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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” www.constructionequipmentguide.com Published 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. ashington, 19034 • 215/885-2900 • To ll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com July 16,W 2014 • Vol. LIVPA • No. 15 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910 Nationally
Inside
Lycoming Valley Railroad Officials Report Bridge Nears Completion Industry Adds 6,000 Positions in June
N.Y. Contractor Buys Wounded Warrior Excavator…14
Tilcon New York Leases 12 JCB Skid Steers…22
The bridge reconstruction was bid in June 2013, started in July 2013 and will be finished in July 2014.
By Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Rubblemaster Hosts Three-Day Event…30
Table of Contents ............4 Truck & Trailer Section ...... ..................................63-67 Recycling Section ....71-97 Attachment & Parts Section ..................107-113 Auction Section....120-133 Business Calendar ......123 Advertisers Index ........134
The new bridge is being built by Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College, Pa. Dan Hawbaker is the president, Dave Myers is the project superintendent, Mark Weaver is the steel foreman, and Scott Sechrist is the piling superintendent.
Construction employers added 6,000 workers to payrolls in June as the industry’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent, its lowest June level in six years, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that recent employment gains could be undermined when the federal government begins scaling back transportation investments in August. “The construction industry continues to expand gradually and unevenly,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Despite recent job growth, construction employment is still more than 1.7 million jobs or 22 percent below its 2006 peak.” Construction employment totaled 6.015 million in June, the highest total since June 2009 and an increase of 186,000 or 3.2 percent from a year earlier, Simonson noted. Residential construction employers added 6,600 jobs in June and 106,300 (4.9 percent) over 12 months. Nonresidential construction employment was unchanged since May, but up by 80,000 (2.2 percent) since June 2013.
A railroad bridge replacement project in Lycoming County, Pa., is nearing completion. The bridge was damaged beyond repair in 2011 by Tropical Storm Lee, and see LYCOMING page 46 the project also involves the reconstruction of approximately half a mile of railroad track. The bridge and track are owned by and are being rebuilt by SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority under the direction of Jeffrey Stover, executive director. The bridge is called By Joan Lowy the Lycoming Valley Railroad ASSOCIATED PRESS Bridge No. 195.68 over Loyalsock Creek in WASHINGTON (AP) As the summer driving seaMontoursville, Lycoming son swings into full gear, states can expect a large potCounty, Pa. hole in their construction budgets if Congress doesn’t The bridge reconstruction reach an agreement quickly on how to pay for federal was bid in June 2013, started in highway and transit programs, President Barack July 2013, and will be finished Obama and his top officials are warning. in July 2014. The bid amount States will begin to feel the pain of cutbacks in fedwas $9.1 million, and the projeral aid as soon as the first week in August if lawmakers don’t act, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx ect is currently on schedule. said in a letter to states. That’s because the balance in The bridge was designed by the federal Highway Trust Fund is dropping and will John Conrad, P.E., railroad soon go below $4 billion, the cushion federal officials consultant, and Keller say is needed for incoming fuel tax revenue to cover Engineers of Holidaysburg, Pa.
see JOBS page 126
Dead Ahead This Summer: A Pothole in Highway Construction Funding outgoing payments to states. The cuts will vary from state to state but will average about 28 percent, transportation officials said. By the end of August, the trust fund’s balance is forecast to fall to zero and the cuts could deepen. A second deadline is coming Sept. 30 when the government’s authority to spend money on transportation programs expires. As many as 700,000 jobs could be at risk over the next year, Obama told a crowd of about 500 gathered July 1 beneath the Key Bridge, which spans the Potomac River and joins the District of Columbia and Virginia. Revenue from federal gas and diesel taxes continues to flow into the trust fund, but the total is expected to see POTHOLE page 126