More than 2.5 million m³ of material is being moved with a fleet of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) articulated haulers in the US state of Illinois. Home to the world’s first skyscraper, the Chicago Bears – and the Blues Brothers – Illinois is the fifth most populous American state and a major transport hub. Industrial cities and agricultural productivity is growing in central and northern Illinois – while natural resources like coal, timber and oil and gas in the south help provide the state with a diverse economic base.
Headquartered in Bloomsdale, Missouri, Bloomsdale Excavating has been contracted to move overburden material for a major road construction project close to the town of Macomb. The company has been in business for 65 years and specialises in heavy civil engineering and mining projects that have a positive impact on the environment.
The Route 336 project, valued at US$32 million was awarded to Bloomsdale in July 2013 by the6168 Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and includes building 10.5km of a four lane highway on US Routes 336 and 110. The project will require pre-grading work and the construction of drainage structures on a new section of the roads, as well as the reconstruction of county highway 14, which is located to the west of Macomb. It also includes 16km of grading and clearing, and the installation of utilities.
“Bloomsdale Excavating is excited to be part of the Illinois Route 336 project,” said Scott Drury, president of Bloomsdale Excavating. “We are looking forward to building strong relationships with IDOT, local subcontractors, suppliers and the surrounding community. As the prime contractor, we are required to complete the project in 220 working days – but projects with tight timelines and high expectations of quality and safety are well within our capability.”
The grading work on the main highway – Plus 6.44km of side roads, service roads and on/off ramps – involves hauling more than 2.5 million m³ of material, clearing 28.33hectares of land, moving and transporting 161,000tonnes of imported rock and more than 300m³ of ditch cutting.
The project also requires the installation and relocation of about 3,000m of municipal utilities, including more than 1,981m of storm drain piping, 12 box culverts, 68,562m² of rubble, 19,507m of right-of-way fencing, 36,576m of drains and 3,500 trees need planting.
There are 48 machines on site, including 22359 Volvo CE A40F-Series articulated haulers. Of these, 13 are Full Suspension (FS) models and nine are units with standard suspension. While both models can be fitted with an articulated hauler body, Bloomsdale uses the FS units with a 25.2m³ – manufactured by Canadian K-TEC Earthmovers – to move loose dirt. The company uses its standard units for other tasks, such as rock hauling.
Volvo CE’s innovative full suspension system creates free-flowing hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the cylinders. The suspension cushions the impact of the K-TEC hitch and the automatic cushion ride on the scraper itself makes for a formidable combination in terms of speed, operator comfort and productivity – while minimising the risk of equipment damage. The Volvo hauler also has more rimpull than competitor models, which can struggle during loading and uphill travel. The short turning radius tires and a 71cm minimum clearance from ground to cutting edge, provides maximum manoeuvrability and mobility.
Bloomsdale has a track record of completing projects quickly and efficiently thanks to its Volvo CE articulated haulers. “Productivity on site has increased as the machines never need to stop,” said Drury. “Our operators work 10 hour shifts and the Volvo CE haulers clock about 2,000 hours on average a year.”
Overall Bloomsdale is satisfied with the performance of its Volvo CE machines and recognise the worth of its FS units. Local Volvo dealership, Rudd Equipment, has been supporting the customer and maintaining machines on site since the project began.
Headquartered in Bloomsdale, Missouri, Bloomsdale Excavating has been contracted to move overburden material for a major road construction project close to the town of Macomb. The company has been in business for 65 years and specialises in heavy civil engineering and mining projects that have a positive impact on the environment.
The Route 336 project, valued at US$32 million was awarded to Bloomsdale in July 2013 by the
“Bloomsdale Excavating is excited to be part of the Illinois Route 336 project,” said Scott Drury, president of Bloomsdale Excavating. “We are looking forward to building strong relationships with IDOT, local subcontractors, suppliers and the surrounding community. As the prime contractor, we are required to complete the project in 220 working days – but projects with tight timelines and high expectations of quality and safety are well within our capability.”
The grading work on the main highway – Plus 6.44km of side roads, service roads and on/off ramps – involves hauling more than 2.5 million m³ of material, clearing 28.33hectares of land, moving and transporting 161,000tonnes of imported rock and more than 300m³ of ditch cutting.
The project also requires the installation and relocation of about 3,000m of municipal utilities, including more than 1,981m of storm drain piping, 12 box culverts, 68,562m² of rubble, 19,507m of right-of-way fencing, 36,576m of drains and 3,500 trees need planting.
There are 48 machines on site, including 22
Volvo CE’s innovative full suspension system creates free-flowing hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the cylinders. The suspension cushions the impact of the K-TEC hitch and the automatic cushion ride on the scraper itself makes for a formidable combination in terms of speed, operator comfort and productivity – while minimising the risk of equipment damage. The Volvo hauler also has more rimpull than competitor models, which can struggle during loading and uphill travel. The short turning radius tires and a 71cm minimum clearance from ground to cutting edge, provides maximum manoeuvrability and mobility.
Bloomsdale has a track record of completing projects quickly and efficiently thanks to its Volvo CE articulated haulers. “Productivity on site has increased as the machines never need to stop,” said Drury. “Our operators work 10 hour shifts and the Volvo CE haulers clock about 2,000 hours on average a year.”
Overall Bloomsdale is satisfied with the performance of its Volvo CE machines and recognise the worth of its FS units. Local Volvo dealership, Rudd Equipment, has been supporting the customer and maintaining machines on site since the project began.
