Horseheads, NY - Barrier Wall

Innovation has always been a key component of SGCC’s success. 

Through out our history, there have been moments that have set SGCC apart from other contractors and as a result, SGCC has set the bar for others to following.  Barrier wall is a market segment that SGCC has been such a market leader.  In 1976, SGCC was one of the first contractors in the country to slip form variable shaped barrier wall.  The project was the reconstruction of Fuhrman Blvd (Williams Paving GC) along the water front in Buffalo, NY.  This project by today’s standard was not very complexed but in 1976, SGCC was given the task to slip form approximately 4 miles of jersey shaped barrier wall that varied in height from 41 inches to 59 inches.  At the time, the industry was just beginning to develop the technical capability to perform this type of work and SGCC saw this as an opportunity to lead in innovation and take on the risk of performing this work.  The project was a tremendous success and a further testament to this success was that in 2009 ( Union Concrete Constructors GC) SGCC reconstructed Fuhrman Blvd and installed approximately 4 miles of variable height barrier wall a second time.

Throughout our history, SGCC continued to perform work that set us apart from other contractors.  In 1987, SGCC was a team player on the largest NYSDOT project ever awarded in New York State, the Reconstruction of the I-490 & I-590 Intersection in Rochester NY.  This $110 Million dollar project was referred to as “The Can of Worms”. The Can of Worms is a local name for the intersection of Interstate 490 (I-490), I-590, New York State Route 590 (NY 590), NY 96 (East Avenue), and University Avenue on the east side of Rochester, New York.  Originally built during the 1950s and 60s this section was rebuilt to eliminate weaving caused by the interchange’s original design.  Vehicles had to weave thru multiple lanes of traffic to continue on their journey, thus the name “Can of Worms”.  This 5 year project was completed on time, on budget and with no claims.

Innovation has continued to drive SGCC to find new ways to set the bar for barrier wall.  In 2005, NYSDOT let a project to convert Rte 17 to I-86 status in Horseheads, NY.  This project involved reconstructing Rte 17 to an overhead road system that became part of new I-86.  The mainline was paved with 21,500 cubic yards (CY) of Portland Cement Concrete and the traffic was contained on this elevated highway by over 4,000 LF of architecturally treated barrier wall.  SGCC introduced a patented technique by John F. Belarde into NY for imparting a 3 plus inch imprint on the fascia of the barrier.  This was another first for the East Coast of the country.  SGCC installed over 4,000 LF of window pane textured Barrier using this method.