Untitled Document

District 1 develops delineator post pounder to minimize traffic interference and promote safety

Finding a faster, quicker and safer way – that's the heart of the innovative spirit.

District 1 recently came up with a better way to pound in delineator posts when out in the field for the 1,500 miles of highway they maintain.

Seeking to put delineator posts, with the buttons or snow poles already attached, in the ground with the least amount of public intrusion, Richard Berkenmeier and Gareth Abell came up with a solution (pictured right).

"After having replaced several delineator posts without snow poles, we found that there was quite a bit of extra time required for assembly of the post after it had been driven in," Abell explained.

"We thought, 'if we can pre-assemble the posts with the snow poles in the shop, then pound them in, it would save time in the field and have less exposure to traffic-safety issues.' Basically, less time spent alongside the road and out of the traveling public's way," he explained.

So, they came up with an idea to add to their existing post pounder.

They added two pieces of angle iron to the existing pounder to accommodate the width of the delineator posts, then added a piece of steel to stop it from sliding past the top of the pounder.

Times 7 Focus: Ideally, these innovations will not live in a silo — they will be catalysts for ITD’s other district offices and work areas, and inspire duplication statewide. These innovations represent time and money-saving measures, process improvements, and customer-service efficiencies that are transferrable to other districts. In that spirit, if this innovation is something you’d like to adapt to your own district or work space, and you have any questions, please contact District 1 Business Operations Manager Scotty Fellom at 1-1202.