By Cindy RileyCEG CORRESPONDENT

An Alabama zoo that madenational headlines in the midst oftwo hurricanes is poised to makehistory again. Land has beencleared for the new Gulf Shoresfacility that will become theworld’s first environmentally sus-tainable zoo.“It won’t be conventional in any

sense,” said builder and architectDennis Thomas, who designed thevertical zoo. “This is about think-ing outside the box and creating aplace that’s safe for animals andgood for the environment.”The new Alabama Gulf

Coast Zoo will sit on elevat-ed terrain protecting it fromflooding due to hurricanestorm surge, and the entirefacility will be constructed towithstand Category 5 hurri-cane winds. It will aim forthe highest recognition inenvironmental sustainabilitythrough LEED, which isPlatinum certification.Structures and materials usedwill be non-toxic, natural ororganic, biodegradable andrecyclable. Alternative powersources will be used includingsolar panels, wind turbines, groundsource heating pumps, ultravioletlight and propagated algae as a bio-fuel. “It’s off the grid and totally

green,” said Thomas, who hasworked on projects all over theworld and helped design parts ofthe San Diego Zoo, as well as theAnimal Kingdom at Walt DisneyWorld. “We’ve tried to keep thenatural flow of the land. We’ve gotabout 43 total acres of property,and we are extremely excited tohave the opportunity to build a zoo

that will be user-friendly and showpeople how they too can have apositive impact on the environ-ment.”The new zoo, which has

received the official go ahead fromthe Gulf Shores city council, willuse the latest green technologiesbehind-the-scenes during dailyoperations and will offer educa-tional displays and exhibits to helpvisitors understand how the futureis being brought into the present. According to zoo Board

Chairman Steve Jones, “A signifi-cant amount of groundwork hasbeen performed at the new loca-

tion, and an evacuation buildinghas already been constructed. Anumber of funding grants havebeen submitted and are under con-sideration, and we have two indi-viduals out seeking donors andfunding from sources well outsidethis area. This project will gainworldwide attention once we begingoing vertical, and we believe thatwill trigger other interests thatwant to be a part of this amazingnew project.”All of the earthwork has been

completed for enough zoo to bebuilt and opened. The maintenance

building is the current office ofnew zoo development and willserve as construction offices andstorage. The lakes are in and park-ing has been laid. During construc-tion, crews used primarily JohnDeere equipment to complete avariety of tasks. Two large trackhoes were used to dig the lakes,while front-end loaders relocatedthe soil that had to be moved inplace. Close to $2 million has beenspent on land preparation.Construction was overseen by

David Hall, who said the new zoowill be like nothing visitors have

experienced before. In preparingthe land, crews had to deal withlong-abandoned farmland thatincluded small ponds and oaks,much like a pasture.“We left the area pretty much as

is, because it looked like an Africanplain, said. Thomas. “For some ofthe work we relied on a flatbladedozer, a road grader and an aggre-gate for the road itself.“With the lakes, for example, we

had to lay things out and determinethe amount of earth to be removed,which was around 3,000 cubicyards. One lake is five feet higher,and there are two lemur islands.The lemurs don’t swim, so thekeeper, wearing rubber boots, willuse a two-foot deep sunken walk-way to service both islands.”Jones said, “The first goal will

be to build enough infrastructure tomove the animal population andget the operation up and running.That would entail night houses, acouple of exhibits, the gift shopand staff areas. The major largerareas of the zoo will grow as rev-enues allow. The entire project isnot designed to be built out all atonce, as the construction of newthings is part of the evolution of thezoo. It lends interest and keepsthings fresh for visitors. We’rehopeful that by end of this summersome funding sources will havebeen identified, materials can beordered and construction can com-mence.” Located less than a mi. north of

the Gulf of Mexico, the current zoowas threatened by rising watersduring 2004’s Hurricane Ivan and2005’s Hurricane Katrina. A totalof 270 animals had to be evacuatedto zoo director Patti Hall’s Elbertahome before both storms. The full-scale evacuation even prompted a

Work Continues on Alabama’s ‘The Little Zoo That Could’

ALABAMA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

see ZOO page 2

Located less than a mi. north of the Gulf of Mexico, the currentzoo was threatened by rising waters during 2004’s HurricaneIvan and 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. A total of 270 animals andbirds had to be evacuated to zoo director Patti Hall’s Elbertahome before both storms.

April 32013

Vol. XXIV • No. 7Mobile

Dothan

Auburn

Anniston

Gadsden

HuntsvilleFlorence

Decatur

BirminghamBessemer

Tuscaloosa

SelmaMontgomery

Phenix City

65

65

65

65

10

85

20

20

59

59

565

220

72

31

231

43

78

5

72

431

280

82

231

31

43

80

82

231

84

84

52

431

331

45

98

84

82

Zoo officials unveiled a billboardon Alabama Route 59 announcingtheir plans for the new zoo.

Page 2 • April 3, 2013 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

prime-time Animal Planet seriesthat generated record attendanceand donations to the nonprofitpark. The show inspired localbusiness owner Clyde Weir and hisdaughter Andrea Weir Franklin toinitially donate 25 acres, so the zoocould relocate to a flood-resistantarea just north of Baldwin County6.According to Hall, who

appeared on “Good MorningAmerica” and was named ABCNews’ Person of the Week after theevacuation, “We all knew what ourpurpose was and that was to savethose animals’ lives, no matterwhat. All that we’ve gone through,everything we do now is for thewell being of our animals, first andforemost. They are unbelievablemotivators.”Zoo officials tease that while

they feature all kinds of footprints,none of them will be of the carbonkind. The construction materialsand sustainable practices of a greenzoo make it less costly to build andmaintain. Structures built to housenot only the animals, but also toserve visitors, incorporate gradientheating and cooling which reduceutility expenses and keep every-thing produced by the zoo at thefacility. For instance, waste wateris treated and used elsewhere in thefacility and used to grow food andfuel for the animals. Solid animalwaste can be converted to fertiliz-ers and nutrients that can be sold orused internally. “As far as animal safety, the

structures that will be built can bedesigned and constructed to moreaccurately reflect the animals’native environment,” Jones said.“They’ll be able to be in closerproximity to the visitors, whichthey enjoy. Animals need as muchinteraction with the public as muchas we desire to see them.” Funding for the new zoo, how-

ever, remains a key issue.“Our project worksheets total

between 25 to 28 million dollarsfor the entire project, were it to bebuilt all at one time. For the initialconstruction, that would facilitaterelocating and opening at the newlocation. We are in the neighbor-hood of eight and ten million dol-lars,” Jones said.“Our designers tell us that with

enough funding we could build

enough zoo within a year. Themost challenging part of theprocess is being patient. Each daythat passes at the current location isa risk, because each season maybring a potentially devastatingstorm that could require anotherevacuation. Also, keeping theexcitement level where it needs tobe for this to happen has been dif-ficult, as over time, many in thearea have come to believe thisproject will not happen.”Jones continued, “It’s taken a

long time to get to this point.During that time there have beeneconomic crashes nationally, majorstorms, the Deepwater HorizonIncident that threatened to destroythe entire economy of the AlabamaGulf Coast, and, of course, thechallenge of searching for andbeing unable to secure funding forthis project. It’s a multitude ofthings, but were it not for some ofthese delays, we would not havethe grand plan that this zoo hasevolved into.” Jones said that tourism will be a

big part of the new zoo, which hasexperienced numerous obstacles.“The ‘Little Zoo That Could’

series captured the hearts of peopleall over the world. Fans of our zoounderstand the fragile nature of thecurrent location and want to seetheir beloved animals and friendsin a safe place. As for the GulfCoast, we are a region of doers.Although this area is vulnerable tonatural disaster on a regular basis,each time we are challenged, whatemerges is a stronger, more inno-vative community that is even bet-ter prepared for whatever happens.This one-of-a-kind project, first ofits kind that we know of, willencourage not only zoo enthusi-asts, but also design and construc-

tion engineers from around theworld. This fascinating operationwill draw visitors all year long, notjust during the heavy summertourism season.”The new facility also will offer

educational opportunities for vet-erinary, construction and engineer-ing students. “We can envision educational

curriculum that uses the zoo as aliving, working laboratory for thefuture of construction and animalcare. It’s mind boggling to consid-er, but we would hope that a majoruniversity would express an inter-est in building an additional cam-pus in close proximity, in order tohave course offerings not availableanywhere else.“As far as day-to-day opera-

tions,” said Thomas, “Right nowwe’re maintaining what we’vealready done as far as preparing theproperty. We tried to keep the flowof the land and support the wildlifealready there. When developingvertically, you can have a positiveimpact on the land itself.”The zoo will supply its own

water using captured runoff collec-tion in basins, wells and reservoirs,in addition to growing some of itsown food through special garden-ing. Waste and sewage manage-ment will be controlled onsitethrough composting, recycling andincineration and has beendescribed as becoming its owneco-system. According to Thomas, it was

important not to become over-whelmed by the design process,which called for an off-site build-ing for maintenance and an animalhospital to be constructed early on.For Thomas and his team, longhours were invested in hopes ofmapping out the appropriate

designs. “I’ve learned a lot from being

involved in this line of work forabout 30 years and I’ve seen a lotof mistakes made. I know whatworks and what doesn’t. Thewhole idea is about developingland that doesn’t have to destroythe environment and that can actu-ally improve it. Also, consumerscan learn from this new zoo, as faras applying these techniques totheir own homes. If it can workhere, it can work anywhere.“We’ll take the existing popula-

tion at the old zoo and have a niceenvironment to come to, relocatingthem the first year to the new siteand then closing the old one.Among the new exhibits will beone featuring the black rhino and atiger splash. We’ll use a freightcontainer for housing the tigers atnight. There’s a tunnel that keeperscan use like a cave. The outdoorstructure is like a giant mountainwith waterfalls, and you’ll see this

Indonesian-style rock that’s weath-ered and eroded. The container isgreat because it’s recycled andalready built. It’s safe for the ani-mals because it’s strong, with aweight of 643,000 pounds.”Zoo officials even unveiled a

billboard on Alabama Route 59announcing their plans for the newzoo, while also introducing a pairof rare Bengal cubs that make thezoo the only one in the country toboast a tiger in each of the species’four color variations. Right off thesame highway, a $3 million indoorwater park also is being planned on27 acres of land. Developers sayOceans Park will complement thezoo. The indoor water park willreportedly include everything fromdiving, snorkeling and up closemarine life. Once zoo constructionbegins, the water park will follow.

(This story also can be foundon Construction EquipmentGuide’s Web site at www.con-structionequipmentguide.com.)CEG

ZOO from page 1

The new Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will sit on elevated terrain pro-tecting it from flooding due to hurricane storm surge, and theentire facility will be constructed to withstand Category 5 hurri-cane winds. It will aim for the highest recognition in environmen-tal sustainability through LEED, which is Platinum certification.

“We all knew what our purpose was andthat was to save those animals’ lives, nomatter what. All that we’ve gone through,everything we do now is for the well beingof our animals, first and foremost. They areunbelievable motivators.”

Patti HallAlabama Gulf Coast Zoo

New Alabama Zoo Built to Withstand Cat 5 Hurricanes

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 3, 2013 • Page 3

Volvo Construction Equipment

Birmingham, AL205-841-6666

Mobile, AL251-633-4020

Montgomery, AL334-262-6642

Huntsville / Decatur, AL256-350-0006

Oxford, AL256-832-5053Pensacola, FL850-479-3004

Page 4 • April 3, 2013 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 3, 2013 • Page 5

Page 4 • April 3, 2013 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 3, 2013 • Page 5

Page 6 • April 3, 2013 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

The Alabama State Department of Transportationreceived bids for transportation-related improvementprojects.Following is a list of some of the projects let.

County: ConecuhContract ID: 20121207001Project: Planing, resurfacing, traffic stripe, drainage andguardrail on I-65 from near CR-6 to Murder Creek inEvergreen. Distance: 10.26 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $17,062,508• Apac Mid-South Inc. — $17,300,671

County: LawrenceContract ID: 20121207006Project: Constructing the bridge replacements (dual) andapproaches on SR-20 (Alt. U.S.-72) at Fox Creek east ofHillsboro. Distance: 1.06 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Reed Contracting Services Inc. — $5,185,165• Riley Bridge Company Inc. — $5,355,391• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $5,547,775• HRI Bridge Corp. — $6,147,000

County: MarengoContract ID: 20121207007Project: Constructing the bridge replacement (WBR) andapproaches on SR-8 (U.S.-80) at French Creek east ofDemopolis.Distance: 1 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $4,187,963• McInnis Construction LLC — $4,296,478• Tomlin Construction LLC — $4,385,270

County: MontgomeryContract ID: 20121207010Project: Constructing the interchange improvements(bridge widening, additional lanes and traffic signals) on I-85 at Perry Hill Road (Exit 4) in Montgomery.Distance: .81 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $8,434,035• W. S. Newell & Sons Inc. — $8,503,277• McInnis Construction LLC — $8,729,650• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $9,831,951

County: PikeContract ID: 20121207015Project: Constructing the planing, resurfacing, traffic stripeand bridge replacement on CR-2201 and on CR-2214 atsites as indicated by the plans. Distance: 7.45 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Apac Mid-South Inc. — $1,721,608

• McInnis Construction LLC — $1,803,160• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $1,904,607

County: MobileContract ID: 20121207017Project: Constructing the planing, resurfacing and trafficstripe on CR-96 (Beverly Jefferies Highway and PrineRoad) at sites as indicated by the plans.Distance: 12.25 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $2,409,111• Hosea O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $2,568,021• John G. Walton Construction Company Inc. —

$2,681,147

County: St. ClairContract ID: 20121207030Project: Constructing the bridge replacement (bridge cul-vert) and approaches on SR-4 (U.S.-78) at Cane Creeksoutheast of Cooks Springs. Distance: .08 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Tri-County Construction Inc. — $973,850• Abramson LLC — $1,042,977• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $1,158,591• MSE Building Company Inc. — $1,179,319• McCartney Construction Company Inc. — $1,282,544• Carcel & G. Construction LLC — $1,306,143

County: JeffersonContract ID: 20121207032

Project: Constructing the bridge replacement on CR-55(Dickey Springs Road) at Shades Creek near Greenwood. Distance: .06 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Alabama Bridge Builders Inc. — $1,585,690• McInnis Construction LLC — $1,899,732

County: RussellContract ID: 20121207033Project: Constructing the bridge replacement (bridge cul-vert) and approaches on SR-29 at Hatchechubbee Creekand at High Log Creek in Hatchechubbee.Distance: .51 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Alexander Contracting Company Inc. — $2,612,622• W. S. Newell & Sons Inc. — $2,780,287• Newell Roadbuilders Inc. — $2,820,383• Robinson Paving Company Inc. — $2,826,938• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $3,322,594

County: ChiltonContract ID: 20121207047Project: Constructing the planing, resurfacing and trafficstripe on SR-6 (U.S.-82) from the Bibb county line throughMaplesville to east of Mulberry Creek (MP 106.885). Distance: 8.01 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Asphalt Contractors, Inc. — $1,501,015• Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc. — $1,589,916• Dunn Construction Company, Inc. — $1,808,385

Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega • Calhoun • Russell • Walker • Lawrence • Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Morgan • Shelby• Bibb •Hale • Fayette • Marion • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • St. Clair• Chilton • Escambia• Montgomery • Jefferson • Russell • Fayette • Conecuh • Coffee • Geneva • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega •Bibb • Coffee • Calhoun • Russell • • Walker• Lawrence• Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Bibb• Hale • Fayette • Monroe •Clarke • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega

Alabama…

‘The Yellowhammer State’ Highway Project Lettings

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 3, 2013 • Page 7

SHOW ORDINARY SKID STEERS THE DOOR

www

.jcbvision.comwwww.jcbvision.com

dnI

yrtneroodedisylnos’yrtsuYTEFAS

N ITSEB

b%06V

boN

noititepmocnahtrettebYTILIBISIV

N ITSEB

33OC

noisivruoslavirydob

bacregral%3TROFMO

N ITSEB

ni000,3$otpUCIFFEEB

sgnivaavsleuflaunnanYCNEIC

N ITSE

EASretteb%42ECIVRESTSEB

sEYTILIBAE

N IT

OL

m

SNOITACOroF

petStaatergreets

BCJ

vbbvcj.ww.wwwwwwtisivnoitamroffonierom

dnaroodedisylnos’yrrytsudniruoniytilibisseccadesaercni,yy,tilibisivreterev’ew,ww,oN.rr.oodedisahtiwrapmocyranoisivaneebsyaywlasah

y

ww:golbruotisivro

wwtaatnaffaaemocebmoc.noisiv

yryanidroonsisihtyhwnraelll’uoydla–elbatrrtoffomoceromtiedamdna

ehtmorfreetsdiksruodengisedhkcabehtfonoitnevniehtmorf,yy,na

moc.tridbcj.ww

bcj//jmoc.koobecaffa.ww

.rr.eetsstdiksy. yy. teffeasgnicfiircacstuohtiwlt inevigev’eWWe.pudnuorgd iksylnoehtot,rr,edaoleoh

8920 Weaver AvenueLeeds, AL 35094205/699-2699866/480-6125

791 Anderson RoadMontgomery, AL 36110

334/262-8104866/954-6522

30 Plunkett Ave.Anniston, AL 36201

256/240-9855www.jcbofalabama.com

Page 8 • April 3, 2013 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

www.wirtgenamerica.com

THE STRENGTH OF FOUR CORE BRANDS

ROAD AND MINERAL TECHNOLOGIES

ALABAMAAlabasterAnniston

BirminghamDecaturDothan

MobileMontgomery

The Shoals AreaTuscaloosa

FLORIDAPanama City Pensacola

SINCE 1943www.tractor-equipment.com

GEORGIAAlbany

AugustaCalhoun

ColumbusForest Park

HoschtonKennesaw

MaconSavannah

In all areas of the road construction business, the WIRTGEN GROUP stands out through innovative solutions, recognized processes and a full range of modern products meeting the highest demands. It is these characteristics which have made the WIRTGEN GROUP the market leader for mobile road construction equipment.