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CASE STUDY

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project NameWest Branch Streetscape Project

CustomerRauhorn Electric

EngineerLapham Associates

ManufacturerMDC Contracting

InstallerRauhorn Electric

LocationTwo mile stretch of Cook Rd, West Branch, MI

Year Built2013

Contractor Chooses 97 Precast Bases to Save Time on Difficult Highway Lighting InstallationIn early 2013, the City of West Branch, Michigan began construction on a project to enhance the entrance into the town and improve safety. The West Branch Streetscape Project consisted of a 2-mile stretch of the I-75 Business Loop (Cook Road) that leads from the freeway exit to the downtown of the City. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) designated 97 roadway lights to line the road leading to the City as part of the project.

For a project of this size to be completed on schedule while keeping the roadway completely open during construction,

maximizing efficiency and minimizing space requirements was key.

When confronted with the alternatives to either pour the foundations for the lighting poles and fixtures or use precast bases, the electrical contractor Rauhorn Electric chose the Pole Base precast system. “We use precast bases on projects like this because of the flexibility of the system”, said Del Rau, President of Rauhorn Electric. “They can be installed in harsh weather conditions, areas with wet or undesirable soil, and are quick and easy to install.”

Pole Base is an architecturally designed precast concrete foundation for outdoor site lighting, streetscapes, parking lots, and more. With multiple faces, color options, and customizable finishes, Pole Base offers an aesthetically pleasing solution that stands out.

Since Pole Base is manufactured in a controlled environment to ensure top quality, installation can happen at any time, regardless of weather or site conditions.

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Even though Pole Base products have aesthetic finishes that look great above grade, this project was unique in that bases were completely below grade. The number one advantage of Pole Base in this application was the fact that Pole Base was so much more efficient to install. Since the Pole Base precast system didn’t require on site assembly for the foundations or cement mixers on site, Rau’s team was able to work on its own schedule in a small amount of space, independent of weather and traffic conditions.

“The ability to inventory the bases on site eliminates the disadvantages of cast-in-place methods like short loads with cement mixers, waiting for the mixers

to arrive on site between loads, and assembly in an uncontrolled setting. We can work on our own schedule, and that makes us more efficient,” Rau said.

The installation crew consisted of two people on-site and two pieces of equipment. Having trenched in conduit before the bases were delivered, the process went quickly. The crew augered the hole, set a shallow crushed stone base in the bottom of the hole, lowered and leveled the base into place, connected the conduit, and backfilled the base before compacting the stone and adding a layer of topsoil. On this project, total installation time per base took 1.5 to 2 hours, according to the installers.

The project’s 97 bases were installed over the course of several months, and once completed with decorative poles & fixtures, the West Branch Streetscape has become a brilliant addition to the local landscape. The designers and city officials are very happy with the way the project turned out.

Pole Base WWW.POLEBASE.COM

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How can Pole Base help solve your site lighting challenges? Visit polebase.com today for more details and to get a quote.

We can work on our own schedule, and that makes us more efficient

-Del Rau President, Rauhorn Electric