Friday, November 10, 2017

Steamroller operator Paul Isaiah Hall-Rhanes, 37, was crushed to death by his steamroller at the new I-10 overpass over U.S. 301 is being built.


 
Hillsborough County man killed in Tuesday night construction accident in Baldwin


A worker killed Tuesday afternoon at a construction project at Interstate 10 and U.S. 301 has been identified as 37-year-old Paul Isaiah Hall-Rhanes of Ruskin in Hillsborough County, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Officers were called about 4 p.m. to the site near the intersection on a report of a victim pinned under a steamroller along I-10 in Baldwin, police said.

Witnesses said Hall-Rhanes was working on a hilly section when he fell out of his seat as the vehicle rolled over and pinned him under it, the incident report said. It took several minutes to get the vehicle off him using other construction equipment to move it. Hall-Rhanes was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead. 



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Jacksonville, FL - 


A day after a man was killed in an industrial accident in Baldwin, an incident report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is revealing new details.

According to that report, the man was working at a construction site at the intersection of I-10 and US 301 on a hilly portion of land, and was driving a construction vehicle.

At some point, the vehicle rolled over, causing the man to fall out his seat. He was then pinned underneath it.

Witnesses say it took several minutes to free him from the vehicle, as they had to use heavy machinery to lift it off of him.

The man was taken to UF Health, where he died from his injuries.

Police have identified him as Paul Hall-Rhanes, 37.


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BALDWIN, Fla. - 



A worker died after an industrial accident Tuesday afternoon at a highway construction site along Interstate 10 at U.S. 301, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.

Officers were called about 4 p.m. to the site near Baldwin, where police said they found a 37-year-old man underneath an asphalt compactor that had tipped over.

Police said the man, who was a construction worker, was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His name has not yet been released.

SKY 4 captured an aerial view of the scene, showing police tape around the piece of heavy equipment where a new I-10 overpass over U.S. 301 is being built.

Investigators said multiple companies work at the site, and it's not yet known which company the victim worked for.

Sheriff's Office homicide detectives are investigating the incident as an accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating. 



The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) scheduled to begin construction early February 2017 on a bypass around the Town of Baldwin. Superior Construction Company is expected to complete the $60 million project by Spring 2020.

The project includes constructing a new four-mile, four-lane divided highway beginning north of the I-10 westbound on-ramp and two new signalized intersections at Beaver Street (U.S. 90) and Brandy Branch Road. Plans also include building an overpass across two CSX railroad crossings and an additional overpass over the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail to alleviate traffic congestion and improve operational efficiency of U.S. 301, which is part of the National Highway System and Florida’s Strategic Intermodal System (SIS).

An open house was held Monday, January 9. Topics discussed included timeframe, construction activities, traffic impacts and other details.


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Construction aims to improve I-10, US-301 interchange


Safety for truck drivers, other motorists the focus


By Crystal Moyer - Traffic/reporter
 

BALDWIN, Fla. - Construction at I-10 and US-301 is underway to help alleviate the traffic and accommodate the growing number of trucks that use that interchange.  

Baldwin has become a hub for truck drivers transporting products to and from Jacksonville. The I-10/US-301 interchange is a popular spot for truck drivers to refuel and rest. But engineers with the Florida Department of Transportation noticed there were some flaws to the interchange.

Engineers believe there's not enough space for trucks to slow down on the ramps from I-10 to US-301. Truck traffic often backs up on US-301 northbound waiting to make the turn onto I-10 eastbound. They also said the overpasses on I-10 in Baldwin need to be higher to accommodate larger trucks. 

FDOT crews were working to make improvements, but they say there have been some bumps in the road.
Recent storms like Hurricane Irma have delayed progress along the I-10/US-301 interchange. The project completion date has been pushed back to fall of 2019. But when it's done it's going to help drivers behind the wheel of big rigs. 

That includes reconstructing the entrance ramps from US-301 to I-10 eastbound. A new ramp will allow US-301 northbound traffic to smoothly exit onto I-10 after the intersection. This will cut down on the backup of traffic at the exit.  

There will be an additional lane to give trucks and other cars more space and time to merge onto I-10, and the exit lanes on I-10 will be wider to accommodate semis. 


Truck drivers said the changes will make their jobs a little easier and safer. But they say other drivers need to be more mindful. 

"Cars are going to cut in front of trucks," truck driver Steven Brown said. "They're going to be in a hurry. Not much you can do about that." ===================

I-10 at U.S. 301 Improvements



The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) started work in late February 2016 on a project on the Interstate 10 and U.S. 301 interchange near Baldwin. The reconstruction project is designed to accommodate increased truck traffic making the northbound U.S. 301 to eastbound I-10 movement. Northbound trucks using U.S. 301 are primarily heading to Jacksonville or points north. 

Florida is a major player in the global economy, ranking seventh in the U.S. for exports. In 2013, Florida exported more than $85 billion in goods, with most of those loads moving on Florida highways on the way to seaports and rail centers.
The $65 million project was awarded to Superior Construction of Jacksonville and comes on the heels of the $67 million widening of U.S. 301 north of Baldwin completed last summer. 

A Baldwin Bypass project is scheduled for construction next year. 

"This route is a critical part of the regional transportation network," said Pete Sheridan of VIA Consulting Services, which will oversee the construction.
The existing I-10-U.S. 301 interchange features two major truck stops that attract a sizable concentration of truck traffic. 

The interchange project includes new ramps and bridges to correct the following deficiencies:

  • Substandard loop ramps
  • Insufficient deceleration ramp length
  • Insufficient queue storage on U.S. 301
  • A short weaving distance between loop ramps and southbound U.S. 301
  • Substandard vertical clearance under the bridges
Because of these deficiencies, truck traffic often backs up waiting to make the northbound U.S. 301 to eastbound I-10 movement.
I-10 and U.S. 301 improvements include:

  • Reconstruct the entrance ramp from U.S. 301 southbound to I-10 eastbound in the southwest quadrant of the interchange which will ultimately merge into the single-lane entrance ramp from U.S. 301 northbound to I-10 eastbound providing dual lanes and allow for merge room onto I-10
  • Construct a new single-lane entrance ramp from U.S. 301 northbound to I-10 eastbound in the southeast quadrant of the interchange which will ultimately merge into the entrance ramp from U.S. 301 southbound to I-10 eastbound providing dual lanes and allow for merge room onto I-10.  This will ultimately eliminate the current left turn movement at the signal and allow a free-flowing right turn lane.
  • Realign and widen the exit ramp from I-10 eastbound to U.S. 301 from a single left turn lane to a dual left turn lane to U.S. 301 northbound and maintain a single right turn lane to U.S. 301 southbound.
  • Construct a new single-lane exit ramp from I-10 westbound to U.S. 301 in the northeast quadrant. The ramp will ultimately split allowing for separate exit ramps for northbound and southbound U.S. 301 traffic. The new ramp design will provide a dual right turn lane controlled by a signal for northbound U.S. 301 and provide a two-lane ramp controlled by a signal for southbound U.S. 301. The new ramp will also improve I-10 westbound and provide more capacity during peak times.
  • Realign the westbound entrance ramp from U.S. 301 southbound to I-10 westbound in the northwest quadrant controlled by a yield sign.
  • Reconstruct turn lanes which will extend and/or eliminate both left and right turn lanes at the interchange.


The Companies


Superior Construction Company, Inc.

Superior Construction Company is a Midwest based Heavy-Civil, Transportation, and Industrial Services contractor, operating throughout North America, proudly employing a Union Labor force.

Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC.

Superior Construction Southeast is a Florida based Heavy-Civil and Transportation contractor, established in the late 80’s, that operates in a variety of open shop environments.


General Scope

The interchange at I-10 and US 301 is being reconfigured to alleviate traffic congestion for vehicles entering and exiting I-10 to and from US301.  Improvements for this project include milling and resurfacing, base work, shoulder treatment, drainage improvements, traffic signals, lighting, highway signing, guardrail, box culverts, bridges, MSE walls and other incidental construction.