It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Abandoned Historic Keystone Mines gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Keystone, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care”
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all”
“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable”
“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!”
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”
“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Allers Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Keystone Ranch or visit Keystone, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Keystone, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Keystone, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Keystone, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana will head to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the Keystone Classic at The Palestra on Sunday, Nov. 19. The tournament will feature entrants from nine other teams.RIDER REWIND: -Indiana opened up the dual season with a 27-15 win over Rider on Friday, Nov. 10.-Indiana took six of the ten bouts, with four of them being bonus point victories for the Hoosiers.-Due to forfeiting at heavyweight to start the dual, Indiana had to battl...
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana will head to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the Keystone Classic at The Palestra on Sunday, Nov. 19. The tournament will feature entrants from nine other teams.
RIDER REWIND: -Indiana opened up the dual season with a 27-15 win over Rider on Friday, Nov. 10.
-Indiana took six of the ten bouts, with four of them being bonus point victories for the Hoosiers.
-Due to forfeiting at heavyweight to start the dual, Indiana had to battle back from an initial 6-0 deficit.
-Rider took a 15-7 lead through the 157 lbs. match. From there, Indiana scored 20 consecutive points in the last four bouts to secure the win.
-No. 10 DJ Washington came out to the mat ready to go in his first appearance of the season, racking up takedown after takedown to an 18-3 win by tech fall in 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
-Indiana's Roman Rogotzke (184) and Gabe Sollars (197) closed the night out with back-to-back pins to end the dual with a final score of 27-15.
-It was the team's only dual of the season scheuled at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
FAST START: -Indiana has a number of wrestlers who are off to a fast start in the young season.
-Three Hoosier wrestlers carry an undefeated record with at least four matches wrestled. Spangler (5-0), Fongaro (4-0), Sollars (5-0) all have perfect records.
-The combo of Rogotzke and Sollars at 184 and 197 lbs. have a combined 10-1 record with all ten wins being bonus point victories, including seven pins.
-As a team, the Hoosiers have a combined +135 point differential over their opponents.
KEYSTONE CLASSIC TIME: -Indiana will compete in its second invitational tournament of the season this weekend at the Penn Regional Training Center Keystone Classic on Sunday, Nov. 19.
-The event will mark the second competition in a row where the Hoosiers will compete in a historic arena.
-The Keystone Classic is being held in The Palestra, often referred to as "The Cathedral of College Basketball" and has been in use since 1927.
-The Palestra is home to the Penn Quakers and a number of their athletic programs including men's and women's basketball, wrestling and volleyball.
-The tournament will feature competitors from nine other schools: Appalachian State, Drexel, Duke, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard, No. 19 Penn, Sacred Heart, Utah Valley and No. 8 Virginia Tech.
-The field of tough entrants should make for some high-intensity wrestling and intriguing matchups.
-The Hoosiers have previously faced some wrestlers from App State and Drexel at The Battle at The Citadel in the season's opening weekend.
-There is a potential path for a rematch between Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), the No. 4-ranked wrestler at 149 and No. 8 Graham Rooks. Rooks defeated Henson by decision, 5-4, in the second round of NCAAs last year.
-Including Indiana's entrants there are 28 wrestlers who are nationally ranked competing in the field at the Keystone Classic.
-After the Keystone Classic, the team will be off from competition until Dec. 3.
NEW FACES: -Indiana has eight new wrestlers on the roster for this season.
-Of the newbies, five of them are freshmen while the other three are transfers.
-All five freshmen are from the state of Indiana. They include Bryce Lowery (Indianapolis), Joey Buttler (Greenwood), Cheaney Schoeff (Avon), Anthony Bahl (Crown Point) and Aidan Torres (Chesterton).
-Lowery, Buttler and Torres all won an IHSAA individual State Championship during their senior season. Bahl won a Team State Title with the Crown Point Bulldogs, the second in a row for the team, and their third in four years.
-Lowery won IndyStar's Most Outsanding Wrestler award for the best senior wrestler in the state for the 2022-2023 school year.
-Indiana's transfer class includes Dan Fongaro, Brayton Lee and Roman Rogotzke.
-Lee, a known commodity around NCAA Wrestling, returns to his home state after spending five years at Minnesota.
-The two-time All-American (2020, 2021) is seeking to recapture his momentum after entering last season as the No. 2 ranked wrestler at 157 lbs. in the country.
-Lee's 2022-23 season was cut short due to injury at The Big Ten Championships.
-Fongaro comes to Indiana after five years at Columbia where he competed at 141 and 149 lbs. He will wrestle at 141 lbs. for the Hoosiers.
-Fongaro owns fifth and sixth place finishes at the EIWA Championships in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
-Rogotzke, a transfer at 184 lbs., from South Dakota State, enters his redshirt sophomore season with plenty of momentum.
-Last year, Rogotzke racked up 17 wins and took first place at two open tournaments.
SEASON OUTLOOK: -Indiana's 2023-2024 schedule features 12 dual matches and four invitational tournaments in the regular season.
-Indiana's dual slate features eight Big Ten matches and four non-conference duals.
-Indiana will compete at Southern Scuffle for the first time this season.
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS: -The Indiana Wrestling team had a number of wrestlers compete in offseason competition to get better and compete on the world stage.
-Senior Jacob Moran competed for Team Puerto Rico at 57 kg in Freestyle and took third place at the Central American and Caribbean Games while also competing at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Albania.
-Derek Gilcher took fifth place at the 2023 U.S. Open at the Senior Level at 74 kg.
-Gabe Sollars earned sixth place at the 2023 U.S. Open in the U20 division in Freestyle at 92 kg. He also had a sixth place finish at the U20 World Team Trials in the same weight class and divison.
-DJ Washington finished in second at 86 kg in the U23 World Team Trials in Freestyle.
-Nick Willham had a fourth place finish at 92 kg in the U23 World Team Trials in Freestyle.
-Tyler Lillard earned 7th place at 74 kg in the U20 World Team Trials in Freestyle.
-Cole Rhemrev took 7th place at 67 kg in Greco-Roman at the U20 World Team Trials. Magnus Kuokkanen got 7th in the same division, but at 77 kg.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISPERSION: -Indiana's roster features wrestlers everywhere across the country.
-Fifteen wrestlers on the team are home grown, in-state Hoosiers, including all of the freshmen.
-Of the 30 wrestlers on the team, there are 13 different states represented.
-The states represented on Indiana's roster include Indiana, New Mexico, Illinois, New Jersey, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, California, Minnesota, Kansas and Kentucky.
The Keystone Equity Group, LLC just recently broke ground on a new development, Keystone Estates, in De Soto. The local company was founded by Khoa Bui (K.B.) around 3 years ago with the current focus to bring homes to rural Iowa communities. The land that was purchased by the development company was over 50 acres and will ultimately include single family homes, townhomes, apartments and commercial opportunities.“We are very proud of our De Soto mixed use development Keystone Estates,” said J.D. Albright of ...
The Keystone Equity Group, LLC just recently broke ground on a new development, Keystone Estates, in De Soto. The local company was founded by Khoa Bui (K.B.) around 3 years ago with the current focus to bring homes to rural Iowa communities. The land that was purchased by the development company was over 50 acres and will ultimately include single family homes, townhomes, apartments and commercial opportunities.
“We are very proud of our De Soto mixed use development Keystone Estates,” said J.D. Albright of Keystone Equity Group, LLC. “The biggest thing we were really excited about is De Soto’s close proximity to the Western Suburbs of Des Moines.”
As part of the new development, Keystone Equity Group LLC will also partner with the USDA Rural Development in order to provide affordable housing to the local community. The USDA Rural Development currently has two Single Family Housing Loan programs available for eligible applicants to purchase or build a new home in rural locations. Neither of these programs requires a down payment, and there are no prepayment penalties.
“Access to safe and affordable housing is a critical issue facing many rural community leaders as they work hard to recruit and grow businesses and attract new residents to rural Iowa,” USDA Rural Development Housing Programs Director Mary Beth Juergens said. “Providing no down payment home loan opportunities will help people living in the De Soto community achieve the American dream of homeownership.”
Groundbreaking for the Single Family homes officially took place back on Nov. 7. These homes are planned to be built first with additional planning for the townhouses, apartments, and commercial development currently underway. The Single Family homes are expected to range anywhere between $230,000 and $250,000 and will contain various floor plans for both 1300-1500 square foot two story homes and 1000-1300 square foot ranch style homes.
“Keystone Equity Group LLC is driven and [has] had a lot of success developing in the rural communities. Our clients enjoy the great quality of life that rural communities provide as well as the increased affordability that rural cities such as De Soto provide,” Albright said.
The new Keystone Estates development is currently located just off the interstate and goes as far as Spruce Street. Total completion time for all the properties is estimated to take place throughout the next 3-5 years.
“The De Soto City Council has been a pleasure to work with as well as the mayor,” Albright said. “The residents of De Soto seem like they are very involved in their community. They care and want to know what’s happening, and that was something that was exciting to our development team.”
Crews are well into construction of the second arch of the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge.Construction of the new bridge began in July 2017. The westbound bridge is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020 and the eastbound bridge in 2021. The new bridge will be more than twice as wide as the existing bridge, providing four lanes in each direction.The full dollar amount of the overall project is estimated at $1.2 billion.The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge project is part of an overall plan to improve...
Crews are well into construction of the second arch of the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge.
Construction of the new bridge began in July 2017. The westbound bridge is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020 and the eastbound bridge in 2021. The new bridge will be more than twice as wide as the existing bridge, providing four lanes in each direction.
The full dollar amount of the overall project is estimated at $1.2 billion.
The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge project is part of an overall plan to improve the I-74 corridor from Moline, Ill., to Davenport, Iowa. From 2017 to 2021, construction is taking place between Avenue of the Cities in Moline and Middle Road in Bettendorf.
The project includes the replacement of the I-74 bridges over the Mississippi River as well as interchange ramp reconfigurations and local roadway improvements.
The prime contractor for the bridge project is Lunda Construction Company.
Other contractors are Civil Constructors Inc. for the Iowa westbound viaduct, which is complete; Kraemer North America for the Illinois viaduct and ramps; Walsh Construction for the Illinois I-74 mainline and ramps; McCarthy Improvement for the Iowa mainline and ramps; Langman Construction Inc. for the Iowa local road reconstruction; Valley Construction for the Iowa ramp and storm sewer, which is complete; K&W Electric Inc. for roadway lighting; and Minturn Inc. for aesthetic lighting.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is the lead agency of the bridge construction and contracts within Iowa, while the Illinois Department of Transportation is a partner in the bridge project and the lead agency for contracts within Illinois.
The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge project is part of an overall plan to improve the I-74 corridor and access across the river. The project includes the replacement of the I-74 bridges over the Mississippi River, expansion of I-74 to three through lanes in both directions, interchange ramp reconfigurations and local roadway improvements.
According to George Ryan, I-74 corridor manger, Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions Inc., several challenges have been encountered in the project.
"From ice to rising river levels, working in the river requires significant patience and endurance," he said. "The construction of the basket-handle, true arch is one of the most complex activities on the project. It requires extraordinary precision and effort given the geometric details of the basket-handle shape and requires a great deal of coordination, including delivering materials to the project site, preparing the foundations to receive the steel segments of the arch, connecting the segments, etc. The last segment — the keystone — for the first arch was installed on May 6, 2020."
According to Ryan, the equipment list includes a Manitowoc 650 crane with a 340-ft. boom that was used for the arch erection and also will be used to lift arch floor sections and a Manitowoc 18000 crane with a 300-ft. boom to be used to lift arch floor sections.
"Bolting of the keystone has been completed and the stay cables were relaxed and then removed," Ryan said. "The basket-handle arch for the westbound bridge is now freestanding. While there is much to be done before the first vehicle crosses the new westbound bridge, seeing the arch stand tall across the Mississippi River for the first time was an historic moment for all."
He noted that the keystone consists of two steel arch segments connected by struts. The keystone weighs approximately 215,000 lbs. (112.5 tons) and was lifted into place by a Manitowoc 650 crane with a 341-ft. boom.
"The process for installing the keystone required extensive preparation to ensure the correct fit," Ryan said. "A work platform was installed below the gap in the arch to facilitate installing a series of struts and jacks between the basket-handle arches. The struts and jacks, along with the cable stays on either side of the arch, allowed the contractor to spread apart the arch to fit the keystone."
He noted that a series of surveys measuring every angle of the arch also was conducted to determine how much the arch needed to be adjusted vertically, horizontally and/or rotationally. After minor adjustments to the arch were made, the keystone was rigged to the crane.
"The crane lifted the keystone into position, while ironworkers standing at the top of the arch — about 236 ft. above the river — guided the steel segments between the splice plates," Ryan said. "Once the keystone was set, ironworkers and engineers took measurements and adjusted the position of the keystone to ensure the perfect fit. Working around the clock, the ironworkers then secured the keystone with more than 4,000 bolts."
He stated that the installation process went smoothly and once the keystone was set, drivers could be heard honking as they passed by and cheering was heard from those watching along the riverbank.
"While reaching a milestone like this is worthy of a big public viewing ceremony, social distancing was still in effect at the time of the event," Ryan said. "The project team got creative and coordinated with the media and municipalities to ensure the public could remain home and view the event from nearly every angle via live streaming on social media, local TV and the project webcams."
He reported that the next challenge will be installing the arch floor system, which will be done this summer.
"The arch floor, which will be supported by hangers, is a complex structure that also will require extensive coordination and precision," he said.
The size of the floor sections varies but the largest is approximately 102 by 160 ft. and the heaviest section is about 300 tons, according to Ryan. They are being pre-assembled off site.
"Two cranes will lift and place the arch floor sections over the navigation channel — the Manitowoc 650 and Manitowoc 18000," he said. "One hundred and eight hangers will be connected from the arch to the floor sections as each section is installed to support the arch floor/deck."
The bridge is one of only a few bridges crossing the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. The new bridge will be multimodal. The new eastbound bridge will include a pedestrian/bicycle path (separated by a barrier from traffic) connecting to existing paths on both sides of the river.
The project corridor is about 5 mi., according to Ryan. Total concrete on all let contracts is 110,545 cu. yds. Total rebar on all let contracts is 30,204,641 lbs. and total structural steel on all let contracts is 70,252,318 lbs.
Ryan reported that many subcontractors are working on the project, with more than 50 from the region. Some of the main subcontractors located in the Quad Cities and completing various contracts are Hahn Ready Mix, River City Cutting and Coring, Terracon Consultants, Valley Construction, Toppert Jetting and Tri-City Electric.
According to Ryan, plans are to begin erection of the eastbound bridge arch later this year.
"On land, most of westbound I-74 roadway is complete in Moline and Bettendorf," Ryan said. "This year, the Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation are reconstructing eastbound I-74 in Moline and Bettendorf. An eastbound detour route was implemented this spring in Moline to accommodate construction of the interstate. Work on eastbound lanes in Bettendorf is anticipated to begin this summer."
He stated that the goal is to complete the new westbound I-74 bridge by the end of 2020. Both westbound and eastbound traffic will be switched (in stages) to the newly completed bridge to facilitate completion of eastbound I-74.
The project website reports that a large number of mussels inhabit the Mississippi River within the project area. The project team is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to mitigate impacts on these federally protected species.
More than 140,000 mussels (29 species) were relocated from the shorelines and around the piers of the project prior to the start of construction. This was done in September 2016 by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
This relocation effort was reportedly one of the largest in the country. A second phase of mussel relocation will take place in advance of the demolition of the existing I-74 bridge.
History
According to the project website, I-74 Mississippi River Bridge historically has provided an important east-west link in the nation's transportation network. It crosses the Mississippi River on two separate structures. The westbound bridge — Illinois to Iowa — was completed and opened in 1935. The eastbound bridge — Iowa to Illinois — was completed in 1959 and opened in 1960.
In 2016, traffic on the I-74 bridges across the Mississippi River exceeded a 74,000 average daily traffic count. It is estimated that traffic volumes will rise to approximately 99,900 vehicles per day by 2035, according to traffic projections endorsed by the Bi-State Regional Commission. Growing population and employment during the past several decades have led to increased traffic volume. CEG
C.S. McCrossan Works Through Winter In Minnesota
Georgia Ranks First in Construction Among All States
Chiefs Unveil Concepts for Reimagined Arrowhead Stadium
John Deere Sponsors Women in Construction Docuseries, Women at Work: Breaking Barriers
Iron Auction Holds Surplus Equipment Sale in Harleyville, S.C.
Debates over the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which have been working their way through the United States among politicians and citizens alike for six years, are going to heat up throughout the midwest.This rise in local interest stems from announcements that the pipeline would now be slated to run across the entire midwest.The concerns of many Iowans are the result of the fact that the pipeline would run through countless acres of farmland. However, those who bemoan the loss of agricultural land or the potential for a lea...
Debates over the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which have been working their way through the United States among politicians and citizens alike for six years, are going to heat up throughout the midwest.
This rise in local interest stems from announcements that the pipeline would now be slated to run across the entire midwest.
The concerns of many Iowans are the result of the fact that the pipeline would run through countless acres of farmland. However, those who bemoan the loss of agricultural land or the potential for a leak to render a field infertile are missing the point.
Not surprisingly, studies on both sides of the argument have produced opposite results, so for the sake of argument I will work off of the assumption that pipelines harm agricultural land. Still, even the worst presumptions do not change my opinion.
When it comes to concerns for an accidental leak harming the land, first it should be understood that agriculture, at least without proper crop rotation and management, negatively affects the ability of any soil to produce any kind of crop. Let us never mistake agriculture for environmentalism, because the issues are painfully separate.
Agriculture itself is an environmental hazard due to chemical runoff, but it is one we have accepted because it is necessary for us to sustain the ways we like to live, which is exactly what we have decided about petroleum as well.
Through our addiction to petroleum, we have decided that having it readily available to us is worth the risk of a spill, just like the constant availability of food provided through agriculture has been deemed more important than a hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
A section of the pipeline which is already in place in Texas, called the Gulf Coast section, has already raised concerns for farmers who have had the pipeline forced upon them. In a Fox News report, Texas farmer Julia Trigg Crawford expressed her frustrations with the fact that when she asked the government agency in charge of inspecting the pipelines, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), if they had inspected the pipeline on her land, she said that they could not answer her question.
They simply told her that “the pipeline is safe and that all issues have been resolved.” which led her to believe that only TransCanada inspectors had been to her land to check the quality of the pipeline.
This may seem like laziness on the part of the government, but upon researching the process of pipeline inspection, the truth becomes far more clear. According to the PHMSA, there are only seventy five full time pipeline inspectors working full time in the United States. Ironically, an ordinary citizen is actually statistically more likely to discover a pipeline leak (23%) than a professional inspector (19%) according to the State Department.
Therefore, it stands to reason that the pipeline in Texas was most certainly inspected by a government agent, but for the inspectors to observe every inch of the pipeline is a lofty expectation. The most likely answer is that the PHMSA could not tell Crawford if they had inspected her specific patch of pipeline because they have no idea who owned the land where the pipeline was buried, only that all sections examined were functioning properly.
This realization also spins Crawford’s perception of the TransCanada inspectors who examined her land. The inspection now seems more like quality assurance for a concerned citizen than a scheming organization. I have any doubt that a majority of world corporations -TransCanada included- would play dirty to make more money, but that does not seem to be the case in this instance.
The most persuasive argument in support of laying the pipeline across our country is the fact that it would doubtlessly create jobs for Americans, at least throughout the construction and continued maintenance of the pipeline.
In an article published by Forbes on their website’s opinion section by Albert Huber, the president of Patterson Pump Company, and Peter Bowe, president of Ellicott Dredges, the argument is made that even President Obama’s administration cannot deny the pipeline based solely upon the massive number of jobs they estimate it would create. The article throws around job numbers north of forty thousand during construction, claiming a State Department report as the source of the estimate.
Perhaps even more importantly, the article claims that the State Department found that the pipeline would not be environmentally hazardous.
When reading articles with biased authors, a measure of skepticism is more than healthy. Both of these men and their businesses stand to profit from a pipeline like the Keystone XL being laid, so of course anything they say will only promote their interests.
However, my skepticism led me to read the State Department report for myself. Not only is everything that Huber and Bowe published in their article true, according to the report, they may have actually been too modest. The findings of the State Department include not only the creation of 42,100 jobs, but also point to the fact that when a pipeline leaks, though it can leak for longer because it is less likely to be noticed, actually cause less environmental damage than many other forms of petroleum transportation.
Whenever petroleum is transported, risks are assumed. Are we really going to pretend that moving an extremely volatile substance, no matter how carefully, is not inherently risky? As long as gasoline fuels our lives as much it does now, there will always be dangers.
There will never be a way to transport petroleum that makes every involved party happy. There is no perfect solution here. Were you to tell me that your opinion was the exact opposite of mine, I would not attempt to persuade you. What we have in the Keystone XL pipeline is the best option in a no win scenario.
Leave a Comment
Donate to Iowa State Daily
$2650
$2500
Contributed
Our Goal
Your donation will support the student journalists of the Iowa State Daily. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment, send our student journalists to conferences and off-set their cost of living so they can continue to do best-in-the-nation work at the Iowa State Daily.
NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Keystone, the fourth largest participant-owned insurance agency network in the nation, named ...
NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Keystone, the fourth largest participant-owned insurance agency network in the nation, named James Cliber, CIC, CLCS, its new Iowa/Minnesota State Vice President.
In his new role, James will support our agents to encourage continued core carrier growth and engagement with our service divisions. Most recently, James served as a state sales manager with West Bend Mutual Insurance. There, he managed the state of Iowa regarding agency partnerships and production to drive profitable growth. He has a long standing tenure in the state of Iowa with other carriers as a sales manager. James is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business.
“We are very excited to have James as our new state VP for IA/MN,” said Regional Vice President Neal Williams. “He comes to Keystone with a very distinguished background and is very well known to many of our Iowa partners. He also has connections in Minnesota and is very excited to meet all our partners in the state to focus on growth and expansion there.”
About Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) -- Keystone started in 1983 when four independent insurance agencies teamed up to pool their experience and expertise. This small group believed that agencies could be stronger and more successful if they linked arms -- a passion and spirit that continues. Growing to almost 300 independent agency partners in 19 states, Keystone provides its agents with a community of like-minded agencies, industry expertise and access to specialized products for their clients. Keystone is ranked number four on Insurance Journal's 2021 list of Top 20 Property/Casualty Agency Partnerships. For more information, go to www.keystoneinsgrp.com.
877-292-2126
