Almono: World Class Sustainable Mixed-Use Redevelopment

On September 1, 2015, Almono L.P. — in cooperation with the Regional Industrial Development Corporation — issued Notice of Award to Independence Excavating for its Hazelwood-Almono Phase 1 Infrastructure project.

The project is located on a 178 acre land parcel along the Monongahela River, originally developed in 1852 by Jones and Laughlin. The 178 acre plot is bordered on the south by Tecumseh Street and on the north by the Hot Metal Bridge, which was built for Jones and Laughlin in 1900 to connect the mill to the blast furnaces on the other side of the river. At the time, Jones and Laughlin was the fourth largest steel producer in the United States, largely because it developed the process of cold rolling steel.

With a long history of steel production associated with the site, developers are conscious of not only the historical structures that remain but also of the carbon footprint it once emitted. Because of this, the plan for the site is to be carbon neutral upon completion. In adhering to that approach, the developers elected to have Independence Excavating provide Tier IV equipment for the entire contract. Tier IV is the classification of latest emissions standards as defined by the federal government on May 11, 2004. These standards were required to be implemented into all newly produced equipment by 2015. Due to these standards, you will see some of the newest equipment in our vast fleet working onsite.

A team of twenty-five pieces of Tier IV equipment, a superintendent, multiple foremen, two project managers, a full time surveyor, and 30 of the best trained operators and laborers in the industry is charged with the complete development of Signature Blvd. The development of new Signature Blvd. began with over 100,000 cubic yards of earth moving, as well as erosion control measures put in place to keep our rivers clean from fugitive sediment. Once the dirt was moved, our team was ready to install the vast network of utilities. Utility installation included installation of 1,600 lineal feet of 54” reinforced concrete pipe sewer, over 9,500 lineal feet of Duquesne light duct bank and 8,700 lineal feet of sanitary sewer — some of which exceeds 27 feet in depth.

Upon completion of deeper sewers and electrical utilities, Independence Excavating forces are installing 15,000 lineal feet of storm sewer, 10,000 lineal feet of water main, 7,600 lineal feet of telecommunications duct bank and excavation and backfill of 9,000 lineal feet of both 20" and 8" gas line.

To complete the work, we will turn to our subcontractors: our recycling division crushed 24,000 tons of concrete to spec 2A material for roadway subbase; Vantage Corporation will install the underground infrastructure for the 122 street lights and new traffic signals; Newcomer Concrete will install 19,000 lineal feet of city curb and 12,400 square yards of sidewalk; Lindy Paving will complete 30,700 square yards of asphalt paving; A. Merante Construction will complete the Duquesne light duct bank down Second Avenue; and CH&D Enterprises will complete the enormous landscaping package which includes over 45,000 individual perennials.

Independence Excavating would like to thank Almono L.P., RIDC, AL-CM, GAI, PWSA, Alcosan, Peoples Natural Gas, Duquesne Light Company, and all of its subcontractors and materials suppliers for what is shaping up to be another great project for the Pittsburgh community.