MARYLAND ROUTE 7
ALLISON TRANSMISSION
MELVIN BENHOFF SONS, INC.

Baltimore County fosters a strong economic development effort which has led to the construction of the new Allison Transmission plant in White Marsh, Maryland. General Motors is winding down operations at their Broening Highway, light truck production facility in Dundalk, Maryland. Many of the displaced workers have been transferred to the new Allison Transmission plant. As a part of an economic stimulus package the widening and regrading of Maryland Route 7 was guaranteed by the State Highway Administration.

Joseph F. Bittner, Jr. President of Melvin Benhoff Sons, Inc. identified complex portions of this project including widening of existing structures, utility relocations, grade changes and involved maintenance of traffic shifts including temporary roadway construction.

Mike Moxley, Melvin Benhoff Sons Inc., Paving Superintendent is utilizing a Caterpillar Soft Track Paver with both Caterpillar and Ingersoll-Rand rollers to obtain density. John Johnson is the Paving Foreman. Average production will exceed 1,000 tons per day with a total of 25,000 tons placed on this project.

New retaining wall at Lowes helps accomplish significant grade change while staying within the existing right of way.
New Allison Transmission manufacturing facility is already open.

Originally designed to receive three 2-1/2 inch courses of 19mm Superpave and one 1-1/2 inch course of 9.5mm Superpave for surface; the pavement section was changed to a heavier more constructable section through the partnering efforts of Melvin Benhoff Sons, Inc., State Highway Administration and Allison Transmission.

The new paving section consists of one 4 inch lift of 25mm Superpave, one 3 inch course of 19mm Superpave and one 2 inch course of 12.5mm Superpave surface. Average densities of 94% were achieved on the 25mm base course. These measurements were verified by the core method at the Aberdeen laboratory of Maryland Paving, Inc., the hot mix asphalt supplier.

The first major traffic shift should occur during June 2002. This shift will re-open major commercial entrances for Carmax and Koons Chevrolet. Grade changes of more than 8 feet were required during this construction phase.

Construction should be completed late this season and improved access will be complete for Allison Transmission, White Marsh Boulevard, White Marsh Mall, The Avenue at White Marsh and the many surrounding commercial ventures.

Entrance reconstruction operation demonstrated paving within confined areas. Densities were verified by Troxler Nuclear Density Gauge.

Complete paving train works to relocate roadway over newly constructed fill.