L.L. Pelling moving Cedar Rapids asphalt plant in 2013

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A need for additional space to store materials and provide room for future expansion is prompting a North Liberty paving material supplier to relocate its Cedar Rapids plant in 2013.

L.L. Pelling has operated an asphalt plant at 3750 J. St. SW since 1972 when it was constructed by Iowa Manufacturing Inc. The plant was the largest and only batch plant of its size built by Iowa Manufactiuring, now known as Terex Cedarapids.

Chuck Finnegan, president of L.L. Pelling, said land has been acquired at the northeast corner of Edgewood Road and 60th Avenue SW and grading has begun.

"I think we will start our footings this spring and move through a slow construction season in 2012 with the plant being fully operable in 2013," Finnegan said. "We are on 7 acres at our current location and our stockpile area is so small that we have to haul material in when we get big jobs.

"It hurts in terms of your quality control because if the quarry is just a little inaccurate, your production suffers. We also have to have enough trucks to haul in what we are hauling out."

Finnegan said the new location offers 40 acres, of which L.L. Pelling will initially use 15 or 20 acres. The transition period will include time for construction of a new asphalt plant that will run just over $4 million.

"We will be able to recycle asphalt and shingles better," Finnegan said. "We also will have a lot more area to place product, which will make us pretty versatile.

"We will do a lot of the work with our own people. Most of the work relocating portions of the J Street plant will occur between November and April of each year when we are shut down for the winter months."

Finnegan said the new location also will be closer to suppliers like Martin Marrietta and be more centrally located to other suppliers.

"We will be getting away from a more urban setting to a location where we have the ability to breathe," he said. "I would expect that we will move our shop and office out there over the next five years."

L.L. Pelling also has asphalt plants in Coralville and Marion.