I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Feature Job 1

President’s Corner 1

Materials Company 2

Equipment Company 2

Safety Update 3

Railroad Update 3

Georgia News 4

Chuck’s Chuckle 4

The L.C . Whit ford Co., Inc . Volume 34, Issue 1

T H E L .C . W H I T F O R D F E A T U R E JO B

January - March 2015

SAFETY

UPDATE

This Quarter

75,235

Man Hours

With

0

Lost Time

Accidents.

Keep up the good work!!!!!

THE WHITFORD QUARTERLY

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R - B R A D W H I T F O R D

In last year’s 1st quarter newsletter, I noted that March didn’t feel like the beginning of our construction

season because we had been working on seven railroad projects in six different states for most of the win-

ter. That hasn’t been so much the case this year as our winter work was fairly limited. That, coupled with

historic low temperatures this winter, does make this March feel like a more traditional season startup. That

said, I realize that perspective is more representative of the New York Division. Though slowed a bit the last

few months, the Georgia Division has continued to successfully plug along with the largest contract we have

ever had in Georgia – the $9.7 Mill I-285 Sign Upgrade Project.

As for this season, we are in pretty good shape with regard to our work-on-hand (contracts in progress and

contracts not started yet). We are approximately 24% ahead of where we were at the end of March last

year. The significant projects include six railroad projects in six different states, five projects in Pennsylvania,

four projects in Georgia and three projects in New York. We also have quite a few smaller contracts sprinkled

about.

Wishing you a safe and productive construction season.

Regards, Brad

The L.C. Whitford Co., Inc.

is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Buffalo Snow Removal

By: Chris Cox

Due to the record snow fall in the City of Buffalo

and surrounding areas The L.C. Whitford Co., Inc.

was tasked with removing snow in various locations

for safety concerns. We started on February 11 and

worked 12-hour shifts night and day for eighteen

days.

The snow removal consisted of removing snow

along the side of some of the busiest streets and

highways to alleviate line of site issues and the

potential for flooding. The snow was stacked as high

as eight feet along the side of the road in some places.

Our job was to dig back as far as 10 feet away from

the curb and load the snow out to

various dump sites.

To get the job done, two crews worked in two

different locations every night. They utilized ten

loaders, a 318 excavator, skid steers, up to three D6

dozers, multiple light plants, and up to 40 trucks from

three different trucking companies to haul the snow.

The project had to be closely coordinated with the

trucking companies for the next nights work and with

our maintenance and protection of traffic subcontrac-

tor to set up zones every night.

Between the people at our shop moving the

equipment and servicing the equipment, our three

superintendents Ace Wood, Dar Carlson, James

O’Brien and our general superintendent Ernie Clark

all working closely together, we were able to keep the

project running like a well-oiled machine. Everyone

on our team should be proud for performing so well

on another difficult snow removal project.

Page 2 Volume 34, Issue 1

EQ U I P M E N T CO M PA N Y - B R U C E S T R A I G H T

MA T E R I A L S CO M PA N Y - C H A D D ’ A R C Y The L.C. Whitford Materials Company received approval for its 10,000 psi. High Strength, Self-Consolidating Concrete Mix (SCC) for Penn-

sylvania DOT on January 16, 2015. The Company mix was approved for a 20”-27” spread, with a target of 24”, 5% - 9% on air content, 10

seconds of vibration allowed up to 25”, and a maximum of 2” difference between the spread and J-Ring, which measures the pass-ability of the

concrete through reinforcement. The next step was to move the mix from the design phase to the production phase.

We have currently cast six Pennsylvania Bulb Tees utilizing the new mix. One of the benefits of the SCC is the superior finish of the sur-

face. We are currently experimenting with placement rates, form cleaners and release agents, designed for SCC, to achieve the best finish possi-

ble. Form imperfections may not be noticeable with conventional concrete, but tend to really stand out with SCC. Any concrete buildup or

splatter on the forms can lead to excessive bug-holes in the finished product. This is why it is critical to maintain and protect forms properly.

Another benefit of SCC is the rapid placement rate, due to the high cohesion and flowability under its own weight. The result is very minimal

or no vibration required to consolidate the mix. One must be careful to ensure that at higher spreads the coarse aggregate does not separate out

of the mix during placement. With this said, it is very important that the worker running the chute pays close attention to the material flowing in

the form. A viscosity modifying agent is being used to ensure proper cohesion and stability at higher flow rates. This basically acts like a glue

and holds the aggregate from falling out of suspension in the mix.

With spring coming, and more consistent material temperatures the hope is to be able to dial in the SCC mix to provide more consistent re-

sults. Minor changes in temperatures and moisture content of the aggregates can have significant effects on the characteristics of the mix. With

the colder temperatures we have experienced, it has required constant monitoring to ensure a high mix quality is being placed in the forms.

The results to date have included:

Reduced manpower by approximately ½ during casting

Minimal amount of vibration

Decreased pour time by approximately ½ hour

Increased finish quality

Reduced labor to prepare pieces for shipment

Pennsylvania Bulb Tee for

Fahs Construction Group job

in Monroe County PA

J-Ring test for SCC

Now that the long, cold winter is hopefully over, the L.C. Whitford Equipment Company is looking

forward to spring and the start of a new construction season. We have taken retail orders for two more

of the new C Series TimberPro Feller Bunchers and have delivered a new Morbark 2600 Wood

Hog. This machine is a smaller, more compact unit than the Wood Hogs that we typically sell, and it

is easier to tow and can be moved without any special permits. This particular machine is equipped

with a 260HP Cummins engine and a special high-speed hammermill. It is used by a wood pellet

manufacturer to grind wood chips into a finer, sawdust type material to make their manufacturing

process much more efficient.

Local construction work including clearing right of ways for gas pipelines and utility lines will be

picking up again this spring and we have a good selection of Morbark tracked chippers to do the

work. We have a new Morbark 40/36 Drum Chipper with a 765HP Cat engine that is a tracked unit

with remote control and a 40”x39” infeed opening. This is a versatile machine that can either chip on

a landing filling trucks or it can go up over a right of way disposing of trees and blowing the chips off

to the side. We also have a new Morbark 30/36 tracked chipper that is equipped with an operator’s

cab and its own loader to do right-of-way clearing without

the need for excavator to feed the wood into it. A Morbark

M20R Forestry Chipper has just arrived from the facto-

ry. This machine is also on tracks, is remote controlled and

has a 350HP Cat Engine.

These three chippers, along with our other equipment

inventory, should make us able to handle any of our

customers’ clearing needs. We are looking forward to a

successful selling season.

Morbark 2600 Wood Hog

Morbark 4036 Track Chipper

Morbark 20R

Forrestry

The Whitford Quarter ly Page 3

Well, another spring season is getting underway at last, and folks are

coming back to work after the harshest winter ever recorded in the West-

ern NY area. Welcome back. We’re looking forward to a great season

and a chance to continue our “no lost time accident” streak for another

year. Right now we’re standing at 17 consecutive months without a lost-

time accident and I can’t thank you enough.

Our Safety Seminar in NY was held on March 7 and Georgia fol-

lowed a week later. Both seminars were filled with great information

and well attended.

Our New York President’s award winner was Bill Blessing. Bill is a

Carpenter Foreman who has been with us since 1992. Bill lives in Olean,

NY and works primarily on NY and PA DOT bridge projects.

The winner of the Georgia Division Safety Award was Marty

Watson. Marty is a Superintendent who has been with our Georgia Di-

vision since 2007. He also worked with us out of the New York Divi-

sion before then. Marty lives in Dawsonville, GA, and has worked on

projects ranging from railroad bridges to overhead sign structures.

Marty and Bill exemplify the best of the L.C.Whitford worker, and we

thank them for their many years of service.

SA F E T Y U P DA T E - D A V E S H I E L D S

Bill Blessing

Marty Watson

RA I L ROA D U P DA T E - C H U C K M O N T A N Y E

We will be starting two railroad jobs - one in Kenova, West Virginia and the other in Madison, South Carolina.

Norfolk Southern - Madison, South Carolina

Bridge Bearing & Bracing Repairs

Norfolk Southern - Kenova, West Virginia

Various Steel Repairs

164 North Main Street

PO Box 663

Wellsville, NY 14895

The L.C. Whit ford Co., Inc.

Phone: 585-593-3601

Fax: 585-593-1876

E-mail: lcwco@lcwhitford.com

Building Since 1916

We’re on the Web!

lcwhitford.com

CH UCK ’S CH UCK L E

R E C E N T C O N T R A C T S

A W A R D E D

Indiana Jobs

Norfolk Southern – Concrete repa irs, Valpara iso, IN.

New York Jobs

Norfolk Southern - Br idge repa ir , Letchworth, NY. NYSDOT - D262756 - Seneca Rd, br idge rehab, Horne ll sv i l le , NY. NYSDOT - D262839 Standby br idge repa ir Reg ion 4. NYSDOT - D262829 Standby br idge repa ir Reg ion 6. NYSDOT - D262771 Standby h ighway repair Reg ion 4. WNY & PARR 2015 - Southern Tier Extens ion Rai lroad l ine repa ir , Var ious locat ions. Cattaraugus County - Freedom Br idge #10.

Pennsylvania Jobs

PADOT/ECMS 91251 SR 555 Benezette Township, Elk County Newbury Dev Assoc iates - New bury Market Drive Br idge.

South Carolina Jobs

Norfolk Southern - Bear ing & Brac ing, Mad ison, SC.

Virginia Jobs

Norfolk Southern - Span re- p lacement , Christ ainsburg, VA.

West Virginia Jobs

Norfolk Southern - Span re- p lacement , Ingles ide, WV.

F I N A L T H O U G H T

“Life is 10% what happens to

you and 90% how you react to

it.”

~Charles Swindoll

The L.C. Whitford Co., Inc.

is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ON VACATION

Chris had asked his friend Paul if he would check on things at home while he was on vacation.

Chris called and asked Paul "How is my cat?". Paul responded, “Your cat got hit by a truck and

got killed." "WHAT!!", replied Chris, "You can't tell me bad news like that.” The first time I

call, you say, your cat got stuck on the roof and won't come down. The second time, you say, the

firemen tried to rescue him but he ran away from them and into the road and got hit but you took

him to the vet. The third time, you tell me, the vet did all he could do to save him but

couldn't." Chris continued, " You can't just say your cat was killed !! "

"I'm sorry", Paul replied. Chris asked "Oh by the way how is grandma? "Paul hesitated and said,

"Well, uh, she got stuck on the roof and won't come down."

The Whitford Quarter ly Page 4

G E O R G I A N E W S - K A R L Y O U N G

Project #13030 –Signing Upgrades on I-75 just

north of Atlanta in Cobb County

GDOT has executed the change orders, increas-

ing the contract value to $7.5+ Million and extend-

ing the completion date to March 31, 2016. The

survey work is complete; shop drawings for the

overhead sign structures are currently being created

for submittal. We will begin setting temporary bar-

riers and removing median barrier, later this spring

or early summer as work on project #13054 dwin-

dles. We will be working on foundations, concrete

barrier, and hanging structures and signs through the

summer and fall. We plan to be complete with all

major items of work on this project by the end of

this year.

Project #13054 – Sign Upgrades on I-285 NB/SB

between GA 400 and I-20

The winter weather, consisting mostly of rain,

slowed our progress the last few months. Whenever

the roads are wet GDOT will not allow us to work in

a lane/shoulder closure. The ground is also saturat-

ed making it difficult to excavate, grade or backfill.

Joe Howland and crews have done an excellent job

making the best of the traffic and weather situation.

Providing Mother Nature is more cooperative going

forward, the concrete work on structures, barrier,

and glare screen will be complete by the end of

May. Twenty-five of the 35 overhead sign struc-

tures should be hung by the end of April. The

bridge mounted structures, remaining overhead

signs, and mile post signs will be complete this sum-

mer. This project should be 90% complete by the

end of June.

Project #14034 – Signing & Pavement Marking

Upgrades in District 7

This railroad crossing sign and striping project,

located on the east side of Atlanta, began in January

and was recently completed in March.

Project #14047 – Trestle Pile Repairs in

Augusta, GA

Norfolk Southern Railway contracted LCW to

replace sections of H-pile at 48 locations on a bridge

in a swamp near Augusta, GA. The muck, water

and limited access made the project difficult, how-

ever Marty Watson and crew did a great job getting

the work done and within budget. Work began in

November and was completed in January.

Project #14057 – GDOT Culvert Repairs at 3

locations

GDOT awarded LCW this high profile stream

restoration project in December with an August 31

completion date. The timeline for work at the first

two locations, however, was tight due to environ-

mental restrictions imposed by US Fish and Wild-

life. We began work on March 1, and the first two

sites, located near Dawsonville, GA, had to be com-

pleted by March 31. The work included sheet pil-

ing, dewatering, gabion aprons and baskets, and

various types of rip rap. The crew worked long

hours to ensure the two Dawsonville culvert loca-

tions were completed by the aggressive deadline.

The third site, located in southeast Georgia, consists

of concrete foundation repairs; it will be completed

this spring or early summer. Special thanks to Arlie

Harwood, Marty Watson, Jeff Harwood, Bo Clark,

CJ Conley, and the many others who made this pro-

ject a success!