When McAninch Corporation decided to take on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) $27 million reconstruction project, two major challenges became evident during work on the reconstruction project.
“Traffic is a major challenge in any resort area,” Don Taylor, vice president of McAninch, said. “The Branson, Missouri, attractions create nearly 30,000 vehicles per day on Route 65. Couple this with the need to blast solid rock in the adjacent work zone and strict completion penalties and those are the major challenges.”
Work began May 19, 2006, on the one-and-a-half year project, with a completion date set for December 2007. Currently, the project, which runs from U.S. 65 from Hollister, Mo., south to the Arkansas state line, is on schedule.
Taylor said that the work has proceeded as predicted but the rock in the Branson area is known for its “pinnacle” formations that make blasting difficult.
The project required 1.5 million cu. yds. (1.2 million cu m) of common excavation and 101,084 cu. yds. (77,284 cu m) of blasted rock excavation.
The paving subgrade consisted of an 18 in. (45.7 cm) layer of “rock base,” which is generally described as a graded shot rock.
The project had paving totals of 295,333 sq. yds. (246,936 sq m) of asphalt paving with thicknesses from 5 to 9 in. (12.7 to 22.8 cm).
The project’s rock base forced McAninch to use specialty equipment such as the IronWolf 1040 Heavy crusher mounted on a Caterpillar 980GII wheel loader. McAninch purchased its IronWolf 1040 Heavy Crusher from D. Storey Inc. to process the upper layer of the 18 in. rock base sub grade to a gradation of 2 in. (5 cm) minus.
D. Storey Inc., an IronWolf dealer for Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, answered the call for the specialized equipment.
Denny Storey founded the family-owned D. Storey Inc. in 1988 and the company’s headquarters is based in Grimes, Iowa. D. Storey Inc. specializes in the sale of used profilers, reclaimers, grade trimmers and other paving equipment.
The company’s facility includes 7,000 sq. ft. of office space, parts storage, shop office and shop space for as many as seven machines at one time. The shop is equipped with a five ton overhead crane, welders and employs two full-time mechanics to perform a variety of repair services and maintenance.
Denny’s sons, Scott of Kansas City and Jeff of Dallas Center, work as sales men at D. Storey.
The IronWolf “Crusher” is an attachment designed to mount on a wheel loader and includes a cutter assembly powered by an auxiliary Caterpillar engine package located on the back of a unit. The drum cutter width options include a 5 ft. (1.52m), 8 ft. (2.44m) and 10 ft. (3.05m) cutter assemblies. Cutter drum diameter options are 40 and 48 in. (101 and 121 cm) enabling cutting depths up to 12 and 16 in. (30 and 40 cm), respectively.
“This equipment allowed us to meet the specification established by the Missouri Department of Transportation and will also meet the needs of the asphalt paving contractor,” Taylor said.
MoDOT reconstruction plans include adding two driving lanes — acceleration and deceleration lanes. McAninch was responsible for the overlaying existing lanes and upgrading frontage roads and intersections.
“The project contained alternates for paving, with the asphalt option being the least expensive alternative,” Taylor said. “At full force, the project took more than 75 workers, some of whom worked on night shifts.”
Major subcontractors included Journagan Construction Company, which did the asphalt paving and aggregate supply; Ewing Electric, which did the lighting, signals and road runner; Traffic Control K.B.C. which did the blasting; Mar-Jim, which worked on the guardrail and signs; and Schultz & Summers, which did construction survey.
McAninch used all Caterpillar equipment on the project including D6N through D11R track-type tractors, 631 through 651 towed scrapers (manufactured by McAninch Corporation), 740 ADT, Cat 320 through 385 backhoes and Kenworth truck tractors with Trail King side dump trailers.
“McAninch Corporation has a field staff of mechanics and service technicians to maintain the fleet,” Taylor said. “Dealer support is supplemented by on-site parts delivery by Caterpillar and other vendors.” Other McAninch Corporation personnel managing this project included Adam Whittington, director of field operations; Barry Carter, project manager; Scott Hintz, general superintendent; and Steve Stephens, project superintendent.
Taylor said that McAninch Corporation has accommodated the local community by scheduling work at night whenever possible to lessen the impact on the tourism industry.
Additionally, he indicated that automated construction traffic crossing signals have been used to reduce exposure to traffic accidents with hauling units. The local community has complimented McAninch Corporation on the prosecution and progress on this project.
“This project will provide more primary highway access to a resort area that depends on 94 percent of the tourism business from ’drive-in’ visitors,” Taylor said.
For more information on D. Storey Inc., visit www.dstorey.com.
For more information on IronWolf, visit www.ironwolf.com. CEG Staff
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