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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” June 2, 2012 • Vol. VIII • No. 11 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Road Connection Heads for Texas Visit... 24
On the Rise...
Golden Gate Bridge Construction Celebrates 75 Years With Spending Inches Safety Still a Goal Up in March Construction spending inched up in March 2012 to an annualized rate of $808 billion, up 0.1 percent compared to the previous month and is now 6 percent above year ago levels, according to a new analysis of federal data released May 1 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The overall gains mask divergent trends however, as public sector construction activity continues to decline while private sector demand for new construction continues to strengthen. “Private and public sector demand for construction appear to be heading along two distinct directions,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While it is great to see private sector activity coming back to life, it is unfortunate to see declining public sector demand dampen the industry’s overall growth.” Simonson noted that private construction activity expanded by 11.5 percent between March 2011 and March 2012 and by 0.7 percent compared to February 2012. Nonresidential spending was particularly robust, expanding by 15.2 percent from March 2011 and by 0.7 percent compared to February 2012. He noted that the biggest private nonresidential monthly spending increases were for transportation (up 6.7 percent for the month) and office projects (up 5.4 percent for the month),
Atlas Copco Holds Opening for Sacramento Stor e...34
Vaughan Auction Group Hosts Sale...52
Table of Contents ................4 Attachment Section ....13-16
see BRIDGE page 8
see SPENDING page 12
Truck & Trailer Section18-21 Crushing, Screening & Recycling Section ........35-45 Auction Section ..........48-55 Business Calendar ............50 Advertisers Index ..............54
Change to WTC Raises Questions Over Height By Meghan Barr ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (AP) A change to the design of a needle that will sit atop One World Trade Center is raising questions over whether the building will still be America’s tallest when
completed. The 408-ft. (124-m) needle will no longer be enclosed in a fiberglass-and-steel enclosure called a radome, a feature that was recently removed from the original design because the building’s developer said it would be impossible to properly maintain or repair it.
Without the enclosure, it’s unclear whether the needle is an antenna or a spire — a crucial distinction in terms of measuring the building’s height. Without the spire, One World Trade Center would actually be shorter than the Willis Tower in Chicago, which currently see WTC page 12