Midwest 22 2015

Page 1

Published Nationally

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Midwest Edition

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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 4

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October 24, 2015 • Vol. IXX • No. 22 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910

Inside

Nearly 200 Guests Attend Nortrax Demo…12

Golfers Raise $10K for Political Action…18

By Lori Tobias

One More Phase Takes Off at O’Hare International Airport

CEG CORRESPONDENT

Yet one more phase of the nation’s largest airport construction project was finished earlier this month with the commissioning of Runway 10R-28 L and the new South Air Traffic Control Tower at O’Hare International Airport. It’s all part of the O’Hare Modernization Program, an $8.7 billion plan that’s been in the works since it was announced in 2001. Runway 10R-28L runs east to west and is located on the south airfield. It will be used primarily as an arrival runway and will substantially improve O’Hare’s capacity and efficiency, according to a press release from the Chicago Department of Aviation. “When we invest in O’Hare’s future, we are helping Chicago continue to grow economically and compete Yet one more phase of the nation’s largest airport construction project was finished earlier this on a global scale,” said Chicago month with the commissioning of Runway 10R-28 L and the new South Air Traffic Control Tower at Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “The new runO’Hare International Airport. way will reduce delays and increase airport capacity — a positive development for travelers and businesses who rely on O’Hare. And while O’Hare may be the busiest airport in the world, our goal is to make it the best airport in the world. With the help of this new MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin transporta- Legislature said that was too much and scaled the runway and our other investments, we tion officials are pushing back completion dates borrowing back to $500 million. are on track to achieving that goal.” for five major road projects because the state The GOP gave DOT the ability to request an The $516 million runway was built budget didn’t lay out enough money for them. additional $350 million from the Legislature’s through the execution of several conThe projects will be delayed for at least two powerful Joint Finance Committee. The agency struction contracts, including main years — and possibly longer — if legislators can’t hasn’t asked for the additional borrowing authoricontracts for east utilities and the guard come up with ways to find new revenue going for- ty, and Senate Republicans say they’re reluctant to post, site preparation, paving and elecward, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported grant the request if it comes. tric and navigation aids and fiber optic Sept. 20. The delays will cause the projects’ costs The DOT identified the five projects for delays transmission systems. Each these to increase because of inflation, though the state because they weren’t slated to be completed in the were design/bid/build projects with Department of Transportation hasn’t said by how 2015-17 biennium, DOT spokeswoman Peg pre-established completion milestones much. Schmitt said in an email to The Associated Press. and associated liquidated damages, Gov. Scott Walker proposed borrowing a record She said the agency anticipates asking for some said Karen Price, public information $1.3 billion for roads in his executive state budget additional borrowing authority “at some point,’’ officer of the city of Chicago. proposal. But his fellow Republicans in the see WISCONSIN page 68

Wis. Delays Work on Major Jobs

Rol and Machi nery Host s Appr eciat ion Ni ght…20

Table of Contents ................4 Snow & Ice Section ......45-49 Crawler Loaders, Dozers, Undercarriages & Parts Section ..........................57-66 Paving Section ..............79-93

see O’HARE page 105

Unemployment Falls to Lowest Mark in 15 Years

Auction Section..........98-105 The number of unemployed

demand for construction, accord-

reflects a lack of available workers

workforce has been slowing

Business Calendar ..........104 workers with construction experi- ing to an analysis by the Associated that could lead to project delays throughout 2015, just at the time ence dropped to the lowest total for

General Contractors of America.

unless more students and workers

Advertisers Index ............106 September since 2000, as hiring Association officials cautioned that join the construction sector. continued to slow despite robust

the hiring slowdown most likely

“Growth in the construction

that construction spending has accelerated to a multi-year high,” see JOBS page 105


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