J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc.

Kevin L. Selby has joined J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. as EHS Manager.  Kevin has over 20 years experience in Environmental, Health and Safety and will be responsible for managing the EHS Department at J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries.  He was most recently employed in EHS at PPMI Construction Co.

In honor of Earth Day, The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces new paving specifications that allow for additional use of recycled materials.  By increasing the amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled roofing shingles within asphalt mixes, INDOT anticipates it can save $10 to $15 million on annual paving expenses.

Both reclaimed asphalt and roofing shingles contain some of the same liquid asphalt and crushed stone content used in virgin asphalt pavement. INDOT previously allowed a limited amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement and new roofing shingles discarded at the factory to be included in hot mix asphalt.  Starting this April, INDOT contractors can use an increased amount of these materials, as well as post-consumer shingles torn off existing roofs.

Recycled materials are tested to make sure the overall asphalt mix meets or exceeds standards for safety, durability and longevity set by the American Society of Testing Materials and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.  Because liquid asphalt is a petroleum-based product, the change also reduces Indiana’s dependency upon imported crude oil.

Reclaimed asphalt pavement and post-consumer roofing shingles are on a growing list of recycled materials finding their way into Hoosier roadways.  Most of the concrete and asphalt pavement removed during Indiana road resurfacing and rebuilding projects is reused for the roadway infrastructure, rather than being hauled to a landfill.

For example, old concrete can be crushed up and used to build a new road’s sub-base while asphalt millings are often compacted along the pavement edge to form the soft shoulder. Waste byproducts from Indiana’s steel and coal industries, known as slag, have been used within asphalt mixes for a number of years to provide structural support. These materials take the place of aggregate that would otherwise be mined out of the ground at a nearby quarry and then trucked in to the construction site.

“Indiana is one of the leading states in the country in using recycled materials in its highways,” said Ron Walker, manager of INDOT’s Office of Materials Management.  “Recycling existing concrete and asphalt pavement makes use of a valuable resource previously financed by Indiana’s taxpayers.”

 As research in this field continues, INDOT hopes to make increasing use of recycled paving materials in the future.

     Tell City Mayor Barbara Ewing and the Perry County Greenway Committee recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at Sunset Park in Tell City, the site of one of the trail heads for the new Tell City Riverwalk.  Members of the Mayor’s Office, the Greenway Committee, the Common Council, the public and contractors involved in the project were on hand to celebrate the ground breaking of this important project.  When completed, the Tell City Riverwalk will wind approximately one mile down the scenic Ohio River banks in Tell City.  J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. will be completing the preparation and paving work on the project, which is scheduled to begin June 22, 2010.

Tell City Mayor Barbara Ewing and Members of the Common Council and Perry County Greenway Committee break ground for the TC Riverwalk

  J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. employee Randy Schaefer came to the rescue of young Huntingburg resident, Joanna Ballard, while she was trying to cross Chestnut Street in the quaint Southern Indiana town last week. Schaefer towed the bike across a patch of freshly laid asphalt for Ballard, who was busy delivering the DC Herald on her brother’s paper route in the neighborhood. J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. is working as a subcontractor for Crider & Crider on the project.

JHR Employee Randy Schaefer and Huntingburg Resident/DC Herald Delivery Rep. Joanna Ballard

J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. set up a booth at the annual Dubois County Home Show in Jasper, Indiana, sharing information about our services and the asphalt industry as a whole.   Employees at J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. answered questions about asphalt paving services, projects we’re working on in the area and the fact that asphalt is 100% recyclable, making it an excellent choice for paving projects.  Two lucky visitors were chosen at the end of the show to win $100 gas cards from a local retailer. 

Employees Jeff Kline and Chad Hubert work the JHR booth at the Dubois Co. Home Show

EHS Manager, Bobby Spencer

Bobby Spencer has joined J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. as EHS Manager.  Bobby was most recently employed by Zachry Construction Co. based in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Bobby grew up in Evansville, Ind., graduated from Bosse High School and holds a BS from the University of Southern Indiana.  Bobby will be responsible for managing the Safety Department at J.H. Rudolph.  Bobby resides in Evansville, Ind. and has five children.

Racers posed on Main Street

J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc. sponsored a Komen Evansville Race for the Cure team again this year to support the fight against Breast Cancer.  The 2009 team was one of the largest ever!  Racing for the first time in Downtown Evansville, the 12thannual race was a huge hit with race-goers.  Booths lined Riverside Drive and a tissue test bank was set up, one of only a few in the entire U.S.   The weather was beautiful and the comradery was wonderful!

Donnie Hirsch, the plant operator at the Green River Road plant, was in the Evansville Courier Press recently. The picture was taken as Donnie crossed the Finish line. This is the link to the article.

Donnie Hirsch at Race for the Cure

Congressman Brad Ellsworth stopped by the J.H. Rudolph Green River Road Asphalt Plant to get a better understanding of current and future transportation projects in his district. Employees from J.H. Rudolph, Mulzer Crushed Stone and representatives from Build Indiana Council and Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana met with Congressman Ellsworth during his visit to answer questions and speak to him about issues facing the transportation construction industry in our area. Alvin Evans, President of J.H. Rudolph & Co., Inc., showed Congressman Ellsworth how J.H. Rudolph is using recycled shingles, tires and asphalt for many of projects. After discussing the ‘green’ innovations that asphalt plants are performing on a daily basis, Congressman Ellsworth commented, “when it comes to cap and trade, offering incentives to businesses is a better way to achieve conservation.” Other topics discussed included I-69 and the Reauthorization of the Federal Highway Bill. Congressman Ellsworth did not expect the Reauthorization bill to be passed this year but does expect a stop gap highway spending extension to pass this fall. Jeff Mulzer, Vice President of Administration at Mulzer Crushed Stone, Inc., stated, “It is our hope that a reauthorization bill can be passed. That is the best way to provide stable funding to states so they can continue to develop and repair our road system”.

Congressman Ellsworth Visit

Congressman Baron Hill recently visited the major 231S expansion project in Spencer County to check in on the status of local Stimulus and general construction projects in his district. Employees from J.H. Rudolph, Mulzer Crushed Stone and representatives from Build Indiana Council met with Congressman Hill during his visit to answer questions and speak to him about the future of transportation projects in the area. After visiting and assessing transportation projects in his district, Congressman Hill commented, “I’m convinced that if the Stimulus bill had not passed, we would be in a depression.” Topics discussed with Congressman Hill included the Reauthorization of the Federal Highway Bill. Congressman Hill did not expect the Reauthorization bill to be passed this year but does expect a stop gap highway spending extension to pass this fall. Jeff Mulzer Vice President of Administration stated, “It is our hope that a reauthorization bill can be passed. That is the best way to provide stable funding to states so they can continue to develop and repair our road system”.

Congressman Baron Hill with group

US 231 South Construction 9/2009