Laser System Used On Project

Holland project includes road reconstruction and sewer replacement.

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Milbocker & Sons, of Allegan, the prime contractor for a $4.2-million reconstruction of Holland's River Ave., is using a laser beam system on its heavy equipment on the job.

The project totals 1 mile of road reconstruction which includes new concrete curb and gutter, drainage structures, storm and sanitary sewer, water main, Hot Mix Asphalt paving, lighting, landscaping, and irrigation on River Avenue, from 15th Street north to the new River Avenue bridge, which is under construction in Holland's Ottawa County.

Milbocker is using a Trumball Acugrade System on the project. The system serves three functions for the contractor. The system uses a rotating laser, which picks up the beam and sets the grade for flatwork. A tracer and tracer arm are also used. The tracer arm attaches to the blade on grader equipment. It can set the tracer over the top of curbs or string lines in order to set the grade. On crossover grades (roads have a 2-percent crown in the road) percentages are inputted into the system and the system sets the blade slope. According to Pat Ellis, the general superintendent, the Acugrade System, "is very good for this type of work especially since our working quarters are so tight on the mainline work."

In working the project, Milbocker is removing some 30 trees along the route. Also being removed are 113 drainage structures, along with 4,890 feet of existing sewer; (24-inch and 48-inch sizes); 136 feet of curb and gutter; 127 feet of guardrail; 3 cubic yards of masonry and concrete structures; 8,011 square yards of sidewalk; and 29,288 square yards of modified pavement.

The route, which is the main route through downtown Holland, also contains considerable grading and there is 1,500 cubic yards of Type II subgrade undercutting. The non-hazardous contaminated material that needs to be removed totals 30 cubic yards.

Milbocker will place 39,807 square yards of new aggregate base (4-inch and 8-inch sizes) and will use 150 cubic yards of maintenance gravel for the project. The contractor will also jack and place 461 feet of steel casing pipe on the job.

A total of 5,537 feet of 6-inch to 30-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) storm sewer pipe is being installed on the job, along with 685 feet of new 20-inch force main. The sanitary main line covers another 3,492 feet and is largely 8-inch size. New water main totals 6,467 feet and there will be 95 new drainage structures that will be added. All of the pipe is being supplied by Etna, of Grand Rapids. The 4-inch underdrain subbase accounts for 460 feet and there is 400 feet of 6-inch subgrade underdrain on the job along with 40 feet of 6-inch underdrain outlet.

Asphalt paving involves placing three lifts for a total of 6-1/2 inches of thickness. The asphalt will total 7,956 tons. The approach asphalt is 1,389 tons. Quality assurance testing is 10,100 tons and the concrete quality assurance is 1,210 cubic yards.

The non-reinforced 6-inch concrete driveway work is 614 square yards and there is 1,064 feet of new concrete curb, along with 11,614 feet of concrete curb and gutter and 932 feet of concrete driveway openings. New sidewalk covers 43,576 square feet of 4-inch concrete and 3,640 square feet of 6-inch concrete, along with 2,500 square feet of sidewalk ramp work. The project also contains 23,313 square feet of new brick pavers.

Temporary pavement includes 7,300 feet of white paint and 18,500 feet of yellow. The waterborne 4-inch paint amounts to 2,600 feet of white paint and 4,000 feet of yellow. Landscaping will involve planting numerous trees, shrubs and flowers.

Slope restoration includes 7,100 square yards of Type A work. Approximately 2,695 cubic yards of structural soil will be placed along with 200 square yards of mulch blanket and 100 square yards of high velocity mulch blanket.

Milbocker is working the project with a Komatsu 220, two Cat 345Bs and a Hitachi 300 excavator. Support equipment includes two Cat 938s and a Cat 966 wheel loader; Cat D3 and D5C dozers; a Cat 12H grader, and a Cat 416 rubber-tired loader.

Major subcontractors on the project are: Shoreline Sprinkling; Summit Tree; Aggregate Industries; Pavers Plus; Nagel Construction; Twin Lakes Nurseries; P. K. Contracting; Martin J. Concrete; J. L. Milling; DVT Electric; Quality Air; and Give 'Em A Brake.

Personnel for Milbocker includes Pat Ellis, the general superintendent, with Mark Oisten, the project manager. The project estimator for Milbocker is Bryan Rewa. Milbocker's foremen on the job are Gordy Atwood, Mike Walker and Dennis Walker.

URS Corp., of Grand Rapids, is the engineering firm for the project and Sean Kelsch is URS's project engineer. The project engineer for the city of Holland is Mike Tembrook.

Reconstruction of River Avenue in Holland

Milbocker & Sons, of Allegan

$4.2 million



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