Published Nationally ®
Southeast Edition
January 13 2010
$3.00
Vol. XXII I• 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 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
New Twin Spans Rise Over Lake Pontchartrain By Zoie Clift CEG CORRESPONDENT
Fleet Software Can Boost Profitability…26
Meekins Holds 15th Annual Auction…56
Digital Editions Available @ www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Table of Contents ............4 Truck & Trailer Section .... ..................................26-29 Crushing, Screening & Recycling Section ....33-40 Parts Section ................41 Business Calendar ........44 Auction Section ......52-59 Advertisers Index ..........58
A landmark of New Orleans, the I-10 Twin Span Bridge, (known as the Twin Spans) are two parallel bridges that cross Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans to Slidell. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Twin Spans suffered extensive damage. Though the bridge was repaired after the storm, it was decided a long-term solution would be to construct two new spans. Construction of the new bridge began in June 2006 and is the largest public works project in Louisiana history. Taller, wider and built with Photo courtesy of Volkert Construction Services Inc. enhanced materials and construcThe first new span opened to two lanes of eastbound traffic in the summer of 2009. The westbound span is scheduled to follow suit in tion techniques, the new bridge, which will cost $800 million, is mid- to-late 2011. being built 300 ft. (91.4 m) east of the current spans. The new spans are being built 21 ft. (6.4 m) higher to protect against high storm surge. Once the new bridge is completed,
the current bridge will be demolished. The first new span opened to two lanes of eastbound traffic in the summer of 2009. The westbound span is scheduled to follow suit in mid- to-late 2011. “The magnitude and complexity of this bridge replacement project is readily evident,” said Steve Heraty, deputy project engineer of CEI from Volkert Construction Services, the construction engineering and inspection consultant for the project. “However, this bridge is much more than concrete, steel, manpower and equipment. It is a visible reminder of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the recovery of the region in the aftermath of the hurricane.” The new bridge features an 80ft. (24.3 m) high-rise section to provide vertical clearance for marine traffic. The two parallel structures, each will be 5.5 mi. (8.8 km) long. Both bridges will be 60 ft. (18.2 m)
Homes, Roads Positive Spots in 2010 Outlook Ten Survival Strategies By Pete Sigmund
CEG EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Sizable growth in new construction of single-family homes and a high level of construction of roads and bridges are positive expectations for 2010 as the industry and the nation hope for a stronger economic recovery from high unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies and other continuing myriad problems. Economists interviewed by Construction Equipment Guide (CEG) are anything but sanguine but they see rays of light amid the encircling gloom. “We expect about 610,000 sin-
gle-family housing starts in 2010, compared with about 443,000 starts in 2009,” said Bernard Markstein, vice president, economic analysis and forecasting of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, D.C. “We will see definite improvement in the first and third quarters and then again by year-end. I predict a slow recovery back to normalcy, which is 1.5-million starts per year, over the next 10 years.” Markstein said the homeowner tax credit for consumers “adds close to 200,000 additional sales.” This credit is $8,000 for a first-time homebuyer and $6,500 for a repeat see FORECAST page 10
see SPANS page 50
for a Tough Economy By Thomas Houck SPECIAL TO CEG
Jim is a small business owner who’s been watching the economy evaporate in front of his eyes. Stress isn’t the word to explain how he feels. With his wife staying at home to raise their youngest child, his business bears the entire financial burden of funding their mortgage and lifestyle. If the slowdown continues, not only will his nightly tossing and turning get worse, but he
may also have a full-blown nervous breakdown. Jim is fortunate to have a neighbor, Ken, who helps small business owners lead better lives by running better businesses. Since his business had gone so well for the past 10 years, Jim never felt he needed a consultant. Until now. His gracious neighbor Ken offered Jim two hours of his time gratis to share the “Top 10 Survival Tactics in a Tough see SURVIVAL page 14