Blythe Development by North American Constructors Journal

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Blythe Development:

Improving Travel Across The Carolinas Blythe Development is a licensed General Contractor specializing in site work, road construction and bridge construction in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino

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he Blythe name has been synonymous with the construction industry in one way or another in and around Charlotte, NC since the 1920s. Twin brothers Jack and Frank Blythe grew up working in the family business in the 1960s and ‘70s, so it wasn’t surprising when the native sons formed Blythe Development in 1989. Despite being restricted by a noncompete clause until 1992, the brothers were committed to providing first class service and high quality work performed in a timely manner at a competitive price. “We started with zero employees and zero projects but as we progressed we had some old managers that came back to us,” Jack Blythe recalls. Those early struggles are a distant memory today. Now a licensed General Contractor specializing in site work, road construction and bridges in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the company performs nearly $230 million in site work per year. Blythe Brothers Asphalt Company was added to the mix in 1994 to provide an allencompassing site work package. The company employs approximately 1,000 and, with 350 pieces of equipment at its disposal, self-performs 80 percent of site groundwork. Operations are split between the

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“We have a full-time saf provide constant training. lot of emphasis on being taking ca - Presid

public and private sectors and include clearing, grading, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, waterline, curb and gutter, sidewalk, concrete paving, retaining walls, culverts, bridges, stone base and asphalt paving. It is a member of the Carolinas AGC. The company has been ranked among North Carolina’s Top 100 Private Companies by Business North

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fety staff. We have mentors, hold safety talks and We have routine reviews of safety issues; there is a g safe. We look at it as a family situation. We are are of our staff and their families.” dent of Construction Jack Blythe Carolina for 18 consecutive years; is a Top 400 US Contractor by ENR; a NC Mid-Market Fast 40 by Business North Carolina Magazines; and was presented a 2016 Outstanding Subcontractor Award by Turner Construction.

process. On the private side we try to help the clients however we can to provide budgets and value engineering for free. We work with a lot of repeat clients,” Blythe notes.

“The public market is bid/build and then the highway departments are starting to warm to the Design/Build

Macy-Grove Road: This $39.3 million dollar project consisted of widening and extending nearly a mile of Macy

Showcase Projects

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Blythe Development | 6 Grove Road to a multi-lane roadway and installing a new interchange with I-40 Business. Additionally, 1.8 miles of I-40 Business were widened and improved to more safely accommodate 55,000 vehicles each day. This project also included three bridges over I-40 Business, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and East Mountain Street. The project was successfully completed four months ahead of schedule, creating safer access to the new FedEx distribution center, Kernersville Medical Center, and a new VA hospital. The safety record while performing with an aggressive schedule resulted in 181,068 man hours with no lost time accidents, including

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subcontractors who performed asphalt paving, concrete, pipe, erosion control, striping, and signals. The company received a 2015 Pinnacle Award for Best Highway-Heavy Project $5 Million and Over from the Carolinas AGC for the project at CAGCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 95th Annual Convention in Charleston, SC. Pinnacle entries are judged on unique aspects and challenges; special values; project management; budget and schedule; and safety performance. Sugar Creek Bridge: Blythe began work on this $43 million NCDOT project in the Spring of 2016 and work was completed last April. The project was funded by the city of Charlotte, the North Carolina Railroad

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Co., Norfolk Southern, the Federal Railroad Administration and the N.C. Department of Transportation. Work involved building a bridge for Sugar Creek Road to replace the existing highway/railroad; realigning and improving an existing intersection; creating a new road and intersection extending under the new bridge; building a new connector road; permanently closing an existing railroad crossing; and removing an existing intersection. This section of railroad is part of the federally designated Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, connecting the northeast and southeast by rail. Salem Parkway/U.S. 421: This joint venture with Flatiron Construction for NCDOT, involving a complete overhaul of the former Business 40, re-opened

in January six months ahead of schedule. In an unprecedented move, a section of highway was closed in both directions for nearly two years during construction for the first time in state history. “There is still work to do before the entire project is completed,” said NCDOT Resident Engineer Larry Shaver in a press release. “Some of that work will require nighttime lane closures when overnight traffic volumes are minimal (but) we are excited that we can open Salem Parkway earlier than expected.” Shaver credited the contractors with their hard work and long hours to speed up the project. As of late January, Flatiron Constructors-Blythe Development had hired 41 contractors and subcontractors, providing

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employment for close to 600 workers. Sugar Creek Greenway: This $12 million project was part of Mecklenburg County’s ongoing stream rehabilitation and greenway program. It consisted of stream restoration & enhancements, greenway improvements, Elizabeth Park Plaza enlargement, E. 4th Street Parking Plaza and decorative railings in uptown Charlotte.

Day to Day The brothers’ roles are clearly defined – Frank focuses on asphalt and estimating and Jack concerns himself with operations. “Working

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with my twin brother makes it fun,” Jack observes. As a turnkey partner, the company focuses on three major areas of operation – asphalt, site work, and utilities and bridges. Eighty percent of their work is based in Charlotte and its surrounding area while 10 percent takes place in Virginia and 10 percent is in the Charleston market. “We do joint venture work as well with Flatiron Construction and with Balfour Beatty. That work adds about $50 million to our annual volume,” Jack Blythe says. Given the nature of the industry, safety

Blythe Development | 9 is always top of mind. “We have a full-time safety staff. We have mentors, hold safety talks and provide constant training. We have routine reviews of safety issues; there is a lot of emphasis on being safe. We look at it as a family situation. We are taking care of our staff and their families and we provide the right tools and equipment that meet OSHA standards,” Blythe explains. The company derives constant benefits from its association with CAGC. “CAGC has been really helpful finding skilled labor, finding college grads for

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management, working for funding for infrastructure and embracing technology. Technology is changing quickly and you have to fold it into operations. It can reduce labor issues and improve efficiencies,” Blythe says. “CAGC’s lobbying efforts are great in providing more funding, less regulation, and of course right to work efforts. They are a great advocate for getting young people into construction and their safety training is great. They are always a good resource with their joint committee workshops with the DOT and two conventions a year. All the contractors, suppliers, insurance agents and construction lawyers get

General Contractor Specializing in Site Work, Road Construction and Bridges

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USI is a Proud Partner of Blythe Development USI Insurance Services 6100 Fairview Rd. Suite 1400 Charlotte, NC 28210 704.543.02581 | www.usi.com Property & Casualty | Employee Benefits | Surety

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“CAGC has been really helpful finding skilled labor, finding college grads for management, working for funding for infrastructure and embracing technology. Technology is changing quickly and you have to fold it into operations, to reduce labor issues and improve efficiencies.” - President of Construction Jack Blythe

together to talk about industry issues and ideas,” he adds. CAGC also awards scholarships, provides project leads, assists with advertising, and keeps members informed on future projects. “From a planning standpoint they are really helpful,” says Blythe, a member for 40 years.

to transfer operations to the next generation, whenever that may be. “I started working when I was 15 in the summers in the field laying pipe. I was born into it and I have always loved it. It’s the sense of accomplishment,” Blythe concludes.