The Owego Apalachin School District\u2019s main campus has been a bit of a puzzle this past week, with its main artery, Sheldon Guile Boulevard, undergoing a complete reconstruction. The work is expected to continue for the next couple weeks.<\/p>\n
But underneath all the infrastructure upgrades here is an approach that, according to an engineer and paving company representative on site at the school district, can have a huge impact, not only on quality of work, but on the bottom line for municipalities, commercial ventures and more.<\/p>\n
Pete Messner, supervising engineer for Keystone Associates out of Binghamton, referred to the work at OA Schools as a \u201ctreatment strategy,\u201d including \u201cfull-depth recycling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, we\u2019re re-using the asphalt and gravel that was underneath the existing roadway. We\u2019re grinding those two together, then adding Portland cement as a stabilizing agent,\u201d Messner explained.<\/p>\n
The way things are more typically done, Messner added, is that those elements \u2013 asphalt and sub-base – are dug up and trucked away. New materials then are trucked in, of course, at a bigger expense. Not only does this \u201cnew\u201d strategy re-use existing materials, but it saves organizations as much as 30 percent on costs.<\/p>\n
One glaring example, Messner said, could be seen before work even began. \u201cThe FEMA budget for this work was about $800,000,\u201d he said, \u201cand Ruston\u2019s bid was approximately $500,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chris Laurin, of Ruston Paving Co. (Syracuse) said this type of treatment actually isn\u2019t new at all, although it\u2019s vastly under-utilized. \u201cThis treatment goes back 50 or 60 years already,\u201d Laurin said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s been tested over that time in very bad, Northeastern winter weather,\u201d added Messner. \u201cIt produces a very frost-resistant sub-base.\u201d<\/p>\n
Translation? A much longer life span for the sub-base structure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased to have contracted to take such a smart approach to this road work,\u201d said Corey Green, OA superintendent of schools. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, to be able to display this treatment strategy right here, for area leaders to observe and take back to their constituents as an intelligent, long-term cost savings, it makes great sense for everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school district invited surrounding counties and representatives last week to view this approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cCounties and towns have used this approach, but not nearly at the level they could,\u201d said Messner, who is the former highway superintendent for Tompkins County, and the former highway engineer for Steuben County. \u201cWhen I was at Steuben County, we were able to do more projects because we eliminated the need for hauling away additional gravel,\u201d Messner added. \u201cThis process can stretch local highway paving dollars, and commercial paving dollars by a good 30 percent, and that has a real impact on the bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Owego Apalachin School District\u2019s main campus has been a bit of a puzzle this past week, with its main artery, Sheldon Guile Boulevard, undergoing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-schools"],"yoast_head":"\n