Slipform paving with the Wirtgen SP 94i enables Capital Paving to make the most of project restrictions and improve quality on a paving project on Interstate 44 in Missouri
Paving on an Interstate Highway is no easy feat. Tight project timeframes - and even tighter work zones - force contractors to make the most out of every square centimetre of space they are given to work on. In the rehabilitation of the eastbound lanes, Capital Paving & Construction removed the old concrete and repaved them in two segments. The first segment had a total width of 5.8 m (19 ft), comprising a 3.7 m (12 ft) traffic lane and a 2.23 m (7 ft) hard shoulder. The second segment had a width of 6.7 m (22 ft), made up of a 3.7 m (12 ft) traffic lane and a 3.0 m (10 ft) hard shoulder.
When Capital Paving & Construction was awarded the contract for the repaving of a 13-kilometre (8-mile) section of Interstate 44 in Rolla, MO, the company knew they would need the right equipment for the task at hand. ‘On this project, we knew we were going to have access issues and that there would be no room for a traditional dowel basket’, said Ryan Porter, Senior Project Manager at Capital Paving & Construction. ‘That prompted discussions on how we could do things differently on Interstate 44.’
Now in its third generation, Capital Paving & Construction, working from Jefferson City, MO, is a family-owned business that brings years of experience, quality work, safety and commitment to every project site. When they were looking for a new machine, they contacted the Wirtgen Group with a request to see one in action before making any purchasing decisions.
After seeing the machine at work on a project in California, Capital made the decision to purchase a Wirtgen SP 94i slipform paver for this project. The SP 94i they chose has a Dowel Bar Inserter (DBI) that will enable them to work more efficiently despite limited access issues.
‘Instead of putting the basket out in front of the paver and tipping over the top of it from trucks, the DBI inserts the dowel bars right behind the mould’, says Tyler Kirchhoff, Foreman, Capital Paving & Construction. ‘That makes it easier on the crew and easier for the tipper trucks to get back and help out.’
This also helps to improve workflows and efficiency on the project site.
‘With the DBI, a whole load of things are much more efficient than when using traditional paving methods. You can also lay down larger volumes of concrete at one time, and you don’t need a placer/spreader.’
Ryan Porter, Senior Project Manager, Capital Paving & Construction
Capital also decided to add a TCM 180i to their paver. The TCM 180i Texture Curing Machine is a self-propelled unit that produces the desired surface texture on the freshly paved concrete surface. This machine features a modular design concept that makes it possible to adapt to working widths between 4 m (~13 ft) and 18 m (~59 ft), which is exactly what the Capital team needed to ensure efficiency on the paving project.
This machine features a modular design concept that makes it possible to adapt to working widths between 4 m (~13 ft) and 18 m (~59 ft).
When it comes to efficiency, Wirtgen understands that designing a machine that’s easy to use while keeping operators comfortable is a key factor for maximising productivity. Capital appreciates that Wirtgen listens to customers’ needs and delivers the goods in the form of the SP 94i.
‘What I really like about this machine is the crows nest. Our old machine didn’t have that, but this new feature lets me see our bar shooter in action and keep an eye on our vibrators. It provides a great overall view of what we’re doing.’
Brian Wood, Machine Operator at Capital Paving & Construction
Another essential factor in assuring productivity is the support users receive from the Wirtgen Group. ‘The support from Wirtgen has been wonderful’, says Kirchhoff. ‘We set up the DBI at the shop and the Roland team worked with us to bring it out to the site, install it on the paver and set it up there and then. We all had a pretty rough time that week, but we got everything straightened out and, when I understood it better, we were good to go.’
‘The support from Wirtgen has been wonderful.’
Tyler Kirchhoff, Foreman, Capital Paving & Construction
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