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February 20, 2013 • Vol. XXV • No. 4 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
La. Construction Budget Fund Going Broke By Melinda Deslatte ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nortrax Holds Grand Opening in Miami…8
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) As if Louisiana needed another budget problem, lawmakers have been told the money to pay for ongoing state construction projects is running dry. Plus, the state is hovering
so close to its debt ceiling that there’s little room to borrow, to replenish the fund. Without a new infusion of cash, Louisiana is projected to run out of money to pay for college building repairs, economic development projects and state-funded road work in about four months by esti-
mates recently presented to state senators. And without a solution, the political ramifications could be widespread. Lawmakers wouldn’t have the pet projects they like to bring home in the “capital outlay’’ process — and Gov. Bobby Jindal wouldn’t
have as much pork to cajole votes, right as he’s trying to pass a massive tax code rewrite in the upcoming legislative session. Not to mention that no one’s recommended a specific plan so far to keep the current work going, including the Jindal administration. see BUDGET page 28
AGC: 139 of 337 Metro Areas See Employment Rise Blanchard Machinery Unveils New Services…14
Rendering of what old and new bridges will look like after completion of both projects.
Edward Talley Bridge before rehab to turn it into a monument.
Time Takes Toll on the Talley Ale x Lyon & Son Ki cks Off Flor ida Auct ions …8 0
By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Table of Contents ............4 Paving Section ........31-42 Excavators & Attachments Section ......................47-69 Parts Section ................70 Business Calendar ........72 Auction Section ......78-85 Advertisers Index ..........86
Construction crews in Tennessee are preparing to replace a historic bridge that dates back to the 1920s. Built by the State Highway Department as part of the special toll bridge program, the Edward R. Talley Bridge in Hancock County is being retired due to significant deterioration. It currently remains open to the public, as teams work to complete a new structure by 2014. “The new bridge will not resemble the Edward R. Talley Bridge, in that it will
consist of modern materials such as steel beams and modern geometrics, used with updated construction methods to meet today’s standards,” said Ray Henson, transportation project manager 2 with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). “The existing bridge consists of two 10foot travel lanes, with no shoulders, and is 420 feet in length. The new bridge consists of two 12-foot travel lanes, with approximately six-foot shoulders and will be 480 feet in length. Mussel details and freshwater fish details will be recessed on
the inside face of the new bridge’s rails. This is intended to bring attention to the area’s unique water habitats in the Kyles Ford area.” The outdated bridge pays tribute to Sgt. Talley, who served in the United States Army during World War I, and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. Also known as the Kyles Ford Bridge, the current structure is one of only three such bridges still in existence. Built for about $110,000, the bridge sits over the Clinch River on State Route 70. Considered structurally deficient, the bridge see BRIDGE page 70
Construction employment increased in 139 out of 337 metropolitan areas between December 2011 and December 2012, declined in 131 and was stagnant in 65, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released Jan. 28 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that growing private sector demand for new construction projects boosted employment in a slight plurality of metro areas. “Private sector demand for energy, health care, higher education and residential construction is having a positive impact in a growing number of metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Unfortunately, construction employment in almost as many metro areas appears to be suffering from declining public sector demand and a private sector market that is still well-below peak levels.” Pascagoula, Miss., added the highest percentage of new construction jobs (42 percent, 1,900 jobs) followed by Haverhill-North AndoverAmesbury, Mass.-N.H. (22 percent, 800 jobs); Lafayette, La. (17 percent, 1,100 jobs) and Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa (16 percent, 3,000 jobs). Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (17,600 jobs, 10 percent) added the most jobs. Other areas adding a large number of jobs included Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (8,300 jobs, see EMPLOYMENT page 62