asked a simple question: 'What do you need to be successful on this project?'” said Kevin Hyatt, CFO of Abernethy Contracting.
The answer was John Deere.
Partnership Relies On Trust, Support
Abernethy Contracting photo
Based on that feedback, Abernethy Contracting invested in a dedicated John Deere fleet supported by James River Equipment. Today, those machines are helping crews meet key production goals while maintaining the schedule on the 70-acre development.
What stood out wasn't the equipment itself. It was that leadership trusted the recommendation, backed the people closest to the work and followed through with the investment.
According to Abernethy Contracting, dependable dealer support has been just as important as the equipment itself.
The company worked closely with James River Equipment's Jesse King, territory manager, and Kyle Cohoon, general manager, to assemble the equipment package needed for the project. As project requirements evolved throughout construction, the dealer consistently adapted equipment deliveries to meet changing jobsite demands.
“The Axial Commerce project is more than just another project,” said Kurt Abernethy, vice president of team development. “We are working for a very large general contractor that has a proven history of expectations on delivery, performance and safety. The needs for this project have been fluid to the point where many times what we asked for was no longer needed. Not once did we hear or see James River complain about the changing equipment environment. They simply delivered.”
That partnership extends well beyond equipment sales.
“We spent more time together in the beginning talking about life, family and hobbies than we did about equipment needs,” said Hyatt. “This pattern has continued since then and we continue to cultivate the relationship not just with equipment needs but also from a personal relationship capacity.”
Long-term support has always been the dealership's priority.
“We're celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, so we've been around since 1926,” Cohoon said. We're not looking to just drop some equipment and move on. It's all about support. When these guys go down, we go down. Partnership goes a long way.”
Cohoon added that supporting customers means making sure operators have the tools they need to succeed every day.
“Support comes not only from the dealership but also from the guys in the field putting hours in the seat every day,” he said. “We want to make sure they've got what they need to be successful.”
Because Abernethy Contracting experienced excellent uptime with John Deere equipment on a previous project, choosing the fleet for the Axial Commerce project was a natural progression.
“This team had a really good experience with John Deere equipment on the previous project,” said Abernethy. “Across all the brands, that was their favorite because it seemed to have the most uptime. So, when we approached the team, we asked, 'What do you want? What do you need to be successful on the job?' They wanted a John Deere package.”
As grading progresses and underground utilities continue expanding across the site, Abernethy Contracting expects its combination of experienced crews, high-production John Deere equipment and responsive dealer support to keep the project on schedule for completion in early 2027.
For more information, visit abernethycontracting.com and jamesriverequipment.com.
