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Manhole Riser used to adjust utility lids to grading when you are paving .” The Pivoted Turnbuckle Manhole Riser accounts for approximately 80 % of American Highway Products total sales . Number two in their sales are the Catch Basin Risers with the remaining , smaller percentage sales in the company ’ s recycled-rubber Manhole Safety Ramps , which provides safe , smooth traffic flow over raised manholes or manhole risers during road construction projects , and the sales of Valve Box Risers . The company , American Highway Products , was born by chance in a Cleveland traffic jam in 1977 . The creative problem-solver Raymond Fier , P . E . ( Scott Fier ’ s dad and company founder ), was stuck on his way to a meeting when he observed a worker installing a 4-segment cast-iron manhole riser . He watched the man struggling when expanding each bolt . Going around to each bolt turning , then on to the next bolt until he accidentally dropped his wrench into the sewer ( Egad !). He thought , “ Man , there must be a better mechanical solution for that !” Fortunately for every roadway contractor , utility crew , and state agency that now has to raise manholes or valve covers or catch basins to new grade after paving Raymond Fier had pursued the creative mechanical challenge observed with the poor worker and his dropped wrench . Back then , at age 48 , Raymond Fier went to work designing and creating four patented products for his new company , American Highway Products , over the next few years . He also designed the machines to make the product as well . The company ’ s ring-rolling machine can roll a ¾-inchthick bar extremely accurately in 45- to 70-seconds time , depending on bar size . It is said to be the key machine in
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Paving over Manhole Riser making AHP products precise . To get a tangible sense on how AHP products work and benefit roadwork , take a look at the city of Grand Rapids , Mich . as a case study . As the second-largest , and fastest growing city in Michigan , with a population topping 200,000 , Grand Rapids is considered a progressive jewel of the Midwest . It is said to value creative innovation that extends all the way thru city management and even to the details of roadway maintenance . “ We repave a lot of roadway annually , which means we need to raise more 500 manholes most years ,” explained James Hurt , managing director in the Public Services Group . “ It ’ s an important detail to get right , because if covers end up below grade they collect water and ice and become potholes , and if they ’ re just a little too high , they can catch vehicle tires and snowplow blades and cause serious problems . They need to be level with the paved street .” A manhole in the road allows the maintenance crew necessary access . They are vital . Manholes are the only way to quickly access the utility system and diagnose a problem . They must be kept to grade on road maintenance projects and always accessible by maintenance crews . The majority of underground utilities — sewer , water , gas , electric , stormwater , fiber optic communication systems , etc — have manholes . They are important to all those different providers to gain access for inspections , maintenance and upgrades . Since 2014 , the Grand Rapids Street www . callape . com [ 8 ] 1.800.210.5923