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March 19 2011 Vol. XVIII • No. 6
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Unique Interchange on Schedule, on Budget for St. Paul/Minneapolis Region By Dick Rohland CEG CORRESPONDENT
UCA Hosts Sewer Seminar, Demo...10
Nat ional Pavement Expo Held in Nashville...28
Sal es Stro ng at Lyo n Chi cago Auct ion. ..8 2
Construction of an offset single point interchange, a first of its kind for the state of Minnesota, recently hit the halfway point of a 15-month construction schedule. Located just north of St. Paul, the new interchange will replace an existing and more traditional diamond interchange. The $20 million interchange links Rice Street, a minor arterial, to TH 36, both busy commuter routes for the northern and eastern suburbs and townships of the Twin Cities. Rice Street runs north from downtown St. Paul through several suburban cities and is an important reliever to I 35E traffic just to the east. TH 36 is an east/west commuter highway connecting the St. Paul/Minneapolis region to the state of Wisconsin 25 mi. (40 km) to the east. Ramsey County, the operating authority of Rice Street, awarded the low bid to Lunda Construction. With headquarters in Black River Falls, Wis., Lunda is a nationally known bridge builder. Lunda brought in Arnt Construction of Hugo, Minn., to excavate the site. C.W. Houle, Shoreview, Minn., is laying the sewer pipe for the interchange and Hardrives Incorporation from Rogers, Minn., is placing the asphalt for the new street. Main construction features to this project include a new bridge on Rice Street crossing TH 36, two flyover ramps, a 32,000 sq. ft. (3,023 sq m) infiltration basin, more than 1,000 ft. (305 m) of retaining wall along Rice Street and County see INTERCHANGE page 24
An American 7260 100-ton (110 t), a Link-Belt 75 ton (83 t) and an APE 19-42 pile driver, are stationed at the edge of TH 36 working on one of two flyover ramps for the new offset single point interchange to be constructed here. It will be the first of its kind for the state of Minnesota.
Table of Contents ........4 Skid Steers & Attachments Section...... ..............................29-45 Paving Section ......65-74 Business Calendar ......86 Auction Section ....82-91 Advertisers Index ......90
O’Hare Expansion Advances With $1.2B Deal CHICAGO — Chicago and two major airlines have reached a nearly $1.2 billion agreement that resolves many disagreements over the expansion of O’Hare International Airport. That means construction of an additional runway can begin soon, though questions about timing of other planned work still must be ironed out.
Improving O’Hare will not only reduce flight delays and improve service, “it will ensure one of our busiest airports continues to thrive economically in the future,’’ Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. United and American had filed a lawsuit accusing the city of violating a lease agreement giving airlines authority to approve
expenditures for capital projects. Mayor Richard Daley said the airlines had reneged on a 2001 promise to help overhaul O’Hare, which is expected to have a final price tag of around $15 billion. The March 14 statement did not break down how much of the bill each airline agreed to pay. Nor was it clear if the deal put the brakes on litigation. But
American Airlines chief executive Gerard Arpey hailed the agreement, saying it takes into account economic realities. Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, who has supported O’Hare expansion, welcomed the deal, calling it “a victory for the economic future of our city, our state, and our region.’’