July 2017 Vol. 72 No. 7
New Products
General Contractor Tackles The Challenge Of High-Profile, Urban Job Site
When Corinthian Contractors was awarded a subcontractor bid in late 2015 to do excavation, material hauling and placement service work during phase two of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, owner Jamie Doll knew he would need the right mix of construction equipment to efficiently complete the job.
Doll, a seasoned construction professional, was in the process of purchasing two Doosan crawler excavators, a DX300LC-5 and DX235LCR-5, and a Doosan DL250-5 wheel loader from John “Stu” Munsell at the H&E Equipment Services branch in Dundalk, MD. His timing couldn’t have been better, because the trio proved to be effective on the underground infrastructure project.
The Metrorail expansion project would require Corinthian Contractors, a full-service general contractor, to dig 15- to 18-foot trenches several thousand feet in length, and install eight manholes and dry utilities to provide electrical power for a new traction power substation near the Dulles International Airport. The new substation is part of a two-phase, 23-mile extension of the Metrorail system that will connect rail service from the Dulles Corridor to downtown Washington, D.C. When complete, it will be officially known as the Silver Line.
“We knew we’d have some work – specifically the Metrorail project – and when we’re done it will probably be a two-year project. I saw the need for the DX300LC-5 and DX235LCR-5 with the machines’ power-to-weight ratio and the capability of the equipment,” said Doll.
More equipment
Now more than a year into the project, Doll has added three more Doosan crawler excavators, a DX85R-3, DX140LCR-5 and DX180LC-5, plus another DX235LCR-5 and DX300LC-5, respectively. The pair of DX235LCR-5s and the two DX300LC-5 excavators are dedicated to the Metrorail project. The equipment has proven it is capable of not only handling the heavy workload, but also navigating the crowded job site with ease.
The reduced tail swing feature of the DX235LCR-5 excavator has been an advantage. The excavators are positioned along the median of the Dulles airport toll road, which remains open to traffic during construction. The only thing separating the heavy machinery and nearby traffic is a Jersey barrier. The DX235LCR-5 is designed to work on congested job sites without blocking traffic in the adjacent lane, and without sacrificing digging and lifting performance.
“When you’re working behind barriers, that reduced tail swing is No. 1. You can have confidence that the machine isn’t going to impede traffic or other contractors working in the area,” Doll said.
The DX300LC-5 duo has been tasked with the wayside area of the project where digging through rock presents a challenge. Even in less-than-ideal conditions, the DX300LC-5 is more than capable of handling the task. The permanently sealed and lubricated tracks are designed to maximize uptime. “It’s muddy, it’s bumpy and when it rains, the ground is very thick,” Doll stated.
The Doosan excavators are also well-suited to a wide variety of tasks in this large-scale project, from removing thick overburden, to forming trenches specifically for manholes. “The excavators have the capability to dig both large areas and small areas effectively,” Doll added. “You don’t need a different machine to match different parts of the job.”
As the Metrorail project wraps up, Corinthian Contractors has more high-profile projects lined up, including a road-widening project that Doll says is another ideal application for the Doosan excavator tag team. “The cut is accomplished with the DX300LC-5 and the utilities are installed with the DX235LCR-5,” he said.
Doll knows the DX235LCR-5 will provide yet another advantage in the transition. “The DX235LCR-5 can be hauled on our lowboy (trailer) from site to site,” he said. The DX235LCR-5 excavator is the maximum weight that can be hauled without a permit. “Every time we need a permit to move a machine, the cost is $1,500,” he added. “That’s a nice savings.”
The Doosan machines have been a smart investment for Corinthian Contractors. With more work ahead, Doll is confident his fleet of Doosan equipment is well-positioned to handle the work. Whether the job site calls for precision in confined areas or powerful digging in wide-open spaces, with seven Doosan crawler excavators and one Doosan wheel loader in the extended fleet, Corinthian Contractors is up to the challenge.
High Tech
Jamie Doll’s Doosan excavators and wheel loader have not disappointed from a productivity perspective, especially since he implemented the Doosan Telematics package that provides machine intelligence, or what he likes to call “accountability technology.”
The system allows Doll to monitor his Doosan machines using the dedicated website from a computer or smartphone; he never has to set foot on the job site. “I can monitor hours worked, hours idled, fuel levels and maintenance hours,” he said. “It’s very, very helpful to productivity.”
The visibility to the machines has many business and managerial advantages, not the least of which is diesel fuel cost savings. “I can look online and see in real time that a machine is at 50 percent fuel and is good for another day. I don’t have to drive over and fill it up, but I know I’ve got to get to it the next day,” he said.
On a crowded job site, a premature refueling isn’t just an unnecessary loss of productivity, but a major inconvenience for the project as a whole.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Corinthian Contractors,
(301) 568-6510, corinthiancontractors.com
Doosan Equipment,
(877) 613-7970, DoosanEquipment.com
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