Alabama 7, April 7, 2021 by Construction Equipment Guide

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‘Skepticism’ Turns Into ‘Optimism’ in West Ala. for U.S. Highway 43 Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement in February that U.S. Highway 43 would be widened from Thomasville to Tuscaloosa brought back long-ago memories for Cindy Neilson. Neilson was a Marengo County probate judge when she, along with former Linden Mayor Roy “Pat” Vice, often visited with former Alabama Gov. Fob James to discuss the importance of a U.S. 43 corridor through west Alabama. Indeed, a project that has been discussed and planned since at least the early 1990s — if not longer — was prioritized in Ivey’s State of the State address earlier this year. The project is “absolutely happening,” according to an Ivey spokesperson, and is part of the governor’s goal in reducing the number of counties in Alabama, now at 17, that have no four-lane connectivity to an interstate. With it, towns along the way hope the new road ushers in economic growth to an area that hasn’t had prosperity visit in some time. The project will be financed through Rebuild Alabama, a program adopted by the Legislature in 2019 and financed by the first increase to the state’s gas tax since 1992. The final two cents to an overall 10-cent tax increase will be added this fall. “As [Ivey] said in her State of the State address this year, our state’s roadways are the arteries of commerce, and she remains totally committed to making this long-await project a reality,” said Gina Maiola, the governor’s spokesperson. The U.S. 43 project also will be under construction before the end of 2021, even though no corridors or bypasses around cities have been identified. The project’s estimated overall costs also have not been disclosed by state officials. But the mechanism the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is looking at in building the road is geared toward fasttracking its construction. The U.S. 43 project will be Alabama’s first “design-build” project, a method in which the design and construction contracts are combined into one bid. Officials say the method can speed up construction, as opposed to traditional designbid-build contracts in which multiple contractors are part of one project. The method has been growing in popularity throughout the United States since it first became an experimental concept for transportation departments in 1988. Alabama lawmakers, however, only gave ALDOT permission to pursue the method in 2017. Tony Harris, a spokesperson of ALDOT, said the design-build concept will give state officials latitude to work with a team of designers and contractors to speed the project along. “If they design the first four miles, they can then get started with see OPTIMISM page 6

C&W Drilling is one of the largest drilling contractors in the state of Alabama. Now operating a dozen drills with approximately 20 staff in the Columbiana area, the company’s chief efforts remain on rock quarry, water well, geothermal and construction drilling. From the Alabama company’s start in 1990, Woody Quinn, owner and CEO, has prided himself on hard work and has never forgotten where he came from. Though Quinn’s booming drilling empire is in Alabama, his first home was in South Carolina, where he grew up and his passion for Clemson sports grew deeper. Beyond simple admiration of the football team, Quinn’s uncle was a great Clemson baseball player who see DRILLING page 6

Woody Quinn, owner and CEO of C&W Drilling, found a unique way of combining his current drilling needs with his Clemson Pride — he painted his new Reichdrill RTD 45 orange and purple with Tiger Paws.

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Coca-Cola Invests $48M to Expand Mobile, Ala., Warehouse Coca-Cola Bottling Co. UNITED will invest $48 million in its Mobile, Ala., campus to grow its business along the Gulf Coast. The project will expand the Birmingham-based company’s existing warehouse, optimize distribution operations and install a modern warehousing system. Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin mid-2021 and should be complete by the end of 2022. “With this larger and more innovative facility, we will create an enhanced working environment for our associates and provide a higher level of service for our customers and communities along the Gulf Coast for decades to come,” said Coca-Cola UNITED President and CEO John Sherman. Coca-Cola UNITED will expand the existing warehouse by 120,000 sq. ft. and install a Vertique case picking system that is leading edge technology in the beverage industry. The system turns the case picking process into a more organized and efficient operation and puts less stress on associates, according to the company. Once the construction project is complete, the company expects an increase in jobs at the Mobile facility, which will continue to serve as a hub to distribute products and services to customers and other Coca-Cola UNITED sales centers along the Gulf Coast. “This investment is another illustration of Coca-Cola UNITED’s long-term commitment to the Mobile community and the State of Alabama,” said Keith Watson, Mobile Coca-Cola Sales Center Manager. “We appreciate the great support from our state and local officials.” “It’s always special to see a company with

deep Alabama roots reinvest in its operations in the state, creating new jobs and strengthen long-standing ties in their communities,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “I’m very happy that Coca-Cola Bottling UNITED is launching a growth project in Mobile and know that the company will continue to thrive in ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’” The expansion is the latest chapter in the long history of Coca-Cola UNITED and the

city of Mobile. The territory, first owned by Coca-Cola UNITED founder Crawford Johnson Sr. of Birmingham, was purchased by brothers Walter and Will Bellingrath in 1903. More than a century later, in 2017, Coca-Cola UNITED again acquired the Mobile territory as part of a transformation that saw the company more than triple in size. The Mobile facility now has more than

300 employees, produces more than 13 million cases annually and serves some 3,300 customers. “We are excited about the significant investment Coca-Cola Bottling Co. UNITED is making in Mobile,” said Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “This expansion is a strong signal of their commitment to our local economy, and I look forward to seeing their continued success here in Mobile.” 

Rolin Construction Earns AGC Diverse Business of Year The Associated General Contractors of America has selected Alabama AGC member Rolin Construction Inc. as the “2021 AGC Diverse Business of the Year” award winner. The award brings awareness to the value of a diverse workforce and inclusive environment. Sponsored by Willis Towers Watson, the AGC Diversity & Inclusion Awards program recognizes companies that share AGC’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the construction industry. Award applicants are judged based on the following criteria: consistent growth, vision and potential for long-term success, business cul-

ture and values, response to adversity or obstacles, contributions to the community and AGC involvement. Rolin Construction Inc. demonstrated strong leadership in overcoming obstacles, commitment to diversity and inclusion, a reputation for professionalism and integrity in work standards and performance, and dedication to community service. Located in Atmore, Ala., Rolin Construction specializes in commercial, retail, multifamily, hospitality, industrial, entertainment and healthcare projects. Since it was founded in 2005, Rolin Construction Inc. has become one of the largest general contractors in

south Alabama. Rolin Construction Inc. takes pride in its Native American her-

Located in Atmore, Ala., Rolin Construction specializes in commercial, retail, multifamily, hospitality, industrial, entertainment and healthcare projects.

itage and its strong reputation for honesty, integrity and safety. Owner and CEO Shawn Rolin is a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Tribe in Alabama. Over the years, the company has remained loyal to its Native American roots by providing employment opportunities, sponsorships and benefits to the community. Rolin Construction Inc. has been an active member of Alabama AGC since 2014. It has been recognized by the Mobile section for the past six years for its excellence in safety performance at the Annual Construction Safety Excellence Awards Event. Seth Smith, vice president of

Rolin Construction Inc., currently serves as the 2021 President of the Mobile Section. He also serves on the Alabama AGC board of directors. Stephanie Rolin, president of Rolin Construction Inc. serves on the Mobile Section’s board of directors. Rolin Construction’s commitment to its clients and community, tremendous business success and dedicated participation in AGC made it an outstanding candidate for the 2021 AGC Diverse Business of the Year award. AGC of America will present this award to Rolin Construction Inc. at the AGC National Convention in September 2021. 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 7, 2021 • Page 3

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Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 7, 2021 • Page 5

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Rebuild Alabama Program Focuses On Long-Awaited Project OPTIMISM from page 1

construction and [continue] to design as they go,” Harris said, noting that 4 mi. is an arbitrary number and that the exact design and construction method has not been determined. Get Prepared Though Ivey is calling the project a “widening,” ALDOT refers to it as a new north-south “corridor.” It also will be the only north-south four-lane highway through Alabama west of Interstate 65. Harris said studies are under way to determine how much of the existing U.S. 43 will be widened, and whether alternative roadways off the highway’s alignment will be needed to complete the connection from Thomasville to Tuscaloosa, approximately 100 mi. “It would be, to the greatest extent possible, still along the existing routes,” Harris said. “We have to look at the current conditions of the roadway and where it goes and what the impacts will be. Some of these are environmental and development-related and we want to make sure that we minimize these impacts where we can.” Also unknown is where the project begins. Harris said no determination has been made, though he added there might be some benefit from beginning with the four-lane U.S. 43 in Thomasville. The existing four lanes of the highway, which connect Mobile to Clarke County, ends in Thomasville. Sheldon Day, the longtime mayor of Thomasville, said his city is ready to see the project begin and has a message to community and industrial leaders north of his city: Get prepared now. “We’ve been waiting for many years for this project and for someone to champion it and move it forward,” said Day. “We were always told it was on a five-year plan, but it was never done. I think it’s one of the reasons that so many in our region are skeptical [that it will happen]. But now is the time to embrace it. We need to turn our skepticism into optimism and motivation, so we are actively working with the governor’s office and ALDOT to promote the project going forward.” The opportunities, Day and others said, are “generational” but only if cities are prepared. “Each community along this route needs to plan and work hand-in-hand with the state,” he continued. “When the highway is built, if it’s a bypass [around a city], you don’t want that bypass to totally hurt your community. You want to

make sure there is infrastructure extended to the exit. It all needs to be effectively planned.” Could New U.S. 43 Bring Back Residents? The opportunities are not only with adding businesses to a new corridor. It also could mean bringing residents back to declining rural towns. In Linden, city and school officials are hopeful a new U.S. 43 will enable residents to remain in the community and commute to Tuscaloosa for work. “People always say small towns are dying,” said Gwendolyn Rogers, Linden’s first elected African American mayor. “But there is a lot we can do to make sure that they don’t.” Rogers said she believes the project will increase economic opportunities for Linden, a town of 1,800 residents, while making U.S. 43 a safer road. But she also said she is concerned about what a potential bypass might mean for the city. The existing U.S. 43 traverses through the heart of the community. Downtown businesses, including City Hall, hug the existing roadway. An additional two lanes would be impossible without demolishing much of the community’s business district. “Of course, it’s a little concerning anytime you bypass an area,” she said. “It reduces the amount of traffic that could come through here. While there are things you are excited about, there will be drawbacks. We are working hard to build our city up to where people will want to go through, and to have some attractions here in town so they can come out of their way and see why things are good in Linden.” Making a Safer Roadway Demopolis, the largest city along the route between Thomasville and Tuscaloosa, also is the only one with an east-west corridor running through it. U.S. Highway 80 connects to Selma and Montgomery to the east, and Meridian, Miss., to the west. The only portions of U.S. 43 widened to four lanes along the corridor are where it merges with U.S. 80. Unsurprisingly, the road is filled with commercial activity from fast-food restaurants, motels and convenience stores. “If we can get a north-south on U.S. 43 to a four-lane, it just gives us the ability for so much transportation that a twolane doesn’t afford,” said Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins. “The biggest hurdle we have right now is the state identifying a path [for the expanded highway]. The growth potential is tremendous [but] it’s about finding the location and prepar-

ing for it.” A new U.S. 43 corridor also will make the road safer while keeping large trucks from rumbling through the small downtowns along the existing roadway. Bypassing trucks off the two-lane highway is also supported by the timber industry, the dominate industry in western Alabama. The industry leads all farm and forestry sectors in term of economic impact for Alabama, generating $21.4 billion annually and employing more than 122,000 of the state’s residents. On U.S. 43 is Two Rivers Lumber Company, a sawmill in Demopolis. The company is owned by Roy Geiger, who, for the past 35 years, has also owned Sumter Timber Co. in town. He said the current road is “restrictive from a safety aspect,” while adding the widening effort “would be a great benefit and would open up a lot of trade areas for us.” Justice Smyth, outreach director of the Alabama Transportation Institute at the University of Alabama, said that “there are many safety countermeasures which may be included in construction projects to reduce [crash] occurrences and severity, for example alternative intersections, turn-lanes, minor alignment modifications, shoulder improvements and roadside recovery improvements.” He added that one of the major criteria for business leaders and site selectors in locating to a community is “available access to a four-lane highway or interstate.” Timely delivery of raw materials — such as timber — is important for businesses that look to expand. ‘Please Break Ground’ The final hurdle could be convincing doubters that the project is happening and that no more delays will occur. “My personal observation to this is ‘please break ground and spend money so we don’t back off of it,’” said Collins. “We know different [governors] switch things. If they get enough money tied up on the ground, they can’t back away from it.” Phillis Belcher, executive director of the Greene County Industrial Development Authority, said she believes it’s happening. She’s optimistic despite the fact the promises of a four-lane U.S. 43 have existed for more than a quarter century. “What we’ve seen in this governor is she’s truly committed to rural Alabama,” said Belcher. “And that crosses the line with her own staff and her directors. I’m really optimistic it will happen.” 

C&W Drilling Owner Paints Reichdrill in His College Colors DRILLING from page 1

was recently inducted into the Clemson Baseball Hall of Fame. The recent successful years of the winning football program has only fed the joy and excitement of Quinn being a self-proclaimed Clemson fanatic. Despite being out of Tiger territory and behind enemy lines, he has never wavered from showing his school spirit. Quinn has now found a unique way of combining his current drilling needs with his Clemson Pride — he painted his new Reichdrill RTD 45 orange and purple with Tiger Paws. Finding a Solution With Reichdrill In recent years, being able to transport blasthole drills economically has become essential to maintain drill utilization. C&W has recognized that the new, U.S.-manufactured

Reichdrill model RTD45 design is the solution that it has been looking for. The RTD45 is 8 ft. wide, 12 ft. 4 in. high, and weighs approximately 60,000 lbs. It is extremely transportable, yet robust enough to drill 6.5 in. holes into the hardest rock, according to the manufacturer. C&W purchased its Reichdrill from Country Boy Supply LLC. In addition to the main location in Conyers, Ga., which includes a full- service shop and four drill maintenance techs, CBS also has satellite locations in South Carolina and Clemmons, N.C. Founded in 2016, CBS has grown each and every year, but taking on the Reichdrill distributorship in 2020 has really helped it across the board, according to the company. In addition to Reichdrill, Country Boy Supply also sells and services JunJin drills; Sandvik and Drilco downhole hammers and bits;

Top Hammer drill steel; and all other drilling consumables. CBS’s sales force is exactly that, a force of experience, according to the company. Paul Colvin has 40 years selling drill rigs between Ingersoll Rand, Atlas Copco, Epiroc and time with Reichdrill. David Moore worked for more than 35 years for drilling contractors in the southeast. Brent Taylor, owner of Country Boy Supply and CEO of Venture Drilling East, is pleased with the Reichdrill flagship RTD 55 and the new RTD 45. “I’ve been in the blasthole contracting business for 35 years now and have ran/operated every drill out there. Having serviced the other 12 Reichdrill machines in the Southeast for over a year now, I feel confident in saying you won’t find a tougher, less problematic and productive machine than the RTD 45 or RTD 55.” 

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