November 2019
Archer Western completes I-85 reconstruction in Spartanburg County, SC
SPARTANBURG, SC - Archer Western has completed reconstruction of six lanes on Interstate 85, within an eight-mile corridor through heavily populated upstate Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The project consisted of removing existing pavement to reach base level, then reclaiming the existing cement-treated base, asphalt inner-layer, and concrete pavement. Additionally, on-/off-ramps and transition slabs were reset with tie bars and dowels and hand paved. The heavily trafficked, eight-mile section intersects with other major routes I-26, Highway 9, and Highway 585.
Archer Western and the South Carolina Department of Transportation worked together to develop a Value Engineering plan that accelerated the project timeline while also mitigating delays caused by adjacent projects, ensuring that the scope of work was delivered within budget and on time. Project phasing included placing traffic on the southbound lanes, while crews built the new northbound lanes full width. For the southbound side of the interstate, traffic was shifted to the outside lane and shoulder while crews constructed the inside lanes and shoulder. Committed to efficiency and safety, Archer Western engineered a plan that reduced employee exposure to traffic and teamed with CJ Geo, a company that performs geotechnical foam stabilization for concrete slabs in roadways by drilling ports into the slabs and injecting them with epoxy foam. By doing so, the team reduced a process that normally takes twelve hours to only a few minutes and increased worker safety by decreasing their time spent near traffic areas.
(Image Credit: Ken Toney Photography)
Crews also implemented concrete access ramps in lieu of sand, which created a safer and smoother access road to jobsites, saving time and energy. Further, emergency crews were able to use the access ramps, which provided additional safety benefits for the community. The collective efforts of the Archer Western team and subcontractors allowed for a project schedule benefits, while prioritizing workplace safety for all parties.