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January 3, 2015 • Vol. IXX • No. 1 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
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Inside
I-90 Span Reaches Halfway Point By Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Crews Revitalize Critical Interstate Bypass…8
The job was let in October of 2012, for a contract amount of $187,543,070.60. Work started in March of 2013, and all new work is required to be complete by Nov. 15, 2016. The contractor has until June 1, 2017, to remove the existing river bridge. Cat Chairman, CEO Rings NYSE Opening Bell…16
A Look at Michigan’s Road Funding Plan By The Associated Press IronPlanet, Cat Auction Services Partner…83
Table of Contents ................4 Attachment & Parts Section ......................................35-39 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................51-58 Recycling Section ........65-82 Business Calendar ............83 Auction Section ............87-93 Advertisers Index ..............94
Here's a look at a $1.6 billion road and school funding deal approved Dec. 19 by the Michigan Legislature. The fate of the tax hike rests entirely with voters: Ballot In May, voters will be asked to increase the state's 6 percent sales tax to 7 percent and eliminate the sales tax on motor fuel, generating a net $588 million — mainly for $300 million for schools (the equivalent of $200 per pupil) and nearly $100 million for local governments. The plan also would bar the Legislature from spending School Aid Fund revenue on public universities, an issue for
Democrats who feel the fund mainly dedicated for K-12 schools has been ``raided'' in recent years. The money could be spent on community colleges, however. Republicans especially wanted to ensure all taxes at the pump go to transportation, which isn't the case now. Legislation Legislators passed 11 bills that will only go into effect if the ballot measure is approved. • In October 2015, Michigan's flat 19-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax and 15-cents-per-gallon diesel tax would be converted so they are based on wholesale prices and significantly rise, with floors and ceilings in place so taxes couldn't see PLAN page 42
A major bridge project for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recently reached the halfway point, and work is currently on schedule. Ames Construction is heading the project, with Benjamin Lovin serving as the project manager. The job was let in October of 2012, for a contract amount of $187,543,070.60. Work started in March of 2013, and all new work is required to be complete by Nov. 15, 2016. The contractor has until June 1, 2017, to remove the existing river bridge. According to MnDOT, the I-90 Bridge spans the The final interchange configuration Mississippi River between will provide full movement with no Dresbach, Minn. and La signals between I-90 and Hwy 61, as Crosse, Wis. Built in 1967, it is well as access to the traveler infor- a 2,490 ft. (756 m) -long, fourmation center and boat launches from lane bridge. The existing, fracall directions.
see INTERCHANGE page 60
Taxpayers Win With EPA Coal Ash Decision In good news for taxpayers, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Dec. 19 decision not to regulate fly-ash, a byproduct of coal combustion to produce electricity, as a “hazardous material” will save American taxpayers $105 billion over the next 20 years. That, research by the association’s foundation found, would be
the additional cost to build roads, bridges and airport runways if flyash, widely recycled as a pavement mix additive, was not available as a building material. The EPA’s rule will be setting new requirements for the storage of fly-ash. ARTBA has been actively engaged in the regulatory and legislative debate in Washington over fly-ash since 2007 and applauded see ARTBA page 18