Published Nationally Northeast Edition
$3.00
®
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.”
www.constructionequipmentguide.com
470 Maryland DriveMay • Ft.6,W ashington, 19034 215/885-2900 Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com 2015 • Vol. LIVPA • No. 9 • 470•Maryland Drive • Ft.• Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
VDOT Replaces Washington Boulevard Bridge By Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Firm Celebrates Continued Profitability…8
Pa. Contractor Builds Third Generation of Growth…18
A Hitachi excavator is used to move rocks on the site.
Case Launches New D Series Excavators…50
Table of Contents ................4 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................65-71 Recycling Section ........75-99 Attachment & Parts Section ..................................117-123 Business Calendar ..........130 Auction Section ......128-141 Advertisers Index ............142
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is nearing the end of a design-build project to replace the Washington Boulevard bridge over Columbia Pike in Arlington, Va. The $48.5 million contract was awarded to Shirley Contracting Company LLC. Work began in the spring of 2012, and is expected to be complete this summer. According to VDOT, “the new bridge will be wider, longer and a great deal more attractive than today’s structure.” A light well will separate westbound and eastbound lanes, and an acceleration/deceleration lane will be added westbound between ramps to assist weaving. The new bridge will accommodate turn lanes, a raised median, a wider sidewalk and a 10-ft. (3 m) shareduse path on Columbia Pike.
Construction Firms Add Jobs in 41 States Over Year ARTBA Warns DOT of Job Cost Increases Even as construction firms added jobs in 41 states between March 2014 and March 2015, construction employment declined in 29 states and the District of Columbia between February and March, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that ongoing D.C. gridlock over how to pay for needed infrastructure improvements and declining demand for oil-related projects likely contributed to so many states shedding construction jobs in March. "While the year-over-year data remains relatively positive, it is troubling to see so many states losing
construction jobs during the past month," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "As energy firms cancel or delay projects and Congressional action on transportation and other infrastructure measures remains stalled, many construction firms appear to be reducing headcount, at least temporarily." California added more new construction jobs (46,300 jobs, 6.9 percent) between March 2014 and March 2015 than any other state. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months included Texas (39,300 jobs, 6.2 percent), Florida (37,400 jobs, 9.7 percent), see EMPLOYMENT page 135
see WASHINGTON page 38
A U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) pilot program that would allow state and local transportation agencies to utilize local hiring preferences on federal-aid highway and transit projects will increase costs, decrease competition, and could actually result in less frequent hiring of minorities and women, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced the one-year pilot program on March 3. The agency said allowing the local preferences will enable “disadvantaged workers in the communities where projects are located to benefit from the economic opportunities such projects represent.” State or local transportation agencies would need to initiate a hiring preference and seek approval from see ARTBA page 134