MILLER Newsletter 2015 Final with cream Small

IDENTIFY, AIM, EXECUTE
DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST
Brennan Paving & Construction
GTA Structures Division
MTO 2013-2030, HWY QEW Fort Erie – 6 Structure Rehabilitation
This two year project involved the rehabilitation of six existing structures along the Highway QEW Corridor in the Niagara Falls
Region. The project commenced in the spring of 2014.
It involves the completion of four
structures in the 2014 construction
season, with the remaining two
structures to be completed in 2015.
A number of challenges and firsts for
Brennan were encountered during
the project, including rehabilitating
structures in a severely deteriorated
state and the inaugural venture into
self-performed structural jacking.
Rehabilitation work on the six existing
structures comprises of modifying
existing bridges to a semi-integral
configuration, including bearing
seats, barrier walls, and expansion
joints. In addition to work on the six
structures, this contract will also realize
asphalt paving and ATMS electrical
works. Severe deterioration at the
largest of the bridges constituted additional
required works and resources.
Through coordination of works with
subcontractors, and full utilization of structure crews in the Niagara Region, Brennan Paving & Construction Ltd. has successfully
completed the majority of work in the 2014 season.
For this project, jacking of the bridge structures was completed 100% in-house for the first time. This proved to be a successful
endeavor, as it leads to valuable knowledge gained and increased competitiveness for future rehabilitation projects.
MTO 2012-2003 (Lemonville Rd/Waterdown Rd Structures)
In June 2012, Brennan began the rehabilitation of four structures along HWY 403 in Burlington, a $10,000,000+ Ministry of Transportation
(MTO) Contract. With two of the four structures completed in the early stages of the 2013 construction season, Brennan
was tasked with completing stage 2 of the Waterdown Road Underpass, the remainder of stage 1 and all of stage 2 of the Lemonville
Road Underpass during the 2014 construction season. The scope of work included bridge jacking and bearing replacement,
new wingwalls and ballast walls, approach slabs, barrier and
parapet walls, semi-integral deck end extensions, concrete
overlay on existing bridge decks, concrete slope paving, and
asphalt paving.
Brennan faced numerous challenges on this project due to design
issues including overhang and barrier wall design changes
at Waterdown Road and bearing seat/girder soffit reconstruction
uncertainties at 72 bearing locations at the Lemonville
Road structure. Faced with tight schedule restrictions, Brennan
overcame these challenges with some creative and critical
thinking and was able to minimize MTO delays and extra costs.
With the design issues resolved, Brennan has completed the
project.
The 2014 construction season in Niagara was a great
opportunity for Brennan Paving Limited to showcase
how teamwork can drive success on road projects. In
April of this year, Brennan Paving Limited was awarded
MTO contract 2013-2044, a resurfacing, median
earth ditch cleanout, concrete barrier wall replacement
and minor clearing and grubbing project on
MTO highway 406. The work took place from northern
limit of highway 406 at the connection to the QEW
(including ramps) and extended into downtown St.
Catharines to Geneva street.
Brennan Paving Limited - Port Colborne
The project consisted of partial and full depth asphalt
removal and the placement of superpave 19mm and
12.5FC2. Landscaped areas inside the ramps to the
QEW required excavation and grubbing to improve
sight lines for the traveling public. Brennan Port Colborne
teamed up with Brennan Paving and Construction
to construct the new concrete barrier wall on
the ramps. Miller Maintenance in Niagara with the help of Larry Storm and led in the field by Jeff Gritter provided excellent traffic
control for the project.
One unique aspect of this project was the requirement to coordinate our construction operations with the contractor responsible
for the ninety million dollar Burgoyne Bridge replacement at the mid-point of our work zone. In fact, the project contained a significant
interim completion date penalty if Brennan was not out of certain parts of the work zone by specified dates. Accordingly,
a good deal of planning took place to ensure that all date commitments could be met. As the schedule of the conflicting structure
project began to shift, Brennan worked with MTO, the Region and consultants to re-work our work approach and schedule
to optimize efficiencies for all parties. MTO in particular, made specific note on several occasions with respect to the high level of
cooperation of the Brennan project team lead by Tom Saxton and Khemran Ablack.
Newly minted superintendent David Devries worked tirelessly during the milling and paving phases of the work to keep the
project progressing while meeting numerous daytime commitments on other projects. Milling foreman Dennis Fortin and his
seasoned crew leveraged their significant experience on highway milling to ensure that partial depth milling was as smooth as
possible. This paid dividends later when paving foreman Harold Liscombe and his crew were tasked with ensuring that we maximized
any potential smoothness bonus.
Asphalt plant foreman Ed
Rogers and quality control
supervisor Jason Cosby
maintained excellent communication
throughout the
project and leveraged support
from Amma Wakefield
and the Aurora technical
group to ensure that we
had quality mix. This team
effort resulted in excellent
quality mix over the project
and a welcome bonus
for mix characteristics.
Working together with different
business units within
Miller contributed to the
success of this project and is a definite competitive advantage for Brennan in Niagara. Furthermore, our approach to cooperation
and problem solving around conflicting projects and other issues was welcomed by stakeholders including MTO and consultant
WSP and resulted in a net benefit overall for Brennan on the project.
32 MILLER / McASPHALT NEWSLETTER 2015 EDITION
MILLER / McASPHALT NEWSLETTER 2015 EDITION
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