The U.S. transportation infrastructure market is anticipated to rebound slightly next year, following a 2.8 percent drop in 2017, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) 2018 Transportation Construction Market Forecast.
Read MoreMonth: November 2017
TRIP: Many Bridges in Maine Are Structurally Deficient
Fourteen percent of bridges statewide and nine percent of bridges in southern Maine are structurally deficient according to a new report released by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation organization. A bridge is structurally deficient if there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components.
Read MoreConstruction Activity Contributes More to GDP
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) report, the private construction industry’s value added as a percentage of the nation’s real gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 4 percent in 2016, the highest level since 2009. The report also shows annual growth in real construction spending, which rose 3.5 percent in 2016.
Read MoreNew Home Sales Rate Reaches 10-Year High in October
Sales of newly built, single-family homes in October rose 6.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000 units from a downwardly revised September reading, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the highest sales pace since October 2007. Year-to-date, new home sales are 8.9…
Read MoreSSAB Debuts New Generation of Hardox Wear Plate
The new Hardox 500 Tuf from SSAB has exceptional strength, hardness and toughness in one and the same wear plate. It combines the best properties from Hardox 450 and Hardox 500. The result is a wear plate with no real competition on the market, according to the company. Hardox 500 Tuf is tough enough to perform as a structural material…
Read MoreVolvo CE Appoints Dealers in Iowa, Nebraska
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) appointed two new dealers to the company’s dealer network in the Midwest. The appointments reflect Volvo CE’s strategy to expand and strengthen its dealer network, partnering with seasoned, expert dealerships that know their markets well and can provide a best-in-class machine uptime experience to Volvo CE’s customers. Both new dealers are taking over for Scott…
Read MoreIn Case You Want to Rock Your Phone
By Mark S. Kuhar Many of us have protective cases to guard our valuable smart phones. But why buy yourself a black Survivor or a camo Otterbox when you can have your phone encased in real rock?
Read MoreMSHA Issues Serious Accident Alerts
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a serious accident alert for an accident that occurred on Oct. 11. A miner received an electrical shock while working in a 480-volt electrical control panel for a portable crusher without locking and tagging out the circuit. The injured miner was transported to a local hospital, treated and released.
Read MoreSmall Mines Office Discussed at Zatezalo Confirmation Hearing
Support for a re-launched effort to deliver compliance assistance to small mines was expressed by David Zatezalo, the Trump Administration’s nominee to head the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Read MoreMSHA Reports Ninth Fatality of the Year
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported the ninth fatality of 2017 in the metal/nonmetal sector. The Fall of Material incident happened at Argos USA’s Roberta cement plant in Alabama.
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