Close quarters and tight timing no challenge for Wirtgen slipform paver on interstate project

The tight timeframe and close quarters that come with interstate highway paving are tough conditions for contractors. When Capital Paving & Construction took on resurfacing of Interstate 44 in Missouri, it turned to a Wirtgen slipform paver to meet those challenges.

The first paving segment on the Interstate 44 project had a total width of 19 feet, the second 22 feet. Each consisted of a 12-foot-wide lane and adjacent shoulder. In total, the project stretched along 8 miles of highway.

Paving was done with the Wirtgen SP 94i slipform paver, a rugged and modular 4-track machine that fits well on high-output projects in challenging conditions.

Truck access to the site was difficult, thanks to the active interstate. Concrete could only be unloaded directly in front of the SP 94i paver, as there was no room to feed from the side.

"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. To deal with that concern, the SP 94i is available with a machine-integrated dowel bar inserter.

"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," said Tyler Kirchhoff, Foreman, Capital Paving & Construction. "That makes it easier on the crew and easier for the tipper trucks to get back."

In addition to an increase in efficiency compared to paving with pre-placed reinforcement, a very high paving quality was achieved.

High productivity can only be reached with machines that offer operators the simplest, most practical, and convenient operation possible. The simpler the control of the machine and higher the degree of process automation, the more time the operator can spend on processing the concrete itself. Even apparently small improvements to the machine can have a major impact on the overall result.

"What I really like about this machine is the crow's nest," explained machine operator Brian Wood. "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."

When paving concrete, it is important to avoid any interruptions. To ensure a smooth process, logistics and the paving team have to be perfectly coordinated. In addition, the machine and all its components must be set up carefully on the construction site.

The Wirtgen Group service and support team assisted Capital Paving with setup of the SP 94i paver. As Kirchhoff noted: "The support from Wirtgen has been wonderful."