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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” December 17, 2011 • Vol. VII • No. 26 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Fish-Friendly Bridge Almost Done in Idaho
The bottom slab concrete pour begins for the tunnel bridge at 1200 West.
Bar None Aucti on Heats Up Sacramento...15
New Holland Crowns Ski d Steer Champ...32
SR92 Gets Redesign in Utah By Jennifer Rupp CEG CORRESPONDENT
When the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) officially opens the completed State Route 92 reconstruction project in spring 2012, the roadway will not only have five brand new lanes plus two brand new commuter lanes, it also will have a brand new name: Timpanogos Highway. Though the road's official designation will always be State Route 92, Timpanogos Highway is now the road’s Alex Lyon & Son Hosts Dallas Sale...44
Table of Contents ................4 California Section..........15-18 Underground Utility, Trenchers & Boxes Section............29-30 Business Calendar..............32 Paving Section ..............33-39 Auction Section ............42-47 Advertisers Index ..............46
secondary name, and appears on road signs that were created as part of the SR 92 reconstruction project. The new name was selected by a panel of judges from 423 nominations that were submitted by visitors to UDOT’s SR 92 project Website. The judging panel consisted of nine community leaders, including mayors, members of the state House of Representatives, a member of the state Transportation Commission and a UDOT represensee REDESIGN page 14
Construction Materials Prices Down Slightly During October The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials dropped slightly (minus 0.6 percent) in October but climbed 6.9 percent from the year-earlier level, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released Nov. 15 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Meanwhile, the price contractors charge for new nonresidential building construction edged up only 3.3 to 4.3 percent over 12 months, depending on building type. “While the gap is beginning to narrow just a
bit, prices for most construction materials have risen far more during the past year than the amount contractors can charge for completing construction projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Coupled with weak growth in demand for construction, the price gap is likely contributing to the stagnant employment levels the industry has been experiencing all year.” Simonson noted that prices for a number of key see PRICES page 6
BOISE, Idaho (AP) Workers are close to replacing a 300-ft. (91.4 m) long culvert with a bridge on State Highway 21 near Lowman that Idaho transportation officials say will improve passage for bull trout and other aquatic species in Five Mile Creek. “It particularly benefits bull trout, a threatened and protected species that has lost habitat and the elements that contribute to its health due to past land use, management and natural disasters,” said Greg Vitley, of the Idaho Transportation Department. The Idaho Statesman reported that the $1.2 million project 11 mi. east of Lowman is being financed by the U.S. Forest Service and is scheduled to be finished in December. Officials say it also will allow wildlife to cross under the popular highway and avoid collisions with motorists. “The bridge completely spans the Five Mile Creek channel and allows unrestricted water flow, thereby permitting the passage of fish, aquatic resources, and the transfer of riverbed material, sediment, and debris through an open-bottomed, freeflowing stream that did not exist before,” said Scott Rudel, ITD southwest Idaho environmental planner. Officials said getting rid of the culvert and replacing it with a free-flowing stream is a more natural way to connect Five Mile Creek with the South Fork of the Payette River. When winter ends crews plan to return to finish seeding, paving and other minor work.