Published Nationally Northeast Edition
® October 3 2018 Vol. LVI • No. 20
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.”
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Inside
Fifty Years in the Making I-95 Finally Connects Maine to Florida With Opening of the ‘Missing Link’ By Craig Mongeau CEG EDITOR IN CHIEF
Contractor Trades Chiropractic for Komatsu…10
H.O. Penn, SITECH Host Event in N.Y. …18
Off-Road Trucks Keep Projects Moving…70
Table of Contents.................. 4
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, PennDOT, FHWA and elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, cut the ceremonial ribbon Sept. 21, 2018, on Stage 1 of the PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange project. Otherwise known as the “Missing Link,” this section of road, which includes flyovers, was about 40 years in the making. The new flyovers connect the PA Turnpike and I-95 and opened to traffic Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. This was the only unlinked section of I-95 spanning from Maine to Florida. A Long Wait “How many people thought this day would never come?” asked Mark Compton, CEO of Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, PennDOT, FHWA and elected officials, including the PA Turnpike Commission, of attendees of U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, cut the ceremonial ribbon Sept. 21, 2018, on Stage 1 of the the ribbon-cutting event, which PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange project. included invited guests, elected officials, contractors and members of the media. “We know 95 is the longest north-south artery of that motorists have been waiting 1,900 miles and this weekend it will for a long time for this connecfinally be continuously connected.” tion, and probably more so important, we know that the A Boon for the locally [Bristol, Pa.], people Local Economy have been waiting for this for a “This is a great day,” added Pat long time … to get all that traffic off their local roadways. We are The new flyovers connect the PA Turnpike and I-95 and opened to Deon, commissioner of the PA excited to give you your roads traffic Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. This was the only unlinked section of Turnpike Commission. back. I’m honored to say that I- I-95 spanning from Maine to Florida. see INTERCHANGE page 30
Paving Section................ 53-65 Off-Road Truck Section.. 67-84
Labor Shortage: It’s Not Necessarily About Pay
Snow & Ice Section....115-117
By Jennifer McKevitt CEG CORRESPONDENT
Parts Section......................118 Auction Section..........122-136 Business Calendar............ 130 Advertisers Index.............. 134
A recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America notes that more than 80 percent of contractors are struggling to fill hourly craft positions or those that require specialized training to perform. In an attempt to lure in talented workers, per diems and other pay structures are growing increasingly com-
petitive. CEG spoke with Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist, who believes the situation will take more than adjusted per diems to resolve. “Construction firms are definitely sensitive to wage and benefits packages,” Simonson said. “However, the problem of attracting qualified workers goes deeper than adjusted costs for meals, travel and lodging.”
The true source of worker shortages isn’t pay-related, he believes. The real issue is training. “About a decade or more ago, schools began de-emphasizing the value of trades,” he said. “Career counselors told everyone that college was the best way to land a high-paying job.” What the counselors didn’t foresee was the see LABOR page 92