815-416-1000UCP Spring 2023 Newsletter
Check out some of the unique projects and precast products we’ve been working on this year!
Precast Trench Drains
Our latest precast solution installing on the Illinois Tollway’s I-294 Corridor Project!
Faced with a tight schedule, the installing contractor partnered with UCP to develop a precast trench drain in order to accelerate their installation timeline. Our in-house forming team designed and fabricated special formwork to produce the 3,812 lineal feet of trench required for this project. In just a matter of weeks, our production group was able to produce over 255 sections in both 16 foot and 4 foot lengths. The top concrete surface was poured with a textured, non-slip finish which sloped towards the cast-in HDPE channel to facilitate the necessary drainage. The design also incorporated a basic shiplap joint allowing the contractor to slide the sections together with ease and place several hundred linear feet per day.
Have a job that requires cast-in-place trench drain? Give us a call so we can develop a precast trench alternate that meets your project’s requirements!
Click here to see additional Drainage projects
Precast Custom Vaults
Manufacturing underground electrical vaults has been at the core of our business since Utility Concrete’s inception in 1969. While we still manufacture the standard manhole sizes that got us started, our ability to innovate and produce massive structures has become what we’re known for as we continue to push the limits of what can be done with precast.
Produced for a new development in Northern Illinois, these 20x20x10 foot vaults weighed in at over 100,000 pounds each. The structures were coated with an exterior polymer modified asphalt dampproofing product to prevent water infiltration. Designed to be installed at grade, we also provided giant 12×10 foot galvanized steel hatches for access.
Click here to see additional Electrical projects
Substation Perimeter and Firewalls
Whether it is a firewall to mitigate potential disaster, a perimeter wall to protect sensitive equipment, or a sight screen to avoid a neighborhood eyesore, power supply companies turn to Utility Concrete Products for structurally sound AND aesthetically appealing solutions.
Earlier this year we engineered and manufactured both a perimeter and firewall for installation in downtown Chicago. The perimeter wall stretches over 22,000 lineal feet and features a simulated brick finish to match the surrounding architecture. The unique subsurface of downtown Chicago added an extra layer of complexity to the design, requiring a mix of drilled piers and spread footings in order to avoid existing utilities. Our team was on call during installation as the contractor unearthed unknown utilities resulting in multiple changes to the project. UCP’s ability to adapt on the fly highlights our promise to provide unmatched service and dedicated support from start to finish.
Click here to see additional Sound Wall projects
Big Block Retaining Walls
It’s easy to brag about 40 foot tall retaining walls that hold up bridges and flyovers, but it’s important to remember that retaining walls come in all shapes and sizes! While MSE, Post & Panel and Precast Counterfort are great solutions for grade separations over 15 feet, “Big Block” gravity retaining walls are an amazing tool for applications that are shorter in stature. The gravity retaining wall system of choice at Utility Concrete Products is StoneStrong.
These blocks are truly massive! A typical piece measures 8 feet wide by 3 feet tall and only weighs 6,000 pounds, but the real value is in the design of the wall system itself. Because these blocks are so large, the StoneStrong Retaining Wall System can be engineered without the use of expensive select granular backfill. This unique feature makes them a great option for navigating right of ways, utilities, and property lines. They can also be employed on taller walls or heavy loading conditions, by incorporating geogrid or casting small footing extensions in the field.
Over the past few months, UCP has manufactured and delivered StoneStrong Retaining Walls for Railways, Tollway, IDOT, and commercial owners alike. Our featured picture is from a rail project in downtown Chicago where StoneStrong was chosen over the traditional railroad retaining wall system. Thanks to our great customers, these projects are a shining example of how we provide accelerated retaining wall construction to any job no matter the size.
Click here to see additional Retaining Wall projects
Women in Construction Week
Back (left to right): Samantha Fredericks, Sylvia Romo Rhea, Mary Ashley, Kim Cardinal, Maryann Wells, Adrienne Brady
This March we celebrated Women in Construction Week and would like to recognize the talented women that work for UCP! These ladies work in various departments of the company including Dispatch, Account Management, Project Management, Operations, Quality Control, Human Resources, and are vital to our success!
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