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® January 12 2025 Vol. XXVI • 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
Inside
Topanga Canyon Landslide Work Nears End By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
SoCal JCB Expands to Colton...8
NEL Launches Second Season...16
Metso Breaks Ground On Arizona Expansion...18
A massive landslide occurred at post mile 1.8 on State Route 27 (Topanga Canyon Boulevard) near Malibu, Calif., on March 9, 2024, closing the two-lane highway with a significant debris field. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) personnel were immediately on-site and, shortly afterward, the department hired Flo Engineering Inc. of Monterey Park, Calif., to handle the emergency cleanup and repair work. The roadway was cleared and reopened on June 2, months ahead of schedule. Follow-up work that involved installing straw wattles was completed on Sept. 26. The remaining work consists of hydroseeding the hillside with native seeds in coordination with California State Parks. The vegetation will help keep the soil in place. “Caltrans has completed the installation of straw wattles across the face of a bare hillside where a massive landslide occurred,” said Jim Medina, a Caltrans public information officer. “It is a safety measure to prevent soil runoff during the rainy season. A fabric catch fence also was mounted atop k-rails to prevent rocks from falling on the roadway.” September was a busy month for Flo Engineering crews. A Cat excavator removes landslide debris on Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
see TOPANGA page 42
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Aggregate & Recycling Section . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-24 Attachments & Parts Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31-35 Truck & Trailer Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43-45 Auction Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48-55 Business Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Steady as She Goes in 2025? Construction Industry Optimistically Preparing for New Year Ahead By Lucy Perry CEG CORRESPONDENT
The construction industry is “cautiously optimistic” going into the new year. Infrastructure makes up the largest market sector and it’s expected to grow in 2025. And while growth will continue, it’ll be incremental heading into the fourth year of the federal IIJA, now that many of the projects launched under this act have started or are under construction. ARTBA predicts public highway, pavement and street construction will grow by 8 percent to $128.4 billion next year. see OUTLOOK page 25
Adobe Stock photo
After three years of IIJA projects, states have increased revenues to meet federal project funding.