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โThe Nationโs Best Read Construction Newspaperโฆ Founded 1957.โ March 24, 2012 โข Vol. VIII โข No. 6 โข 470 Maryland Drive โข Ft. Washington, PA 19034 โข 215/885-2900 โข Toll Free 800-523-2200 โข Fax 215/885-2910 โข www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
CMW, Ditch Witch Name Crescent Club Members.. .10
Ritchie Bros. Hold Sale in Fort Worth...56
Concrete Work Advances Lake Mead Water Project, Completion on Schedule LAS VEGAS (AP) A massive marine concrete pouring operation on the windy waters of Lake Mead is marking a milestone in work to complete a new drinking water supply pipeline to Las Vegas. A flotilla of barges carried mixing trucks March 5 to a site about 2 mi. (3 km) from shore where an intake for the so-called โthird strawโ is being built, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Concrete pouring began March 1 and was expected to continue for several more days, until a funnel-like structure about 100 ft. (30.5 m) tall and weighing 1,200 tons (1,088 t) is secured some 350 ft. (107 m) beneath the surface of the vast Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam. โWind hinders us pretty good, but nothing really stops us,โ said Casey Graham, superintendent of the underwater work. He said he expected the concrete will continue to flow day and night until sometime March 9. The $800 million pipeline project is slated for completion in 2014. The Southern Nevada Water Authority board approved a rate increase to help cover the last $360 million of the project. Project officials call the project the most complicated and expensive construction job in authority history. Several setbacks see CONCRETEโpage 12
Dallas Auction a Success for Alex Lyon & Son...58
Table of Contents ........4 Skid Steers ..........15-26 Paving Section......43-49 Auction Section ....52-61 Business Calendar ....53 Advertisers Index ......62
Concrete pouring began March 1 and was expected to continue for several more days, until a funnel-like structure about 100 ft. (30.5 m) tall and weighing 1,200 tons (1,088 t) is secured some 350 ft. (107 m) beneath the surface of the vast Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam.
Highway Bill Passes Road Funding... Senate; On to House TxDOT: State Has WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate voted March 14 to overhaul transportation programs and keep aid flowing to thousands of construction projects while strengthening highway and auto safety. The 74-22 vote stepped up pressure for quick action by House because the governmentโs power to collect about $110 million a day in federal gasoline and diesel taxes, the main source of revenue for highway and transit programs, is set to expire March 31. If a final bill isnโt on the presidentโs desk by then, Congress would have to
approve a temporary extension to avoid a shutdown of the programs, including the furlough of Federal Highway Administration employees and the layoff of construction workers. The White House praised senators for trying to address these critical national needs and expressed hope the House โwill move swiftlyโ and follow suit. Efforts by House Republican leaders to pass their own, five-year bill without concessions to Democrats have fallen apart in recent weeks. see BILL page 12
$2B More to Spend AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Texas Department of Transportation said it has $2 billion more to spend on road projects than previously thought. TxDOT finance chief James Bass told the Austin American-Statesman he credits a more optimistic assessment of available federal funds, combined with extra borrowing and lower-than-expected construction costs for ongoing projects. He said thatโll mean TxDOT districts around the state will be able to pull projects off the shelf. Itโs still unclear how the money will be apportioned, however.