$3.00
Published Nationally ®
Western Edition
May 26 2019 Vol. IX • No. 11
“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
Crews, Equipment Scale Colorado’s Pikes Peak By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT
Cat Launches Competition to Find World’s Best Operators...8
Las Vegas Hosts Four-Day Waste Expo...12
Exploring the Potential for 5G in Construction Industry...26
Crews began mobilizing in early May for the 2019 construction season on the new $60 million Pikes Peak Summit House, arguably the highest elevation project in the country. It’s also likely one of the more daunting as work takes place at 14,000 ft. “We’re trying to get up and running but the last few days the weather has not been cooperative as we’ve been getting rain and snow,” said Jack Glavan, manager of Pikes Peak — America’s Mountain. “The goal this year is to complete the footings and the excavation by the end of May so by June we can start the precast.” The challenges begin with the weather and continue with nearly every
Excavation to the bottom of the building’s footprint is complete. This included the removal of nearly 10,000 cu. yds. of excavated rock, enough to fill more than three Olympic swimming pools.
aspect of the project. The Pikes Peak Highway is about 20 miles of hairpin curves and switchbacks. Heavy equipment, including large excavators, track hoes and rock
crushers, can be driven halfway up on low-boys. “They off load halfway up and then do what we call walk it up — drive it — the rest of the way,” Glavan said. “It takes two to three
days for some of the equipment to get up there. Some of the challenges with the big excavator taking it up the last 10 to 12 miles are we have to watch as the weather up here is still
almost winter like. We have to make sure there is no ice on the road. Steel tracks could create a problem, sliding and all. With the altitude, we have to make sure they don’t overheat or ruin the transmission.” Some of the equipment on site includes Cat 349 and 329 excavators; Cat 850 wheel loaders; and a Cat 740 articulated truck. Contractor GE Johnson of Colorado Springs shuttles crews to the top. But to get hired on the job, individuals must first pass a detailed physical to ensure they can handle work at the high altitude. They will start with 6-hour days, and then once acclimated, move to 8-hour days. Work breaks are strictly adhered to and crews are encouraged to get plenty of water. see PEAK page 46
$147M Facility to Aid SoCal Region’s Water Supply
Table of Contents ................4 Attachments Section...16-19 Recycling Section ........33-41 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................47-51 Auction Section ..........54-59
By Bill Chastain CEG CORRESPONDENT
Business Calendar ............57 Advertisers Index ..............58
Highland, Calif.’s water problem has brought about the Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC), a state-of-the-art facility
designed to bring a new source of water to the region. The East Valley Water District selected Balfour Beatty/Arcadis as the design-build partner to lead the design and construction of the SNRC at a cost of approximately $147.5
million. The region has long dealt with drought issues. Upon completion of the SNRC, the area will have a sustainable new water supply, which will boost the region’s water independsee WATER page 44