News>Re-Route of major Nellis road improves safety
Photos
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Chalupnik, 820th Red Horse pavement and construction craftsman, operates a rock crusher, Mar. 27, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The rocks can be used for base course on road construction or landscaping. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
The 820th Red Horse pavement and construction Airmen make base course and blast rock at their rock quarry, Mar. 27, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Dust prevention measures ensure the site complies with Clark county regulations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
Rock is blasted off a mountain top at the 820th Red Horse rock quarry, April 19, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Up to 400 tons of rock can be removed with each blast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jevin Eyman, 820th Red Horse pavement and construction journeyman, dumps boulders into a rock crusher at the rock quarry, Mar. 27, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The rock crusher can separate the ballast and base course rocks into two piles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman from the 820th Red Horse Squadron train Airmen from the 823rd and 201st Red Horse Squadrons on how to use a rock drill, April 17, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The knowledge gained during this class will help the Airmen prepare for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ralph Fusaro, 201st Red Horse heavy equipment operator, moves the drill bit to drill a 10-foot deep hole to load explosives, April 17, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. A total of 10 holes were drilled into the rock. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tammon Benjamin, 820th Red Horse pavement and construction journeyman, instructs Senior Airman Antoine Davis, 823rd Red Horse equipment operator, on rock drill procedures, April 17, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The rocks drill enables the crew to make holes large enough for 30 pounds of explosives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman from the 820th RED HORSE Squadron train Airman from the 823rd and 201st RED HORSE Squadrons on how to use a rock drill, April 17, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The rock drill can drill holes as deep as 30 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Release)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sergeant Mark Ordway, 820th Red Horse pavement and construction operator, monitors a drill while communicating with a student, April 17, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Orway conducts quarry classes for every Red Horse squadron in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman/Released)
by Staff Sgt. William Coleman
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
4/24/2012 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev., - -- The 820th RED HORSE Squadron saves the Air Force over half-a-million dollars while improving training and safety, during the Ellsworth Road re-alignment project.
The re-alignment of Ellsworth Road starts April 30, 2012 and is projected to be finished mid-October. The current routing of Ellsworth Road skirts the North end of the Nellis runways, creating a potential safety risk for drivers and pilots. A waiver allowed continued operations, but the re-routing project will put a 2,000 foot buffer between ground vehicles and aircraft on the runway.
To fulfill this need, the 820th RED HORSE squadron will do the work at a fraction of the projected cost. The savings start at the rock quarry, where the heavy equipment operators make their own base course, the crushed rock used for road foundations. All steps in making the products are performed by RED HORSE Airmen, from blasting the rock off the mountain to crushing the large stones into gravel.
"By producing all the materials in-house, we are able to save the Air Force $200,000 off the top of the project," said Master Sgt. Brandon Mathis, project manager of Ellsworth Road re-alignment.
As the Air Force's pilot unit for asphalt, concrete and quarry operations, the 820th conducts training in these areas for all fourteen RED HORSE squadrons in the Air Force. The classes provide Airmen with the skills they need for upcoming deployments. During deployments, RED HORSE squadrons often provide construction services to developing countries around the world.
During a recent deployment to Suriname, the 820th RED HORSE squadron spent four months improving the lives of the local citizens. Tech Sgt. William Mello, 820th RED HORSE squadron heavy equipment operator recalls making a positive change for the children there. "We installed new plumbing in several orphanages," said Williams. "We also increased the capacity of two schools by fifty percent and another by seventy five percent."
While at home station, the 820th RED HORSE squadron contribute their talents to improving structures at Nellis. Working day and night, they will produce all materials and add 10,000 feet, making the travel near Nellis runways safer.
Comments
5/1/2012 6:44:19 PM ET Great job SSgt Coleman Nice story and photos
