Published Nationally
Northeast Edition
$3.00
® September 14 2011 Vol. XLIX • No. 19
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com
Inside
Feds Weigh Infrastructure Solutions By Giles Lambertson CEG CORRESPONDENT
Eastern O il & G as Conference Hel d in Pa. …8
N.H. Good Roads Show a Success …12
Swank uses a Bidwell to level the concrete on Bridge 7 (southbound SR 885).
Swank Bring Bridges Up to Grade in Allegheny County, Pa. By Jennifer Rupp CEG CORRESPONDENT
Rit chie Re els i n 1,900 Bidders at Md. Sale…134
Table of Contents ................4 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................65-70 Crushing, Screening & Recycling Section ......77-102 Parts Section ..........104-105 Snow & Ice Section..106-109 Auction Section .................... ........................Starts on 130 Business Calendar ..........132 Advertisers Index............146
The Mifflin Road Bridges project in Allegheny County, Pa., takes place amidst a labyrinth of roads and interchanges just south of a dip in the Monongahela River. This area, approximately 6 mi. (9.6 km) southeast of downtown Pittsburgh, was in need of two new bridges to accommodate increased traffic demands. The $8.1 million contract includes repairs to Bridge 8, which is a six-span pre-stressed I-beam
bridge, and Bridge 7 — a three-span pre-stressed spread box beam bridge. Approximately 3 mi. (4.8 km) away on SR 2046 (Streets Run Road), a small bridge crossing over Streets Run also is being replaced in conjunction with this project. Prime contractor Swank Associated Companies of New Kensington, Pa., broke ground in July 2010. Swank is responsible for demolition and concrete work, pavement associated with approach work and drainage. The whole project will be complete this fall. see MIFFLIN page 30
Some leaders in the construction industry and in Washington believe a “national infrastructure bank” (NIB) is the way to fund major building projects across the country. They view the bank as a way to reform infrastructure funding and leverage other public and private sector money. Skeptics are not persuaded that the “bank” really is a bank, nor that it will do much in the way of reducing the pork barrel that taints so much of today’s infrastructure funding. Both sides of the NIB question are amply expressed on the public record and in this article. Interviews by CEG amplify the positions. In summary: While a consensus to proceed with an NIB seems possible, there are plenty of objections to be overcome. Three Bank Ideas Three variations on the theme have been introduced into the public discussion, one by President Obama and two in Congress. They vary slightly in the amount of start-up funds authorized and in the money’s distribution. The proposals are: see SOLUTIONS page 38
AGC Reviews July’s Construction Numbers Construction employment increased in 136 out of 337 metropolitan areas between July 2010 and July 2011, declined in 148 and stayed level in 53, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released Aug. 30 by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Association officials noted that the local employment data remains mostly stagnant amid declines in publicly-funded construction activity. “Even as we are beginning to experience a modest increase in private sector construction
activity, public construction budgets are contracting,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The big worry for construction workers is that private demand will again slip while governments continue to cut back on see EMPLOYMENT page 40
From now through the end of the year, please check out our new special Snow and Ice section. Pages 106-109