Published Nationally Northeast Edition
® March 6 2019 Vol. LVI • No. 5
“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
N.J. Lays Groundwork to ReplacePortal Bridge
World of Asphalt Breaks Attendance Record…38
Amtrak photo
Prior to erecting both monopoles, two large diameter drilled shaft foundations had to be constructed.
By Cindy Riley Circular Economy Can Shape Infrastructure…42
‘Dozer Dave’ Touts Construction Jobs…46
Table of Contents................ 4 Truck & Trailer Section........ ...................................... 48-55 Recycling Section........ 63-87 Attachment & Parts Section ...................................... 88-93 Business Calendar.......... 102 Auction Section...... 106-120 Advertisers Index............ 118
CEG CORRESPONDENT
At an estimated cost of $1.6 billion dollars, a two-track replacement structure Portal Partners photo known as Portal North Bridge is closer to becoming a reality. While main construction The project will replace the bridge with a modern, higher clearance, fixed span bridge, allowhas yet to begin due to money issues, early ing faster speeds, increased reliability and a 10 percent increase in NJ Transit capacity. work on the project in Kearny and clearance, fixed span bridge, allowing faster speeds, increased reliability Secaucus, N.J., is complete, and not a moment too soon. “Replacement of Portal Bridge, a 108-year-old swing bridge over the and a 10 percent increase in NJ Transit capacity. Funded by a $16 million Hackensack River that carries 450 trains per day, is one of the most urgent TIGER grant and $4 million local match, the initial work involves utility infrastructure priorities for Amtrak and the Northeast Corridor,” said Craig relocation and construction of a finger pier and retaining wall, among Schulz, Gateway Program Development Corporation (GDC) spokesman. other elements. “The intent is to complete these long duration items to enable the next “The century-old bridge must swing open to allow boats to pass underneath, and often fails to close properly, leading to a cascade of delays that phase of construction to be completed more expeditiously. The financial can ripple throughout the Northeast Corridor.” see PORTAL page 24 Schulz said the project will replace the bridge with a modern, higher
Third Time a Charm? Wolf Revisits Police Fee Plan By Marc Levy ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) The latest effort by Gov. Tom Wolf to impose a fee on municipalities that rely on state troopers, instead of a local police force, is generating new conversations, if not an embrace, as budget makers try to end the constitutionally questionable use of highway dollars to underwrite the Pennsylvania State Police. This is the third time Wolf, a Democrat, has tried to impose a fee on a lengthening list of
municipalities that are closing their police departments. The issue has been a sore spot for at least two decades, since then-Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican, sought unsuccessfully to extract reimbursements from the largest municipalities engaging in the practice. Wolf has not had much support from Republican lawmakers, who control the state Legislature and represent most of the areas that receive state police coverage. Previously, Wolf proposed a per-person fee. This year, he is floating a sliding-scale fee, starting at $8 per person for municipalities with
2,000 or fewer residents and rising to $166 per person for municipalities with 20,000 or more residents. It is projected to raise $103 million a year. Why Now? Transportation planners, construction firms and engineers began raising the alarm anew several years ago after watching a growing portion of highway funds get diverted to the state police budget. A consensus built in the Capitol to clamp see PLAN page 107