Soaked to the Bone, Fueled by Fire: A Day of Grit at the Asphalt Plant

Have you ever heard the Mongolian proverb, “If there is a spark in your heart, then there will be a fire in your stove”? This past Saturday, that spark burned brightly across our asphalt plant job site — despite a relentless, bone-drenching Vancouver rainstorm that dumped over 12 mm of water throughout the day.

Torrential rain, towering machinery, and unstoppable teamwork — how we pulled off massive traverse lifts in a true Vancouver downpour.

Compared to when we first built the entire asphalt plant back in 2020 — in just four months from clearing land to erecting three silos — this expansion has been a whole different beast.

It was the final push in our ambitious asphalt plant expansion: installing the last 20+ pieces of equipment, including two massive traverse units — highly sophisticated conveyor belt systems mounted on top of our newly added silos. Each unit weighs over 12,000 pounds, and without them, the silos are just oversized metal shells.

But Mother Nature had other plans.

By mid-morning, not a single member of our crew had dry shoulders — or pants, for that matter. Rain poured endlessly from a gloomy sky, soaking every glove, boot, and hi-vis vest. And still, our team pressed on with focus and fire.

A 50-foot Challenge, Wired with Voltage and Resolve

Each traverse unit is a web of high-voltage wiring, intricate tech, and precision parts — some carrying as much as 480 volts. It's not a job for the faint of heart, especially in wet, slippery conditions. The groundwork started the night before, and by 7 a.m. Saturday morning, our Sterling crane stood tall with its boom ready — and some crew members were already 12+ hours into their shifts.

"My shift is ending soon, but I’m going to stick around a bit longer to give guys hand," said Asphalt Plant Mechanic Manvir Chahal, grinning through the downpour. "No rain is stopping us. We can't wait to see these new babies start churning out asphalt mixes."

From Blank Slate to Controlled Chaos

Compared to when we first built the entire asphalt plant back in 2020 — in just four months from clearing land to erecting three silos — this expansion has been a whole different beast. "We've already been at this for over six months, and it's no surprise," noted Grade Foreman Mitchel Vallee. "It's always more complex upgrading an existing plant than building fresh on an empty lot."

That complexity showed up in every bolt and beam. New walking platforms, control systems, custom-fit support legs, and chutes all had to be hoisted 50 feet in the air, carefully aligned, cut, and welded into place — often in the rain, under pressure, and on the fly.

With every torch that sparked to life, real sparks rained down — glowing and crackling against the backdrop of stormy skies. And we realized: the proverb wasn't just a metaphor anymore. We were literally working through rain and sparks.

One Last Lift — and One Unforgettable Moment

As the final traverse — a beast of steel over 21 feet long — was being craned into position, a last-minute adjustment was needed on its support leg frame. With the massive unit suspended in midair, it was clear the task couldn't fall on one mechanic alone.

That's when it happened. In a spontaneous show of grit and unity, crew members lined up and locked in under the dangling giant — reminiscent of the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photo. Each soaked to the core, each playing their part. It was raw, unscripted, and unforgettable.

"Just trying to do our part in the ARC community," said Bao Tran, our plant's lead hand, brushing off praise with characteristic humility.

Brock Fell, another dedicated member of the crew, summed it up best: "We appreciate everything everyone does for the team. That's how we roll here at All Roads."

By the time darkness fell and the crane retracted its arm, the job was done. The rain still hadn't let up. But neither had we.

And that — soaked uniforms, sparks flying, and all — is what it means to have a spark in your heart and fire in your stove.