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February 22, 2014 • Vol. IX • No. 4 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910
Inside
Despite Severe Weather, Industry Adds 48,000 Jobs
The U.S. and Mexico Consulates announced late January that construction on the $130 million Tornillo-Guadalupe Port of Entry in El Paso County, Texas, is scheduled to be completed by July 2014.
Dire States Packs House in San Antonio...28
Vaughan Announces Name Change at Sale...74
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Table of Contents ........4 Paving Section ......19-25
see PORT page 38
see AGC page 18
Tornillo-Guadalupe Port of Entry: Bridge to Nowhere By Lori Tobias
Alex Lyon & Son Kicks Off Florida Auct ion...76
The port of entry has been in the works for at least a dozen years. “This project reflects the challenges there are in constructing Port of Entries,” said El Paso County Commissioner Vincent Perez. “It’s probably one of the most complex construction projects there is. It involves local, state, federal and a completely sovereign government on the opposite side of the border which we
Construction employment jumped by the largest monthly amount in nearly seven years in January, bringing industry employment to the highest level since July 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that, at the current rate of growth, it would not take long before many firms begin having difficulty finding enough skilled workers to meet demand. “Despite a second month of unusually severe weather in much of the nation, contractors more than offset the job losses that occurred in December,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “All segments of the industry added workers for the month, and the sector has increased employment at nearly double the all-industry rate in the past 12 months.” Construction employment totaled 5.9 million in January, the highest total in 4-1/2 years and an increase of 48,000 from a month earlier — the largest one-month gain since April 2007, Simonson noted. For the year, construction employment rose by 179,000 or 3.1 percent, compared with an increase of 1.7 percent for total nonfarm payroll employment. Nonresidential construction firms added 31,300 new jobs in January and 57,100 (1.6 percent) over 12 months while residential firms added 16,800 jobs for the month and 121,400 (5.8 percent) over the year.
The largest land port of entry in the U.S. is on target to be opened for business by the end of the year. The U.S. and Mexico Consulates announced late January that construction on the $130 million Tornillo-Guadalupe Port of Entry in El Paso County, Texas, is scheduled to be completed by July 2014.
Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Clears Significant Hurdle By Matthew Daly
Parts Section ..............34 Excavators ............39-69 Business Calendar ......70 Auction Section ....72-83 Advertisers Index ......82
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) The long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline cleared a major hurdle toward approval Jan. 31, a serious blow to environmentalists’ hopes that President Barack Obama will block the controversial project running more than 1,000 miles from Canada through the heart of the United States. The State Department reported no major environmental objections to the proposed $7 billion pipeline, which has become a symbol of
the political debate over climate change. Republicans and some oil- and gas-producing states in the United States — as well as Canada’s minister of natural resources — cheered the report, but it further rankled environmentalists already at odds with Obama and his energy policy. The report stops short of recommending approval of the pipeline, but the review gives Obama new support if he chooses to endorse it in spite of opposition from many Democrats and environmental groups. Foes say the pipeline would carry “dirty oil’’ that contributes
to global warming, and they also express concern about possible spills. Pushing back on the notion that the pipeline is now headed for speedy approval, the White House said the report isn’t the final step and noted that the report includes “a range of estimates of the project’s climate impacts.’’ Only after various U.S. agencies and the public have a chance to weigh the report and other data will a decision be made, said White House spokesman Matt Lehrich. “The president has clearly stated that the see KEYSTONE page 18