Underground Infrastructure - February 2023 - 26

Reconstructing Utility Construction
connecting low-cost, essentially maintenance-free
hydraulic hookups to a
host machine which then powers the
attachment.
Cutting out the unnecessary parts
slashes prices by up to 80 percent. It
also allows contractors to invest in the
host machines they know will support
their fleet from multiple angles, not just
the larger, self-propelled machines that
see months of off-season.
And the host machine to power the
attachment? These common machines
cost pennies on the dollar when compared
to dedicated, single-function construction
equipment. Not to mention,
most contractors probably have multiple
machines that would excel as a host
machine already in their fleet.
Overall, material placement attachments
are low-maintenance and lower
cost than self-propelled machines, but
also provide savings by repurposing labor.
Remaking utility construction by utilizing
attachments reduces unnecessary
steps, lessens the amount of equipment
needed and drastically lowers maintenance
requirements. But crew members
don't await a similar fate. Contractors
now have the freedom to assign these
crew members to different tasks that
benefit the job site, and in times when
labor is scarce, this is a vital way to keep
getting work done.
The freedom that efficiency provides
allows contractors to put crews to work
in areas they didn't have the capacity to
work in before and expand their utility
construction operations. Contractors
report up to 50 percent savings in labor,
which could potentially double a crew's
work capacity when using attachments.
In addition, labor savings can benefit
crews from a safety perspective, as well.
It's one thing for a machine to go
down, but what about a crew member?
Utility construction is a high-risk job on
the best of days. Crowding numerous
crew members around a project site to
spread-out materials or make machine
adjustments is an unnecessary risk.
However, utilizing attachments that
cut out multiple steps in the process
takes crewmembers out of harm's way.
Additionally, remote-controlled attachments
allow the host machine operator
to remain in the cab while adjusting dispensing
speed and machine positioning.
The increasing demand for utility
construction projects across the world
and the limitations of traditional machinery
are inspiring equipment innovations.
Material placement attachments
are proving to be assets not just in times
of infrastructure crisis, but for creating
a system of sustainable utility construction
management. UI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lynn Marsh is
the president of Road Widener LLC and has
20 years of experience in the road
construction industry.
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Restoring and Protecting
Large Diameter Culvert Pipe
Fairfax City in Virginia had a problem and turned to engineers from H&H,
a national leader in infrastructure engineering, for answers. A thorough
Condition Assessment revealed twin, 9.5-foot corrugated metal pipes were
aging, showing corrosion at the baseline, structural cracking of the culvert
headwalls and wingwalls, and undesirable graffi ti on the bridge walls. The
city's objective is clear: long-term, low maintenance so proactive qualities
versus reactive kicked-in.
To meet the spec, the project team at Triangle Contracting shotcrete a
varying thickness (2 " - 5 " ) liner of restoration mortar (ML-72HP) to restore
and protect these large diameter culvert pipes. The project came in under
budget and fi nished ahead of schedule. Learn how to replicate fast and
fl awless restoration of CMP and RCP pipes cost-eff ectively, with a true
trenchless technology from Madewell Products and a nationwide network of
Certifi ed Applicators.
Sponsored By:
Hosted By:
SPEAKER:
Craig Closer
Vice President
Madewell
Products
SPEAKER:
Steve Loughry
Project Manager
Triangle
Contracting
SPEAKER:
Doug Neely
PE, Principal
Associate
H&H
MODERATOR:
Robert Carpenter
Editor-in-Chief
Underground
Infrastructure
26 FEBRUARY 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
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Underground Infrastructure - February 2023

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