Awards

Northampton Watermain & Pavement Replacement

Location: Warren, MI
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Concrete Supplier: Hercules Materials Holdings
Project Owner: City of Warren Public Services Department - Engineering Division

The project began with the replacement of a watermain. Originally, the plan was to install the new watermain next to the old one, located in the greenbelt outside the right-of-way. However, due to the age of the existing watermain, this approach was deemed too risky. As a result, the new watermain was to be placed beneath the existing roadway, necessitating the reconstruction of the existing pavement.

The 7-inch thick, 28-foot-wide concrete roadway was placed in partial widths to maintain access to residential homes during construction. Two gaps were left in the road layout at the intersections of Northampton with Lee Street and with Sheffield Street.

Most of the street was paved to a width of 14 feet with a 6-inch integral curb using a Gomaco four-track slipform paver. At the north end of the project, where Northampton dead-ended, the crew from Florence formed and placed a portion of the concrete by hand due to the presence of a Macomb County Drain Commission stormwater pump station.

Florence Cement Company, in partnership with Hercules Concrete, successfully completed this award-winning project through careful planning and precise concrete placement, maintaining access to homes while overcoming numerous challenges.

Warner Avenue Reconstruction

Location: Between 10 Mile Road and Stephens - Warren
Concrete Contractor & Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Project Owner: City of Warren
QA/QC Consultant: G2 Consulting

The scope of the Warner Avenue Reconstruction project was to install new concrete pavement on Warner Avenue from 10 Mile Road to Stephens along with watermain relocation, minor storm sewer improvements, and edge drain installation.

The project was started with completing the underground work for storm and watermain. The road was constructed partial width, westbound and then the eastbound side to allow residents access to homes throughout the duration of the project.

Florence Cement was able to use the baseball field at adjacent Westview Elementary School for a temporary batch plant to produce the required 16,284 square feet of concrete sidewalk, ramp, and drive approaches, as well as the 14,715 square feet of 9-inch thick, non-reinforced, concrete pavement.

Poor roadway subgrade and aggregate base soils presented a challenge and required undercuts and replacement with engineered aggregate base.

Roseberry Avenue Water Main and Pavement Reconstruction

Location: 9 Mile Road to Stephens - Warren
Concrete Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Project Owner/Engineer: City of Warren

The scope of the Warner Avenue Reconstruction project was to install new concrete pavement on Warner Avenue from 10 Mile Road to Stephens along with watermain relocation, minor storm sewer improvements, and edge drain installation.

The project was started with completing the underground work for storm and watermain. The road was constructed partial width, westbound and then the eastbound side to allow residents access to homes throughout the duration of the project.

Florence Cement was able to use the baseball field at adjacent Westview Elementary School for a temporary batch plant to produce the required 16,284 square feet of concrete sidewalk, ramp, and drive approaches, as well as the 14,715 square feet of 9-inch thick, non-reinforced, concrete pavement.

Poor roadway subgrade and aggregate base soils presented a challenge and required undercuts and replacement with engineered aggregate base.

Duncan Aviation Hanger 9

Location: 15829 S. Airport Road - Battle Creek
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Prime Contractor: Pioneer Construction
Project Manager: Van Laan Concrete Construction
Design Engineer: Mead & Hunt
Project Owner: Duncan Aviation
QA/QC Consultant: Driesenga & Associates

The Nebraska-based jet service provider, Duncan Aviation is the largest privately owned business jet service provider in the world. Grand Rapids-based Pioneer Construction began in October 2022 building a $40 million, 46,000-square-foot hangar − the largest for the company to date − along with an additional 56,000 square feet in the two-story wing for storage, back shops, and office space. The hanger expansion at Battle Creek Executive Airport is expected to create up to 70 jobs at Duncan Aviation, which is already among the city's largest employers.

Florence Cement Company (FCC) utilized a Helco S10 Batch Plant to produce most of the 8,000+ cubic yards of concrete. Florence paving crews used a Gomaco 2600 two-track paver stretched to 30 feet wide for pilot and filler lanes, along with six Mack open-top Agitors to transport the concrete from the plant to the paver. Before paving, Florence crews placed 15,000 feet of one-inch dowel baskets along with 12,000 one-inch epoxy-coated dowel bars.

The key to the success of this project was the coordination between the construction of the hangar itself with the grading and paving contractors. The paving of this project was completed in phases to allow for the flow of materials such as structural steel to erect the hangar. Paving was started on the north side of the hangar with four 30-foot pilot lanes along with 12-foot pilot lanes on the outer east and west sides of the hangar.

Once the initial pilot lanes were cured, all 12 filler lanes were placed to complete Phase 1. Phase 2 consisted of paving next to the building and a 30-day window to finish the approach from the taxiway to the hangar. A total of six pilot and filler lanes were placed next to the hangar and two pilots and one filler lane in the approach off the taxiway. Scheduling the work next to the taxiway was a coordinated effort between underground storm work, electrical work, and paving to complete this work on time.

Alpena County Regional Airport

Location: Alpena County Regional Airport
Concrete Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Prime Contractor: M&M Excavating Company
Design Engineer: RS&H
Project Owner: Alpena County
QA Consultant: Huron Engineering & Surveying
QC Consultant: CT Consultants

Florence Cement Company, under the leadership of Jaime Richards, recently concluded a groundbreaking project aimed at rehabilitating the Alpena Airport Runway 1-19 TDZ Pavement. This ambitious initiative involved the removal and replacement of 60,800 square yards of concrete and asphalt pavement.

The primary objective of the project was to rehabilitate Runway 1-19 TDZ Pavement using non-reinforced concrete. This pavement was constructed on a meticulously prepared underlying surface, adhering to specified lines, grades, thickness, and typical cross-sections outlined in the project plans. The project utilized 32,700 square yards of concrete pavement with a thickness of sixteen inches, amounting to 14,550 cubic yards. Additionally, a 6-inch cement-treated permeable base spanning 33,300 square yards was incorporated into the project under the concrete runway.

A notable aspect of the construction process was the careful planning and execution of the paving lanes. Pilot lanes were poured initially, allowing for a continuous pour, and minimizing wait times for curing. This strategic approach contributed to the efficiency of the project, ensuring a seamless construction process.

One of the key challenges faced during the project was the utilization of cement-treated base (CTB), marking Florence Cement Company's first experience producing this material. The CTB presented difficulties in handling, requiring daily cleaning from batch plant to machine. Overcoming this complexity highlighted the company's adaptability and expertise in handling novel construction materials.

In a commendable move towards sustainability, the project incorporated environmentally friendly practices. The existing runway lanes were removed, and the concrete was crushed, repurposing it as a base material for the mainline pavement. This recycling effort not only reduced waste but also contributed to the overall sustainability of the project.

Florence Cement Company's successful completion of the Runway 1-19 TDZ Pavement rehabilitation project stands as a testament to its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the construction industry. The entire team at Florence Cement Company has set a new standard for runway rehabilitation, combining efficiency, adaptability, and environmental responsibility.

HERITAGE HILLS - PHASE 2

Location: City of Farmington Hills - Heritage Hills Subdivision
Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Design Engineer: Hubbell Roth and Clark, Inc
Owner: City of Farmington Hills

What made this project special was the total size of the 28,000 square yards (SYD) of residential streets being reconstructed. The project worked on eight (8) separate residential streets (Hunter Whip, Glouster Circle, Glouster Court, Ravenscroft, Old Timer, Old Timber Court, Yorkridge, and Charleston Court).

The project was separated into six (6) phases.  Each phase included the complete removal of existing pavement and aggregate base, placement of 1x3 crushed stone for stabilization, followed by MDOT 21AA aggregate base and topped with 7 inches of concrete pavement.  The pavement was poured using the slip form machine with limited handwork pours to connect the intersections of the streets.

 What made this project challenging was maintaining access for the residents. There was constant communication between the construction team, the City of Farmington Hills, and the residents to notify them of the upcoming work taking place on their street. This also required coordination with emergency services, garbage pick-up, and mail delivery services. The project was broken into 700-foot sections to minimize the number of residents affected by the construction. The old pavement and aggregate base had to be completely removed and the new aggregate base was replaced each day to maintain access for residents.

E. HURON BLVD. REPAIRS

Location: Busha Highway To River Road - Marysville, MI
Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Supplier: Protocon Ready Mix
Design Engineer: BMJ Engineers & Surveyors
Owner: City of Marysville

Although small in size and relatively simple in scope, what made the Huron Boulevard pavement repair project special was the coordination and timeliness to complete the project with minimal disruption. To achieve this, the Florence team worked very closely with the primary business, a large Chrysler facility located about mid-way through the roadway stretch being rehabilitated.

Florence chose to complete the project in two full-width closures, half of the job at a time, to allow incoming and outgoing truck traffic continued access to the Chrysler plant. Their crews saw cut and removed deteriorated areas of concrete over the 16-foot-wide lanes and placed over 500 cubic yards of concrete in the 10-inch-thick repair areas. Direct placement from Protocon’s ready-mix trucks assisted the finishing crews, who used a roller screed to strike off the surface and achieve a smooth ride on the patches.

The full closure of the roadway also ensured that crews remained safe during construction, without live traffic having to pass through and near workers who were trying to accomplish their work. The result is a good-looking extension of life for this durable roadway that will continue to serve this busy area in Marysville.

FARMINGTON ROAD STREETSCAPE

Location: Grand River Ave to Orchard Street - Farmington, MI
Concrete Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Engineer: OHM Advisors
QA/QC Consultant: G2 Consulting Group, LLC.
Owner: City of Farmington

The road was reconfigured from two lanes in each direction to one and a left-turn lane.  The streetscape project included rebuilding and widening the sidewalks along Farmington Road adding benches, bicycle racks, disability-friendly crosswalks, decorative light posts, and raised planters along its sidewalks.

The project was constructed by Florence Cement Company paving the roadway full length with the slip form machine. The northbound lane was poured first at 23-foot wide, waited for cure, then FCC paved the 12-foot-wide southbound lane with the slip form machine.

What made this project unique was during the first slip form pour at 23’ wide, in the middle of the job there was a 175’ section of the roadway with an island and the roadway tapered to 11 feet wide. The island was boxed out so FCC could use the slip form machine to pave from end to end even with the road going from 23-foot wide to 11-foot wide and then back to 23-foot.

Stillwater Crossing - Phase 3

Location: North Side of 23 Mile, Macomb Township
Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Prime Contractor: Pamar Enterprises
Owner: Lombardo Homes

In the summers of 2020 and 2021, Florence Cement crews were tasked with the replacement of existing concrete subdivision streets in the Stone Creek & Westlake subdivision in Farmington Hills. In 2021 this included work on Fink Avenue, Tuck Road, Stockton Drive, Ashley Drive, Montclair Drive, Glenmoor Heights, and Astor Drive.

The work involved full reconstruction of the roadway pavement, which requires constant coordination between the contractor, city, and residents. Notification of closures, removal, and concrete placement requires residents to accommodate the contractor’s schedule as well as inclement weather.

About 36,000 square yards of 7-inch concrete were placed each summer in this two-phase project. Each street was typically built (removed, graded, and concrete placed) in 500-foot increments to allow for residents to maintain somewhat close access to their homes. This process shows that long-lasting concrete can still be achieved, even when access requirements are challenging.

STONE CREEK & WESTLAKE

Location: South of 10 Mile, West of Middlebelt Rd
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Engineer: HRC
Owner: City of Farmington Hills

In the summers of 2020 and 2021, Florence Cement crews were tasked with the replacement of existing concrete subdivision streets in the Stone Creek & Westlake subdivision in Farmington Hills. In 2021 this included work on Fink Avenue, Tuck Road, Stockton Drive, Ashley Drive, Montclair Drive, Glenmoor Heights, and Astor Drive.

The work involved full reconstruction of the roadway pavement, which requires constant coordination between the contractor, city, and residents. Notification of closures, removal, and concrete placement requires residents to accommodate the contractor’s schedule as well as inclement weather.

About 36,000 square yards of 7-inch concrete were placed each summer in this two-phase project. Each street was typically built (removed, graded, and concrete placed) in 500-foot increments to allow for residents to maintain somewhat close access to their homes. This process shows that long-lasting concrete can still be achieved, even when access requirements are challenging.

I-75 & LAPLAISANCE RD

Location: I-75, Exit 11 - Monroe Township
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Prime Contractor: Miller Brothers Construction
Owner: MDOT Brighton TSC

The LaPlaisance Road exit at I-75 in Monroe Charter Township has gone through a massive transformation in 2021. A brand-new bridge and two coupling roundabouts on either side for better traffic flow were constructed. This was an expedited project, as concern over the bridge and its deteriorating conditions prompted state officials to close it to through traffic last year.

Due to the new bridge being shortened for future maintenance purposes, this exit required the construction of brand-new on and off-ramps connecting I-75 directly with the new roundabouts. The existing concrete ramps were then to be retired after 48 years on service, proving once again the longevity concrete pavement can provide to any road service.

Construction was completed in four stages, requiring constant communication between contractors on all facets of the interchange’s construction. Florence and Miller Brothers worked together flawlessly to construct each ramp in a timely fashion. In total, Florence paved 11,500 square yards of concrete for the ramps (ranging 8 from 12 inches thick) and an additional 11,800 square yards for I-75 shoulder work. This work re-joins the disjointed LaPlaisance Road to the north and south of I-75 and now businesses, residents, and emergency services will be happy with this stunning interchange for years to come.

I-675 PAVEMENT REPAIRS

Location: S. I-75/I-675 Interchange to N. I-75/I-675 Interchange - Saginaw, MI
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Co.
Concrete Supplier: R&R Ready Mix
Owner: MDOT - Bay City TSC

Florence Cement and R&R Ready Mix had their hands full with patchwork for the entire stretch of I-675. Totaling 28,000 square yards of 10-inch concrete patchwork (just under 7,800 cubic yards), direct placement from trucks and roller screeding was used to place and strike off the concrete patches.

To maximize safety for both workers and drivers during construction, this large patchwork project was skillfully coordinated in six segments. Pavement patching took place in each segment with the roadway completely shut down to traffic. Doing this eliminated traffic hazards for workers and allowed for an open construction zone while coordinating work activities between the bridge rehabilitation and other subcontractors working in the segment. Now complete, these repairs should greatly extend the life of I-675, continuing its crucial role in navigating through Saginaw.

PRESCOTT ROAD

Location: Between Wahrmann Rd & Vining Rd - Romulus, MI
Concrete Contractor: Florence Cement Company
Prime Contractor: Miller Bros Construction
General Contractor: Ryan Companies
Design Engineer: Kimley-Horn
Owner: Wayne County

Not a surprise to anyone, Amazon is taking over America’s digital and physical landscape, with countless distribution facilities being built throughout the country, and Michigan is no different. Recently, two large warehouses (752,400 square feet and 516,760 square feet) were built where the old Pinnacle Race Course used to reside in Romulus. To operate as the primary vein of transportation for shipping products in and out of these facilities, a brand-new stretch of Prescott Road was required, bisecting the two facilities.

Working together flawlessly, Florence Cement, Miller Brothers, and Ryan Companies paved this superb one-mile extension with nearly 25,000 square yards of 10-inch-thick concrete pavement with an integral curb (all within Wayne County specs). Not only does this new roadway support heavy and consistent truck traffic, but it also acts as the route for 1,000 new employees working in both warehouses.

BALDWIN ROAD

Location: Gregory Road to Waldon Road, Oakland County
Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Owner/Engineer: Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC)

The multi-year widening and reconstruction of Baldwin Road in Orion Township has resulted in a wide, new concrete boulevard section from Gregory Road to Waldon Road. Three roundabouts were also added at the major intersections along the route, at Gregory, Maybee, and Waldon roads.

Florence Cement was tasked with paving over 40,000 square yards of 10-inch high performance concrete pavement for the roadway. Multiple paving widths and roundabout jointing required Florence to utilize a paver over forms for narrow widths and inside forms for wider placements, all while exceeding the MDOT Ride Quality specification. Daily aggregate testing to ensure optimal aggregate gradations was performed at Florence’s Helco SBS Portable Batch Plant, which produced all 12,000 cubic yards of MDOT P1 Modified concrete.

HOLBROOK AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION

Location: Lumpkin Street to Joseph Campau Avenue, Hamtramck
Contractor/Supplier: Florence Cement Company
Engineer: Hennessey Engineers
Owner: City of Hamtramck DPS

Nestled against both the very busy Kowalski Sausage Company and an old and fragile watermain, Holbrook Avenue’s reconstruction in Hamtramck was a true test of skill and precision in concrete roadway reconstruction. This project consisted of nearly 11,000 square yards of 9-inch-thick concrete pavement, along with the installation of new ductile iron water main and copper service lines to residents’ homes.

This project had its fair share of obstacles. Along with the water main replacement, an old pedestrian tunnel underneath the street as well as old encased train tracks required removal. There was little historical data on the tunnel in terms of size, installation, and when it was constructed, so great caution had to be taken. Florence crews also had to maintain access to both Kowalski Sausage Company and Hamtramck Senior Plaza, both located immediately adjacent to the roadway reconstruction.

Despite its complexities, this five-stage construction project was consolidated and completed in three stages. The new roadway, water main and non-lead water services will provide this community with the civil infrastructure needed to continue its economic recovery and welcome new citizens to Hamtramck.