Published Nationally ®
Southeast Edition
September 7 2011
$3.00
Vol. XXIV • No. 18
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Feds Weigh Infrastructure Solutions By Giles Lambertson CEG CORRESPONDENT
Trekker Tractor Hosts Triple Threat Rodeo...8
Construction began on July 5, 2011, at the intersection of State Route 9 with U.S. 278/State Route 6 near Pontotoc, Miss. The project, located about 13 mi. (21 km) from Tupelo in northeastern Mississippi, will ultimately connect State Route 9 to Highway 78 (the future I-22) in Sherman, 3 mi. (4.8 km) east of the new Toyota assembly plant in Blue Springs.
Johnson C oncrete Starts Rental Business...14
Mississippi Working on One of Largest Projects in Its History By Mary Reed CEG CORRESPONDENT
Long -Serv ing Cat Ski d Ste er to Be Ret ired ... 28
Table of Contents ........4 Off-Road Trucks Section ..............................38-45
Although a ground-breaking ceremony to be attended by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, U.S. Congressman Alan Nunnelee, and other luminaries had not yet taken place — the event was held Aug. 11, 2011 — work had already begun on what Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert
described as one of the largest design-and-build projects in the history of the state. Construction began on July 5, 2011, at the intersection of State Route 9 with U.S. 278/State Route 6 near Pontotoc, Miss. The project, located about 13 mi. (21 km) from Tupelo in northeastern Mississippi, will ultimately connect State Route 9 to Highway 78 (the future I-22) in Sherman, 3 mi. (4.8 km) east of
the new Toyota assembly plant in Blue Springs. With an expected completion date of Fall 2012, the new 10-mi. (16 km) highway will feature four lanes and limited access. The state has committed $294 million to contribute to the cost of site preparation, infrastructure and training for the Toyota plant, which anticipates bringing 2,000 new jobs to the area. A similar see ROUTE 9 page 36
Paving Section ......49-63
And the Winner Is … ASC Volvo
Parts Section ..............64
By Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Auction Section ....88-99 Business Calendar ......76 Advertisers Index ......90
The two-year quest of the Volvo Masters competition, with the goal of finding the most skilled technicians in Volvo’s global network, recently ended in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The final victory went to the United States team, which included members Billy Byers, Scotty Cox
and James Dorton. All work for ASC Construction Equipment, which covers a large part of the southeastern United States. The competition featured six teams: Israel, Oman and Australia from the International region; Thailand representing Asia; a British team representing Europe; and a United States team for North America. Each team had moved through a see WINNER page 68
Some leaders in the construction industry and in Washington believe a “national infrastructure bank” (NIB) is the way to fund major building projects across the country. They view the bank as a way to reform infrastructure funding and leverage other public and private sector money. Skeptics are not persuaded that the “bank” really is a bank, nor that it will do much in the way of reducing the pork barrel that taints so much of today’s infrastructure funding. Both sides of the NIB question are amply expressed on the public record and in this article. Interviews by CEG amplify the positions. In summary: While a consensus to proceed with an NIB seems possible, there are plenty of objections to be overcome. Three Bank Ideas Three variations on the theme have been introduced into the public discussion, one by President Obama and two in Congress. They vary slightly in the amount of start-up funds authorized and in the money’s distribution. The proposals are: see SOLUTIONS page 32
The engraved plaque in the Masters trophy.