Spring/summer works

[ovrszd]

MODOT is resurfacing some roads in my area. Overlaying asphalt. At the bridges they "mill" the surface removing previous overlayment down to concrete. Then lay asphalt to match the road surface at the ends of the bridge. So they end up with a couple dump truck loads of millings.

At a bridge in my township they decided my road a couple hundred yards from the bridge needed millings. So they dumped it there.





Okay, I had just applied our annual rock allocation. Okay, I'll deal with it. Then under closer examination I found a LOT of this.




So I contacted my Township Board members and had them each go look at the road. They all agreed it needed removed. Contacted the contractor and got no argument. Also required the road be graveled. No argument. So to prevent a CTL ripping my roadbed all to hell trying to capture the millings I piled it with the grader.




Then had a dump truck load of gravel applied. Much better. Our State Tax Money at work......

 

[20/80]

Looks like they tried to give you a load of rack at first, they tried using the recycled asphalt here on a few roads, just a disaster, glad you got some gravel, I have been busy grading with the good weather I'm having, its very very dry, bit of rain coming in tomorrow so we will do some shoulder recovery for the next couple of days in the rain, pretty good gig. thanks for sharing the pics

 

[cuttin edge]

The thing is that you could spread the millings, and do a good job, but then those chunks start to move as the cars drive over them....boom instant pot holes. I did a road on a reserve. We had just paved a section of the main road. One lane about 350 meters long had an issue with dust in the plant. They had to mill center line to white line 370 meters about 1214 feet, 2 inches thick, and repave. That was paved 2 days ago. They trucked it to the reserve and I put it down. They wanted to go a little farther, and got some old unscreened stuff we had. To this day, part of that road is just like the day I put it down. The rest....potholes a plenty

 

[20/80]

We did a few roads with screened millings/Rack and we found it would not settle down and would go to washboard and then harden up back to asphalt in spots all over the road, some have good luck with it but we have not.

 

[cuttin edge]

We did a few roads with screened millings/Rack and we found it would not settle down and would go to washboard and then harden up back to asphalt in spots all over the road, some have good luck with it but we have not.

The stuff I'm talking about was almost still warm though. I always advise against using rap, even screened. Keep it on the shoulders where it belongs. My biggest beef is that once it packs down, there is no regrading it.

 

[ovrszd]

I've had a disaster the past two years with my Township Board. No malicious mismanagement. Just incompetence. Not completing the quarterly Unemployment Contribution report to the State for example. Have been sued by the State 3 times. $400 penalty each time.....

So I got a new board on election day, 4 April. They had their first meeting on 11 April. Got a lot of paperwork mess to deal with and get back on top of things. 14 April we get this milling mess.

They are being initiated by fire. So far they've stood up well. None of the three have ever been on a Board. 30 something years old. I gave them the Father/Son speech about unity. Discuss the issue. Make a decision. Stand by that decision in public.

In the case of the millings the Board contacted MODOT. MODOT gave them the contact information to the Contractor. The Board contacted the Contractor and stated the road needed restored to it's original condition. The Contractor didn't argue.

I volunteered the Grader time to pile the millings so the Contractor wouldn't tear up my road.

The Board might finish their two year terms without having another issue. But it's good to get started with something early so they don't get lazy.

 

[cuttin edge]

Might get some grading next week. Been on excavator, which I hate, and doing some trucking (running scales). Another safety course today Hazard ID and Controls...boring!!!! Still need Fall Arrest, Rigging and Hoisting, and Confined Space. Lots of BS just to make driveways ready to pave. Going in in the the morning to haul gravel for a couple days. Sweeping parking lots coming up as well. Couple regular customers wanting some grader work done before I get too busy. Might be able to post pictures this season. Safety consultant says my old flip phone won't cut it as I need the construction safety app. I refuse to get a smart phone, as I don't want to become a phone zombie, but I guess I might need a company phone.

 

[20/80]

Might get some grading next week. Been on excavator, which I hate, and doing some trucking (running scales). Another safety course today Hazard ID and Controls...boring!!!! Still need Fall Arrest, Rigging and Hoisting, and Confined Space. Lots of BS just to make driveways ready to pave. Going in in the the morning to haul gravel for a couple days. Sweeping parking lots coming up as well. Couple regular customers wanting some grader work done before I get too busy. Might be able to post pictures this season. Safety consultant says my old flip phone won't cut it as I need the construction safety app. I refuse to get a smart phone, as I don't want to become a phone zombie, but I guess I might need a company phone.

Yes we have to go through the safety courses BS as well, Between my wife and I we have a flip phone, that's it, for traveling for the most part, I also refuse to get a smart phone, every body at work has a smart phone but me, they need to get a hold of me then call me on the radio, department paid 24 million of tax payers dollars for radio upgrades they can dam well use them, we have lots of phone Zombies at my work, was thinking the other day what this department looses every week in hours worked lost to personal cell phones activity, thinking 2-3 hours a week for every employee with a smart phone, and some employee's its more than that, our mobile has three smart phones on the go at one time, 1 is the work phone other two are personal, they ring non stop when he's trying to work on the gear, drives me crazy.

 

[ovrszd]

I got a Cell phone 15 years ago. Mostly to reassure my family. They worried about me running the grader at night in a storm if something went wrong. 30 years ago I had a breakdown and had to walk 4 miles in a snowstorm for help.

I've gotten used to carrying a phone now and I use it often throughout the day. Saves a lot of unnecessary trips. Makes me much more effective at what I'll do today.

Cell Phones are an addiction for our society, no doubt about that. The invasiveness of them concerns me. But that same thing concerns me about desktop computers and the Alexa/Google systems in homes too.

One time I was hanging out with the gang offroading. During a Beer stop the discussion turned to phones listening to us. The boys had a five minute conversation about Carhart clothing. Intentionally. The next day I got on my shop laptop computer to check out this site and a tractor site I frequent. Several ads for Carhart clothing appeared. Coincidence?

 

[cuttin edge]

I got a Cell phone 15 years ago. Mostly to reassure my family. They worried about me running the grader at night in a storm if something went wrong. 30 years ago I had a breakdown and had to walk 4 miles in a snowstorm for help.

I've gotten used to carrying a phone now and I use it often throughout the day. Saves a lot of unnecessary trips. Makes me much more effective at what I'll do today.

Cell Phones are an addiction for our society, no doubt about that. The invasiveness of them concerns me. But that same thing concerns me about desktop computers and the Alexa/Google systems in homes too.

One time I was hanging out with the gang offroading. During a Beer stop the discussion turned to phones listening to us. The boys had a five minute conversation about Carhart clothing. Intentionally. The next day I got on my shop laptop computer to check out this site and a tractor site I frequent. Several ads for Carhart clothing appeared. Coincidence?

If you have Alexa, it's always listening. My brother and his wife were having a conversation, and she said I wonder what....something, and Alexa answered without being asked. My daughter hates Alexa, as that's her name. I have been hauling gravel for the last 2 days, going back at it in the morning. Fired up my little grader and roller before I came home. Have to grade for superior manufacturing. There would be a spot to have a phone with a camera. They are an American company and they build crushers. Saw a new Metso cone, and a double box screener. And a big a$$ stacker belt in their yard on the way by today.

 

[20/80]

Have been busy, we just finished up about 110kms of shouldering, back grading again, the roads are very dry now and is looking like a very nice week ahead weather wise for us here, was talking to a buddy of mine that lobster fishes, he was having motor troubles in his boat with his brand new 430 cummins, he was flipping out at the wharf at the dealer that sold him the motor, poor diesel Mech was trying to figure out what was going on with the motor to get it running right, Lobster prices are 13 bucks a pound and most fishermen are landing 1500lb a day, that's big money a day he's losing out on, lots of pressure on my buddy, one of my roads I grade loops around run next to the government wharf, lol

 

[cuttin edge]

The road job where I was hauling gravel is in the heart of lobster fishing. They are doing the pipe part. New storm lines. Once they are done, it will be pulverized, graveled and paved. I ran 6 trailer loads down from the shop today so they would have som ahead for monday. DTI makes them backfill and compact 2 feet of gravel all around each pipe. The boys at one end of the job are only getting 5 or 6 lengths of concrete pipe a day. The blue hat stands over them all day checking the spec. Last fall they had to backfill the hole each night for safety. Took 20 loads every morning just to uncover the pipe. Now they can leave the hole open, but they have to set up traffic lights and barriers. The boat hauler was moving boats steady followed by trailer loads of lobster traps. We did a base a couple years ago for a guy that bought a big tent for his boat and traps. Like 60 wide by 180 long. We said you should pave it, but he said he didn't make any money that year. His brother said when he says he didn't make any money, he means he only made $275,000, not $350,000. Not bad for 5 weeks work., and most of those guys fish Herring, Gaspreau, fish the fall lobster season as well.

 

[20/80]

The road job where I was hauling gravel is in the heart of lobster fishing. They are doing the pipe part. New storm lines. Once they are done, it will be pulverized, graveled and paved. I ran 6 trailer loads down from the shop today so they would have som ahead for monday. DTI makes them backfill and compact 2 feet of gravel all around each pipe. The boys at one end of the job are only getting 5 or 6 lengths of concrete pipe a day. The blue hat stands over them all day checking the spec. Last fall they had to backfill the hole each night for safety. Took 20 loads every morning just to uncover the pipe. Now they can leave the hole open, but they have to set up traffic lights and barriers. The boat hauler was moving boats steady followed by trailer loads of lobster traps. We did a base a couple years ago for a guy that bought a big tent for his boat and traps. Like 60 wide by 180 long. We said you should pave it, but he said he didn't make any money that year. His brother said when he says he didn't make any money, he means he only made $275,000, not $350,000. Not bad for 5 weeks work., and most of those guys fish Herring, Gaspreau, fish the fall lobster season as well.

LOL, Can't count how many Fishermen stop me and want their road graded right away, they tell me that they have to work for the next ten weeks and will be traveling back and forth to the wharf, lol, I guess they think everybody that works year round is on hold for ten weeks while they go to work, I just tell them I will get there when I get there, Its funny, the local fishermen went from rags to riches in the last 15 years, when they didn't have much money and had to work year round, they all got along great in the community, even had a general store which was a great spot to stop and get a coffee and get the news, now.. nobody gets along anymore, the general store is gone now and greed has taken over the community, very sad indeed.

 

[Cat 140M AWD]

I started my spring work today started discing shoulders will let this material sit for 4 or 5 days then I will start pulling it in and incorporating it in the road

 

[Welder Dave]

That looks like a pretty aggressive disc. I'd guess you can vary how much by raising or lowering it? The little wheel in front looks like it would just sink in the ground.

 

[20/80]

I started my spring work today started discing shoulders will let this material sit for 4 or 5 days then I will start pulling it in and incorporating it in the roadView attachment 284876View attachment 284877View attachment 284878View attachment 284879

Nice, we have the same discs but on a loader, we did about 65miles of shoulders on our pave roads this year, took us two day's, not alot of money in the budget this year for shouldering, we usually go at it for a week, thanks for sharing, great pics

 

[Cat 140M AWD]

It can be a very aggressive disc ideally I’m only cutting a 1/2 inch to an inch of material with it the way I use it it’s a big time saver and yes would think the small wheel would sink in ground but long as road is hard it rides right on top of ground.

That looks like a pretty aggressive disc. I'd guess you can vary how much by raising or lowering it? The little wheel in front looks like it would just sink in the ground.

 

[ovrszd]

It can be a very aggressive disc ideally I’m only cutting a 1/2 inch to an inch of material with it the way I use it it’s a big time saver and yes would think the small wheel would sink in ground but long as road is hard it rides right on top of ground.

Can you run it on "float"? Our State uses one. Their operators don't seem to care much about details. I've saw driveways that they "plowed" right thru. Man that would irritate me.....

I dream of having open, relatively flat country to grade roads in.

 

[cuttin edge]

They sent my grader to Volvo to get tightened up. The service guy was up to do some stuff to the loaders, and he was going to adjust the circle in our shop, but he figured the main teflon bushings between the drawbar, and circle needed to be replaced and figured it would be easier for him at their shop, about an hour and a half away.

 

[Cat 140M AWD]

Can you run it on "float"? Our State uses one. Their operators don't seem to care much about details. I've saw driveways that they "plowed" right thru. Man that would irritate me.....

I dream of having open, relatively flat country to grade roads in.

Yes you can run the disc itself in float the block the cylinder is tied to if it’s in middle it will allow it to float you just change the disc aggressiveness with your lift group here is a video I did on how to properly use the retriever disc on my YouTube channel