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December 27, 2014 • Vol. IX • No. 26 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910
Inside
Meeker Airport Makes Smooth Landing By Jeff Winke SPECIAL TO CEG
AGC Doles O ut Awards. ..8
JC B Backhoe Rodeo Draws in Guests...54
Meeker Airport is critical to the residents and businesses in Rio Blanco County. Located in Meeker, Colo., the airport is designated as a C-II general aviation airport by the FAA, which means the airport can accommodate aircraft with wingspan of less than 79 ft. (24 m). Private aircraft for energy companies, including the mining niche, as well as ranchers, fishing and hunting outfitters, are all flown in and out of Meeker Airport and it accommodates charter service for both passengers and cargo. Runway 3-21 at the countyowned Meeker Airport had reached a point of wear and deterioration that required full reconstruction and upgrades to remain compliant with the FAA’s C-II requirements. The project, which was awarded to Fiore & Sons Inc., Denver,
Construction consisted of the demolition of the existing 60-ft. (18 m) wide by 6,500-ft. (1,981 m) long runway and the construction of a new runway to meet C-II runway safety area and longitudinal standards.
Colo., was a two-stage project with a contract value of $12.5 million. Construction consisted of the demolition of the existing 60-ft. (18 m) wide by 6,500-ft. (1,981 m) long runway and the construction of a new runway to meet C-II runway safety area and longitudinal standards. The new runway was widened to 100 ft. (30 m) — near-
ly doubling its width — and remained 6,500-ft. (1,981 m) long. The runway ties into the existing apron connector with a teacup style turnaround on the 21 end of the runway. Fiore & Sons completed the demotion and removed 43,000 sq. yd. (35,953 sq m) of roto-milled asphalt in preparation for the site
conditioning, grading and paving completed by United Companies of Mesa County, headquartered in Grand Junction, Colo. United Companies employs approximately 400 workers. Between the dirt and paving crews, the company had approximately 20 workers on the Meeker Airport site. see AIRPORT page 38
Industry Spending Has Far-Reaching Benefits More Than 3,400 A ttend Ritchie’s LA Sale...56
Table of Contents ................4 Mini & Compact Equipment Section ..........................16-32 Parts ..................................34 Paving Section ..............41-47 Auction Section ............51-57 Business Calendar ............52 Advertisers Index ..............58
Two-thirds of the economic benefits and jobs created by federal highway and transit investment occur in non-construction sectors, according to a new analysis from IHS Inc., a leading global source of
critical information and insight. The study also finds that every dollar invested through the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in state highway, bridge and public transit infrastructure programs returns 74
cents in tax revenue. The report, “Transportation Infrastructure Investment: Macroeconomic and Industry Contribution of Federal Highway and Mass Transit Program,”
reveals that 70 percent of the economic benefits, or value-added, of federal HTF investments in transportation improvements occur in non-construction sectors of the see IHS page 52
Congress Delivers Early Holiday Tax Present The U.S. House of Representatives passed late Wednesday, Dec. 3, and the Senate approved Dec. 16 the Tax Increase Prevention Act. Among the 50 expired tax breaks the bill extends is a reinstatement of the 50 percent depreciation bonus for 2014 and an increase of the Section 179 expensing levels this year to
$500,000 with a $2 million phase-out cap. Both of these tax breaks expired Dec. 31, 2013. At press time, the president was expected to sign the bill. In addition to affecting equipment purchases made in 2014 retroactively, this bill would in effect create a window for last-minute purchases made prior to Dec. 31, 2014, to be
included. Visit www.constructionequipmentguide.com and AED’s www.http://depreciationbonus.org/ for more information. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG