28th CES snow barn removes railroad tracks

Senior Airman Edwin Clark, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and heavy equipment journeyman, lifts a section of railroad track while Kevin Holloman, 28th CES pavement and heavy equipment operator, uses an excavator to clear rubber matting on Highway 14/16 in Box Elder, S.D., Oct. 14, 2014. The 28th CES personnel partnered with the city of Box Elder to remove railroad tracks, ties and rubber matting, weighing a total of 65,000 pounds, while local construction teams repaired the road. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker/Released)

28th CES snow barn removes railroad tracks

Mark Boser, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and heavy equipment welder, cuts a railroad tie on Highway 14/16 in Box Elder, S.D., Oct. 14, 2014. Civil engineer personnel partnered with Box Elder to remove the unused damaged tracks, which had become a traffic safety concern – working with local construction teams Oct 15-17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker/Released)

28th CES snow barn removes railroad tracks

Senior Airman Scott Abkarian, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and heavy equipment journeyman, lifts railroad ties onto the bed of a truck on Highway 14/16 in Box Elder, S.D., Oct. 14, 2014. Removal of the damaged railroad tracks was a joint effort between Ellsworth and Box Elder, and demonstrates just one of the many ways the base partners with the surrounding communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker/Released)

28th CES snow barn removes railroad tracks

Published Oct. 20, 2014
By Senior Airman Hailey Staker
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Airmen from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and heavy equipment flight teamed up with the city of Box Elder to remove railroad tracks from Highway 14/16 Oct. 14.

Due to traffic safety concerns, 65,000 pounds of Ellsworth owned railroad tracks, ties and rubber matting were excavated, preparing the way for local construction teams to then repair the damaged roads.

"We removed 65,000 pounds of track, ties and matting, and this whole job was done in coordination with Pennington County and Box Elder," said Tech. Sgt. James Banik, 28th CES pavements and heavy equipment technician. "We removed the materials on both the east and west-bound lanes of Highway 14/16 so that the roads could be repaired due to traffic safety hazards in crossing those damaged railroad tracks."

With the use of an excavator, a crane and a truck, technicians removed rubber matting and asphalt around the tracks completing the project ahead of schedule. Using this equipment also provided a unique training opportunity for Airmen.

A local construction company repaired the roads with approximately 42 tons of asphalt and 36 tons of rock, Banik said. He added that it's important to work with the surrounding community.

"Those railroad crossings were beyond repair and they are Air Force assets so that's why we're involved in removing those," Banik said. "It's always good to have good community involvement."

Last week's partnership is just one way Ellsworth and the surrounding communities have worked together in recent years, as base and community leaders meet every quarter to discuss similar projects through the Air Force Community Partnership Initiative.