Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) workers have been repairing roadways in Morrison, IL, since August 2013, and will continue into October, according to Rindy R., a Civil Engineer on site. She has worked for IDOT for a year-and-a-half.
Rindy, shown at left, was named for vocalist Rindy Ross of the band Quarterflash; think “Harden My Heart.”
IL Route 78 and U. S. Highway 30 are being dug up and reconstructed into smooth surfaces. Inevitable traffic slow-downs and one-lane passages will soon give way to fluid travel through town.
Matt at Quality Ready Mix Concrete Company, Inc., of Morrison, stated patchwork on U. S. 30 would conclude Tuesday, September 17, but that curb work would follow. He estimated 400 yards of concrete were used just in the patch portion along Lincolnway.
Can you guess how many feet of new roadway will result? The answer from Rindy was 800. The process involves dozens of workers and safety flaggers, tons of steel rebar, and over 400 yards of concrete.
The following photos were taken Thursday, September 12, at 200 W. Lincolnway, south of Morrison United Methodist Church’s parking ingress. To settle the material and prevent “fines” from rising to the concrete surface, one crewman sprays the prepared base. Then the glob of concrete is eased and scraped down the chute.
Once a large enough supply has been deposited, the pace of work increases with “all hands on deck.” Timing is critical, and each person has a specific task. Men at each end of the pour slowly roll a vibrating cylinder back and forth, smoothing the surface. Before that occurs, the second man from the left, wearing a portable vibrating device, distributes material evenly within the framing and removes air pockets. Before that takes place, the middle man guides the chute, while the truck driver slowly advances east along the street. Before the roller moves forward, the next worker flattens the top of the mass with a make-shift paddle.
The photo at right shows placement and preparation of a structural support called a “dowel bar basket assembly.” These are pre-assembled off-site; a few were lying in wait along the north edge of the road. The man in the foreground snips off steel “ties” that keep the bars in place before installation. This is so they do not protrude through the concrete to the surface. The man behind him sprays an epoxy sealant on the green rebar.
This IDOT worker found a handy place for his water bottle while working.
On Friday, September 13, the men built the road edge from yesterday’s pour to the north side of the highway. The area was framed, reinforced, and filled as larger sections had been. The surface was smoothed and then lightly grooved to provide traction and water drainage. Fnishing touches included curbing and a new driveway to the church.
