JUMBO EARTHMOVING MACHINES SPEED NEW RUNWAY PROJECT.

A continuous belt loader and three experimental 180-ton haul units quickly moved earth for a new runway high in the Colorado Rockies last fall. Nearly 1. 2 million cu yd of earth was moved in 18 wet and rainy weeks with the oversized rigs. The Eagle County Airport is located in a rapidly developing resort area 30 miles west of the Vail ski slopes. A new 100-ft. -wide, 7000-ft. -long runway is being built to handle the growing volume of private and commercial aircraft. Platte Valley Construction, Grand island, Neb. - the prime contractor - completed the 2 million grading and drainage contract for the project last fall. The experimental haulers were used to compile cost and production data. Three of the four haulers were prototype units consisting of an off-road tractor with specially-designed low-profile, bottom-dump trailers tailored for use with the company's belt loaders. The fourth hauler, used as a stand-by, was a smaller model not slated for production.