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Southeast Edition
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January 2 2019 Vol. XXXII • No. 1
“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
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Truck Bypass Aims at Easing Congestion By Irwin Rapoport
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Doosan Portable Power Rebuilds 500th Unit…10
Bendable Concrete Helps Infrastructure Woes…40
As truck traffic continues to increase in the U.S. 301 corridor in Starke, Bradford County, Fla., the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is spending $90 million to construct the 7.3-mi. Starke Alternate Truck Route, also known as the Starke 223 Bypass, to relieve traffic congestion both now and in the future. Two contracts for the project, which will ultimately create two lanes in each direction separated by a grass median, were awarded to the Anderson Columbia Co. Inc. and Superior Construction Company. The contractors began work in August and October 2016, respectively, and are expected to finish by late summer or early fall 2019. The work also includes the building of bridges over County Road 100A and County Road 229. The CR 100A bridge will extend 412 ft. on the northbound side and 435 ft. on the southbound side, which also serves as an overpass for the CSX mainline track. The CR 229 bridge will be 120 ft. long, with two lanes in each direction. The work zone is located between County Road 227 and County Road 233 on the west side of Starke between the downtown core and residential areas and lakes. Two interchanges, including bridges over State Road 100 and State Road 16, are being constructed along the new roadway to provide access. FDOT anticipates that the new route will carry 25,000 vehicles per day, which will increase to 31,000 per day by 2040. Planning for the project began in 1993 and a decision on the final see BYPASS page 22
route was not made until 2014.
Wanhua Picks La. for $1.25B Chemical Complex Jeff Martin Hosts Winter Auction…72
Table of Contents ..............4 Attachment & Parts Section ....................................27-31 Recycling Section ......49-57 Truck & Trailer Section ...... ....................................65-68 Business Calendar ..........69 Auction Section ..........71-73 Advertisers Index ..............74
On Nov. 16, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd. executive Weiqi Hua announced the company will develop a $1.25 billion chemical manufacturing complex in the St. James Parish community of Convent, La. The 250-acre manufacturing site will be developed at the northwest corner of the intersection of Louisiana Highways 3125 and 3214, on the east bank of the Mississippi River with deep-draft river access and available rail service. The project will create 170 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of more than $80,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in additional 1,060 new indirect jobs, for a total of 1,230 new permanent jobs in the state. Wanhua will leverage its $1.25 billion capital investment to produce MDI, or methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. MDI is commonly used for polyurethane
automotive parts, foams and elastomers, with applications in such consumer areas as appliances, electronics, spray-foam insulation, furniture, textiles and footwear. “Our LED team, joining other state agencies and regional and local partners, has worked diligently with Wanhua to attract this next-generation MDI project,” Edwards said. “Louisiana offers world-class manufacturing sites, the most productive manufacturing workforce in the U.S., and LED FastStart, the nation’s top state workforce training program. Our infrastructure assets enable us to compete for the leading economic development projects in the world. We welcome Wanhua to Louisiana and look forward to the company’s contribution to our workforce and economy.” In April 2017, Edwards and Wanhua Chairman and CEO Zengtai Liao announced Wanhua’s decision to build the project in Louisiana. The choice of the St. James Parish
site followed additional front-end engineering and development and final site selection activities. Wanhua plans to start construction in 2019, with the project generating 1,000 construction jobs at peak activity. The company anticipates construction will be substantially complete by the end of 2021. “Louisiana, and specifically St. James Parish, provides Wanhua with everything we were looking for,” said CEO Weiqi Hua of Wanhua Chemical U.S. Operations LLC. Hua also serves as executive vice president and chief technology officer of parent firm Wanhua Chemical Group. “More than anything, successful operations are about people, and we know that Louisiana’s workforce is among the most productive in the world. Wanhua looks forward to being part of the Louisiana business community and the local community. Our desire to be a good industry neighbor will be evident in our see WANHUA page 60