How long can road construction equipment last?
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Shalene White • The Madill Record
It should be common knowledge that there is construction happening everywhere in Marshall County. It is almost at every turn. The Madill and Kingston Public Schools are undergoing various phases of construction. Even though the MegaStar Casino just finished construction and is open for business, there is still road construction on Highway 377 in front of it.
Speaking of road construction, the 100 block of West Lillie Blvd., is currently undergoing a face-lift. Madill City manager James Fullingim said the construction is to rebuild the first block of Lillie Street, as well as the parking areas.
As of July 29, the construction crew consisted of one backhoe loader, one milling machine, and multiple eighteen wheelers. To watch these machines in action is nothing short of amazing. The way they all work seamlessly together is almost like a dance, one fluid motion.
However, the wear and tear on the machines are more like a bull in a china shop. These machines get put through hours of hard labor. Fortunately, they are built to handle a harsh environment.
A backhoe loader is a commonly used piece of equipment for road construction, and basically, any type of construction. A new backhoe loader can set back the construction company between $55,000 to $75,000. Some larger models can cost over $100,000. Used ones are typically cheaper, but the buyer needs to be mindful of the care the previous owner kept it in.
A milling machine, also called a cold planer, is a massive piece of equipment that can remove all or part of the paved surface. It can remove any size of thickness to smooth out the surface, or a do a full depth removal. The machine has a conveyor belt on the front to be able to load the milled pavement into a trailer.
A milling machine costs way more than a backhoe, it is listed at over $500,000 for a used one. There are some around the $300,000 range, it depends on the size needed for the jobs.
The prices for these two pieces of equipment are staggering — and that does not even cover all the equipment construction jobs use. However, these machines are built to last. So, if the operator and owner takes care of it by doing the preventative maintenance and normal check ups, these pieces of massive machinery will continue working long after the job is complete. A well oiled machine can last up to 15 years, possibly even 20.
From the weird noises the machines make while in use, to the lumbering look of some of the pieces of equipment — even to the age that some reach — they kind of resemble dinosaurs. It makes one wonder when Archeologists will start finding milling machine fossils.