“The roadway through Silver Creek Canyon was only about 40 feet wide, and the pavers took up about 26 to 30 feet, including wire guidelines for the sensors,” says Cody Preston, concrete paving manager for Geneva Rock Products. This made it difficult for trucks to drive up and turn around when delivering concrete to the pavers.
Before the I-80 project, the contractor had considered adding 3D wireless controls to its pavers but hadn’t had time for installation or training. Before the spring season began, Geneva Rock added Trimble PCS900 paving controls to two of its four Gomaco slipform pavers.
Employees learned how to remotely steer the pavers and use the SPS930 Universal Total Station to control the pan for proper alignment, design, and slope of the pavement. Without guide wires, workers didn’t have to worry about tripping or breaking the stringline and stopping the machines. Concrete trucks could also get loser to the pavers before turning around to unload, instead of having to back all the way down the grade.
It was the first time Trimble and Gomaco had used the system for zero-clearance paving, which the team successfully accomplished to pave the 4-foot shoulders on I-80.
