CCAonline moves forward with projects to improve internet services to its customers

[June 19, 2020]  

On Tuesday afternoon ownership and staff at CCAonline in Lincoln accomplished a big step in a project to increase dependability and stability of its internet services in Logan and Tazewell Counties.

The big step is a small building, only 10 feet by 20 feet. In spite of its compact size, the structure weighs 55,000 pounds and was put in place behind the CCA office using a crane. The completely concrete structure will be utilized as the communications shelter for CCA.

“This concrete communications shelter has special built-ins for keeping our delicate equipment safe from lightning strikes and surges, as well as providing perfect climate control,” said CCA owner Jim Youngquist. “Both the CCAonline tower and this communications shelter are rated for 150 mile an hour winds. We provide wireless internet service in Logan and Tazewell Counties. Plans are to occupy the new building sometime this fall. Our installation will be completed with a generator to prevent internet service outages caused by loss of commercial power. The building is a little big for our current uses, but will also serve as a data center for internet services sometime in the future.”

The building was trucked in from a location in Pleasant Plains, Illinois, where it was previously used as a similar shelter. Youngquist said that the move and installation was done completely by Logan County businesses. He utilized Mark Shew of Shew Designs to coordinate the construction, delivery and installation components of the project.

The building arrived around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon on a low-boy trailer. The truck first pulled into Thornton’s parking area across from the CCA building.

The crane arrived about an hour later. After getting the crane set up for the lift, the truck was backed onto the fenced lot behind the CCA office.

Youngquist noted that with the weight of the load and the incline into the CCA property the semi actually got stuck on the first try. He explained, “[the driver] pulled forward again and barreled onto the property to successfully deliver the load.”

As the truck did its “barreling” staff from Shew Designs and CCA blocked traffic for the safety of the public. All appreciated the patience of motorists as the truck worked to get across the road and out of the way as quickly as possible.

Once on the correct side of the road, the crane was attached to the building and it was lifted from the trailer. The truck was moved out of the way and the crane operator worked to put the building on the concrete pad.

One interesting part of the operation was watching the building do a 180 mid-air. The building was coming off the trailer backward to the way it needed to be placed on the pad. With the structure swinging from heavy duty cables, Shew used rope to gently turn the building around so that the entry door faced the correct direction.

It was then carefully moved and lowered down onto the concrete pad.

Youngquist said that with the building in place, work will begin to set up the new communications center inside. He is hopeful that all the work will be done by fall.

[Nila Smith]

About CCA and CCAonline
CCA is located in Lincoln, Illinois. CCA is a full-service computer store that has been serving the needs of businesses and individuals since 1985.

CCAonline has been providing inexpensive, reliable internet access to the local community since 1996.

Offices are located at 601 Keokuk Street in Lincoln.