Published Nationally
$3.00
®
Midwest Edition
January 11 2020 Vol. XXV • No. 1
4
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
West Side Tractor’s General Sales Manager, Tom Stern, Retires...10
Bridge Crews Endure Brutal Winter, High Water By early September, all the steel girders were in place on the new northbound bridge. Just a month later, Ames Construction crews had all traffic from the existing bridge switched over to the new northbound bridge. Murphy Tractor & Equipment Hosts Holiday Open Houses...12
Volvo Trucks Reaches 200,000-Unit Connectivity Milestone...63
Table of Contents ................4 Recycling Section ........25-39 Attachment & Parts Section ......................................53-55
By Dick Rohland CEG CORRESPONDENT
In just a matter of one year when cranes began to loom over the original 35W bridge crossing over the Minnesota River, regular commuters are now seeing real progress on its replacement. Connecting the cities of Bloomington and Burnsville just south of Minneapolis, traffic crews recently switched all six lanes from the old bridge to the new, north-
Business Calendar ............72 Auction Section ............73-77 Advertisers Index ..............78
Constructed in 1957, the 62-year-old structure has out lived its capacity while maintenance work and expenses continue to rise. The bridge now carries 114,100 vpd with a projection of 136,700 vpd by 2040. The Environmental Assessment (EA) report states that “normal, progressive deterioration will require substantial rehabilitation and or replacement of bridge elements within the next five to ten years while the steel girders are likely see BRIDGE page 60
Economists Make 2020 Construction Predictions By Lucy Perry CEG CORRESPONDENT
Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................63-69
bound bridge. This traffic switch was a major milestone that was met right on schedule in spite of bridge workers enduring one of the more brutal, Minnesota winters and unrelenting high river levels going into late summer this year. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is leading the construction. It is in partnership with Dakota and Hennepin counties and the cities of Burnsville and Bloomington to bring this bridge to the traveling public.
Construction economists are not sugarcoating their outlook on the industry in 2020. The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association forecasts slower growth in the economy next year, and predicts equipment investment will be weak. The Associated General Contractors and the Association of
Equipment Manufacturers also expect moderate growth in the construction market. Though not the rosiest picture, there are bright spots. In fact, equipment sales are actually on somewhat of an expansion track. Ken Simonson, AGC chief economist, forecasts growth in public, private The healthiest construction segments in 2020 will likenonresidential, and multifamily con- ly include highway and street construction, transstruction. portation facilities and power and energy, believes the see FORECAST page 52
Associated General Contractors of America.