Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Vol. 2, No. 3 ● February 5, 2008
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Safety Issues
Innovations Calendar
Economic Indicators
eRoadPro Index
States identify $18 billion in projects "ready to go" to aid in economic stimulus State transportation departments could award and begin more than 3,000 highway projects totaling approximately $18 billion within 30-90 days from enactment of federal economic stimulus legislation, according to a survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The survey, conducted the last week of January at the request of Congressional committees who are at work on the stimulus effort, drew responses from 47 of AASHTO’s members, including the District of Columbia. Analysts estimate that for every $1 billion invested in transportation projects, 42,000 jobs are created. Full Story Sponsored by: |
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Oregon DOT targets small construction companies with new contracting program The Oregon Department of Transportation is launching a statewide program aimed at increasing contracting opportunities for small businesses in Oregon. ODOT’s Small Contracting Program for Construction will make it possible for small construction companies across Oregon to do business with the agency as prime contractors. By identifying small projects, or dividing larger projects, into contracts valued at $100,000 or less, the agency is making more work available to small contractors. And by pre-qualifying companies, ODOT can help small businesses compete more effectively by issuing notification to those companies when projects are open for bid. Full Story
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ARTBA offers “Critical Commerce Corridors” proposal The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) “Critical Commerce Corridors” or “3C” national freight mobility proposal will address key infrastructure efficiency and congestion challenges outlined in a January 7 report issued by the Government Accountability Office. ARTBA’s “3C” plan is focused on creating new highway capacity, intermodal, inland waterway and seaport connectors, and upgraded border and gateway facilities to help speed the movement of freight. Full Story
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Wire thieves strike again in Pierce County, Washington For the third time in two weeks, thieves stole wire from state highways in Pierce County, Washington. Crews discovered thieves took wire from the State Route (SR) 410 weigh station in Buckley on January 23. The previous week, thieves disabled the lighting system on the off-ramp from westbound SR 512 to SR 161 (Meridian) in Puyallup. SR 16’s lighting system from Center Street to Union Avenue was also disabled when thieves stole 6,500 feet of copper wire. SR 16 has suffered seven thefts since November – the most recent discovered on January 18. Since December 2006, the financial loss including labor and materials for WSDOT’s Olympic Region is now estimated at more than $189,000. Money to replace stolen wire comes from the same budget for all maintenance activities at WSDOT. Full Story
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Caterpillar completes acquisition of Shandong Caterpillar has received final regulatory approval and completed the purchase of the remaining shares of Shandong SEM Machinery, a leading wheel-loader manufacturer in China. Caterpillar purchased a minority stake in SEM in 2005 as part of its commitment to support its growing customer base in the Chinese construction equipment industry. Full Story
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 AASHTO's executive director receives McLean AwardJohn Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, received the P.D. McLean Award at the 2008 "Road Gang" annual meeting. The award was established to commemorate the energy, tact and dedication of P.D. McLean, one of the founders and the original chairman of the group. Full Story |
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Colorado transportation improvements result in reduced delays and improved travel options Transportation projects completed recently are providing Coloradans with major travel benefits, but the fast-growing state still faces a significant challenge in funding additional transportation improvements, a new report has found. According to the TRIP report, “Future Mobility in Colorado: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” a total of 17 percent of Colorado’s bridges have significant deterioration or do not meet current design standards. Full Story
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NYSDOT commissioner emphasizes transportation needs The more than $175 billion in transportation investment needed over the next 20 years was the focus of New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn at the opening session of the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association’s (NYSCHSA) 2008 Highway and Bridge Winter Conference on January 22 in Albany. Commissioner Glynn detailed the sources of pressure resulting in NYSDOT’s increased funding needs, which include rising inflation, an aging infrastructure and an historic lack of sufficient preventive maintenance. Full Story |
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$3.1 billion transportation funding shortfall through 2017 for Connecticut Connecticut faces a $3.1 billion shortfall through 2017 for needed road, highway and bridge repairs and improvements, which, if not addressed, will leave numerous critical projects to repair and modernize Connecticut’s roads and bridges unfunded and unable to proceed. This is according to a new report by TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group. According to the report, “Preserving Connecticut’s Highways and Bridges: The State’s Challenge in Maintaining Its Aging System of Roads, Highways and Bridges,” from 2008 to 2017, $10.6 billion is needed to repair, maintain and expand the state’s roads, highways and bridges to accommodate growing traffic levels. Full Story |
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Federal advisory calls on states to recheck gusset plate strength States should calculate how possible changes in bridge weight, capacity or evolving bridge conditions will affect gusset plates as part of their work to ensure bridge safety, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said in a new advisory sent to the nation's state transportation officials. The advisory follows updates by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicating that stress on gusset plates, the metal pieces that hold individual girders together on some bridges, may have been a factor in last summer's I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Full Story
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Countdown continues to Knoxville I-40 closure The Tennessee Department of Transportation is now 90 days away from the 14-month closure of a segment of I-40 in downtown Knoxville. This closure will allow around-the-clock work without any traffic interruptions. The project will be completed on or before June 30, 2009 and will save almost 23 months of construction time. Full Story |
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INDOT awards outstanding asphalt producers When motorists encounter an especially smooth ride on Hoosier highways, there's a good chance the asphalt was produced by an award-winning Indiana company. In January, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recognized E&B Paving, Inc. of Kewanna, Indiana, as the LaPorte District's Outstanding Hot Mix Asphalt Producer for the 2007 construction season. Full Story |
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Mississippi DOT receives national awards for anti-litter efforts The anti-litter efforts of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) have continued to catch national attention. The department was presented with three Keep America Beautiful awards by its partner in anti-litter efforts, Keep Mississippi Beautiful (KMB). The awards, presented at the January 22, 2008 Mississippi Transportation Commission meeting, were given in recognition of the MDOT/KMB partnership and MDOT’s dedication and success in the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup. Full Story
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ARTBA Foundation looking for future industry leaders The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is seeking nominations for its 13th Annual Young Executive Development Program (YEDP), to be held May 20-22, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The YEDP is designed to develop future leaders and offers young executives an intensive three-day introduction to the federal legislative and regulatory processes that affect the transportation construction industry. Full Story
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SCDOT presented with national award for US Highway 76 bridge project
SCDOT won the award as part of the Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives program for 2007 of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI) program is a new program designed to support and measure FHWA’s environmental stewardship responsibilities. Full Story
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Virginia DOT collects 51 top awards in 2007 As Hollywood kicks off awards season to recognize last year's best in entertainment, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is clearing space on its mantel for 51 top honors received in 2007 from industry, government and professional associations. The awards recognize individual and team accomplishments in business improvement, highway system innovation and research, and in professional achievements for members of the VDOT staff around the commonwealth. Full Story
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WisDOT announces excellence in construction awards A grading project in Door County, an asphalt paving project in Waukesha County, a concrete paving project in Dane County, a small bridge construction project in Oneida County, a large bridge project in the city of Madison, and an airport runway project at Wittman Field in Oshkosh were the winners of the annual WisDOT Construction Awards, announced during the 2008 Contractor-Engineer Conference. Full Story |
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Texas to hold I-69/TTC public hearings From February 4 to March 3, the Texas Department of Transportation will hold 46 public hearings to provide citizens an opportunity to comment on the I-69/TTC draft environmental impact statement. At each hearing, TxDOT staff will be available to answer project questions during an open house from 5-6:30 p.m. The public hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public should be advised that TxDOT officials are prohibited from answering questions or replying to comments during the official hearing. For a copy of the schedule, click http://www.keeptexasmoving.com/index.php/public_hearings. National Precast Concrete Association 2008
Winter Conference Associated General Contractors Highway and
Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting American Traffic Safety Services Association
38th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo Association of Modified Asphalt Producers
9th Annual Conference Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association
2008 Annual Conference - AEMA/ARRA/ISSA Combined National Demolition Association 35th
Anniversary Convention National Truck Equipment Association - The
Work Truck Show 2008 Convention |
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For our full events calendar, go to http://www.betterroads.com/calendar |
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Construction Spending Total construction activity for December 2007 ($1,140.2 billion) was 1.1 percent below the revised November 2007 ($1,153.0 billion). For more details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending. 02/01/08 Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $11.2 billion or 5.2 percent to $226.6 billion. 01/29/08 New Home Sales Sales of new one-family houses in December 2007 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 604,000. This is 4.7% below the revised November 2007 figure of 634,000. 01/28/08 Housing Starts/Building Permits Privately-owned housing starts in December 2007 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,006,000. This is 14.2 percent below the revised November 2007 estimate of 1,173,000. 01/17/08 Economy At A Glance: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm |
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February 2008 Issue Highlights:
Visit
www.BetterRoads.com for
online |
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Compiled by Larry Green, news editor, Better Roads. To contact Larry about the newsletter content, send e-mail to . Interested in being a sponsor of our newsletter? Contact your sales representative for more information. Click here for list of contacts.
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The SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT)
received a federal award Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, for its exemplary
work in replacing the US Highway 76 bridge over the scenic Chattooga
River in Oconee County. 
