Sandy Trails

Project Details

Witech Excavating is partnering with RCJJ Development on Sandy Trails, a new residential subdivision located in Hobart, Indiana. Witech’s scope of work includes approximately 78,000 CY of topsoil excavation, 60,000 CY of site cut-to-fill, 50,000 CY of borrow placement, 8,000 CY of topsoil respread, and roughly 200,000 SY of fine grading throughout the development. Fine grading operations include roadways, rights-of-way and easements, house pads, and rear yard swales.

One of the primary challenges on Sandy Trails has been the site’s difficult soil conditions. To maintain production through wet and unstable material, Witech has utilized MTS Quadtracs top-loaded by a CAT 352 excavator. The Quadtracs provide the ability to travel through material and conditions that would make production difficult for traditional off-road haul trucks.

Because the majority of the development requires fill, Witech strategically stripped topsoil directly into non-structural fill areas and stockpiled material on future house lots. Once stripping operations were completed, the team shifted its focus to the proposed pond, utilizing excavated material from the basin as borrow to bring house pads and other areas of the site up to subgrade.

Drone topography has also played an important role throughout the project. Witech has used aerial surveys to track grades and quantities within the basin, helping determine how deep excavation needs to continue to generate the required borrow while accounting for changing groundwater elevations encountered during excavation.

Mass grading for the overall development is nearing completion, with roadway construction proceeding through a multi-phase plan. The current priority is completing the Phase 1 roadway improvements and preparing the development for paving before Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Throughout the project, Witech’s focus remains on safely managing the challenging site conditions while maintaining the earthwork balance and meeting RCJJ Development’s schedule and grading requirements.