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โThe Nationโs Best Read Construction Newspaperโฆ Founded 1957.โ
Midwest Edition
www.constructionequipmentguide.com
July 30, 2016 โข Vol. XX โข No. 16 โข 470 Maryland Drive โข Ft. Washington, PA 19034 โข 215-885-2900 โข Toll Free 800-523-2200 โข Fax 215-885-2910
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Inside
Billions for Expansionโฆ
Crews on Home Stretch of OโHare Airport 11.5 Mi. Pipe Run in Minn. Plans Include
By Dick Rohland
CEG CORRESPOnDEnT Firmโs Bobcats Secure Work Close to Homeโฆ 10
Towmaster Hosts Events at Lit chfield Plantโฆ14
The Evo luti on of t he Backh oe Loader โฆ58
Table of Contents ............4 Backhoes & Attachments Section ......................53-68 Paving Section ..........77-88 Business Calendar ........91 Auction Section ........93-97 Advertisers Index ..........98
With three years and 9.2 mi. (14.8 km) behind them, pipe crews are into their final year of replacing 11.5 mi (18.5 km) of high pressure distribution gas main through the streets of St. Paul, Minn., and its suburban neighbor to the north, Roseville. Along with the pipe work, the local water utility jumped into the project in 2015, the third construction season, to replace a water main stretching over two dozen city blocks. It is expected that by this fall, all of the pipe will be buried on schedule and on budget. Owned and operated by Xcel Energy, a regional natural gas provider for this part of the country, the new, 20-in. (50.8 cm) steel main operating at 175 psi is replacing the original compression coupled pipe buried underground more than 60 years ago. The new main, made up of 40 ft. (12.2 m) sections of stronger, steel pipe welded together will keep its maintenance in step with new federal Trackhoe operators dug 120,000 cu. yds. (91,747 code requirements, said Conrad Miller cu m) to place all the pipe and many times worked P.E., Xcel senior engineer. in tandem to lift multiple sections of welded pipe see PIPE page 52
into the ground.
Gates, Amenities CHICAGO (AP) Chicago is planning a multibillion dollar effort to expand the cityโs OโHare International Airport that includes more gates, larger terminals and upgraded amenities. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the latest modernization plans on July 15. They include new gates in OโHareโs international terminal, which has not been expanded since it opened 23 years ago. The planning process is expected to be finished next year. โThis is an important step forward in our ongoing work to ensure that OโHare serves as the economic engine for the people of Chicago and an international gateway for travelers around the world,โโ the mayor said. The plans call for expanding the airportโs international section, Terminal 5, by 25 percent. The addition of up to nine gates within the terminal will give airlines the ability to offer more flights to more destinations, the mayorโs office said. The effort also includes redeveloping Terminal 2 into a new central terminal. Amenities within the renovated complex could include a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility and additional space for passenger security screenings, Emanuel said. see OโHARE page 74
Construction Employment Rises in 39 States Construction employment increased in 39 states between June 2015 and June 2016, although half the states shed construction jobs between May and June, according to analysis of Labor Department data released July 22 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the flattening of monthly employment gains and losses indicates the urgency of beefing up programs to attract, train and retain construction work-
ers. โConstruction demand is still growing strongly in all regions and among many types of owners,โ said Ken Simonson, chief economist of the association. โBut contractors appear to be struggling to fill jobs in the short run.โ As evidence of the challenge in filling jobs, he noted that recent data show a spike in job openings at construction firms and a huge
decline in the number of experienced construction workers available for hire. Hawaii added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year (15.9 percent, 6,700 jobs), followed by Iowa (15.8 percent, 12,200 jobs), Colorado (8.9 percent, 13,200 jobs) and Oklahoma (8.9 percent, 6,900 jobs). Iowa and Oklahoma set new records for construction employment. see JOBS page 70