Rehabilitation with SUPER 2003-3i wheeled paver

New York State | Ithaca

To jump-start its operations, in 2017 Riccelli-Northern acquired two SUPER 2003-3i 10-foot wheeled pavers with VR 600 rear-mounted Extending Screeds from VÖGELE, 2 HD+ 120i VO tandem rollers from HAMM featuring vibration compaction in one drum, and exclusive HAMM oscillation in the other, and 2 HD+ 120i VV tandem rollers with vibration in each drum. The company also bought an HD 12 VV roller for smaller projects. “We had been in the asphalt manufacturing business for three years, and our owner Rick Riccelli decided to begin laydown operations. So we started at ground zero, jumping right in with 2 pavers and 2 full-blown highway-class paving crews,” said Dale Smith, Vice President Paving Operations, for Riccelli-Northern.

Using their new VÖGELE and HAMM products, Riccelli-Northern was paving New York State Route 13 south of Ithaca in the scenic Finger Lakes region. A subcontractor milled the existing five-to-two-lane highway, and Riccelli-Northern followed with two courses. “This project is 4.5 miles long north and south,” Smith said. “Approximately 110,000 sq. yd. were milled 2 3/4 in. deep, and we followed with a 3/4-in., 9.5-mm leveling Superpave base course, and 1 1/2-in., 9.5-mm PG 64-22 Superpave surface course.” Most of the project was placed 19 ft. wide with one screed extension.

The tack coat for this job was placed at an application rate determined by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT), and on a milled surface like State Route 13, the machine runs at between 0.08 and 0.1 gal. per sq. yd. “For this application they dialed it back to 0.06 gal. per sq. yd. from one side to the other,” Smith said. “Both the leveling and the surface course will be tacked.” Approximately 6,000 tons of leveling course, and at least 12,000 tons of friction course were placed in widths up to 20 ft. by the SUPER 2003-3i paver, depending on roadway width. They were compacted by a HAMM HD+ 120i VV and a HAMM HD+ 120i VO tandem roller.

Both of Riccelli-Northern’s new VÖGELE pavers are wheeled, which provides unexcelled mobility, Smith said. The SUPER 2003-3i is designed primarily for use in highway construction and large-scale commercial applications. With a powerful, six-cylinder engine rated at 250 hp (186 kW) and high-output hydraulic drives, it is fully equipped for these jobs. This 10-foot wheeled Highway Class paver has paving widths up to 25 ft. 6 in. (7.75 m). The exclusive, easy-to-use and intuitive ErgoPlus 3 operating system offers functional advantages.

The VÖGELE VR 600 Extending Screed produces high-quality, even road pavement for contractors. The rear-mounted extensions permit paving in widths from 10 ft. to 28 ft. Generously dimensioned, sturdy telescoping tubes featuring high-precision operation provide for excellent stability of the screed, ensuring great paving results. Telescoping tubes are located at high positions, meaning that any contact with the material is avoided. Even with the screed set to its maximum width, the telescoping tubes are extended by no more than half, which ensures zero flexing. Deep screed plate design provides for excellent floatation. Depending on the speed of the paving, compaction at the screed ranges from 30 to 50%. “We run the augers at their lowest setting most of the time,” Smith said.

When Riccelli-Northern launched its paving operations, it jumped feet first into WIRTGEN GROUP products, and for some very good reasons. “We did our due diligence, hearing the sales presentations and seeing the machines. When all was said and done, we kept coming back to the VÖGELE product.”

The same held true with the HAMM rollers. “We had extensive experience with the HAMM and other rollers,” he said. “But the critical factor was the WIRTGEN GROUP system WITOS FleetView on our machines, with which we can track everything from the current location to the hours to the speed to the utilization of the equipment. It’s integral to all the machines, and it’s been a fantastic tool for us in managing our equipment.” Also, Riccelli-Northern can monitor the equipment in the home office as well as from a laptop computer in a pickup truck.

Rehabilitation of State Route 13 in New York State, south of Ithaca