Aug. 14, 2019 – As if the condition of our roads and bridges is not bad enough. Storms and flooding have caused significant damage throughout the United States during the first half of 2019. The Associated Press tallied about $1.2 billion of damage in 24 states based on preliminary assessments of public infrastructure categories established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency…
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States the Truth
Aug. 9, 2019 – The nation’s governors are taking matters into their own hands. “On behalf of the nation’s governors, we applaud the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for taking this first step,” the National Governors Association (NGA) said in a statement about the recent America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act. “The bill’s emphasis on formula funding, safety and resiliency comes at…
Read MoreTeachers Rock IAAP Workshop
Aug. 6, 2019 – Education is of critical importance. So teachers from across the state gathered for the Illinois Teachers Workshop: Rocks, Minerals & Mining in Today’s Society, presented by the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Everyone present refreshed their knowledge of earth science and learned so much more about the importance of…
Read MoreHighways on the Hot Seat
August 1, 2019 – According to the latest construction spending report from the U.S. Census Bureau, highway construction in June was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $101.9 billion, 6.4% (±5.4%) below the revised May estimate of $108.9 billion. But spending in the first half of 2019 was up sharply for most public infrastructure, with year-to-date increases of 14.5% for highway and street construction spending, 7.1% for transportation…
Read MoreMartin Marietta: Inside the Report
July 30, 2019 – Martin Marietta Materials just reported record second-quarter profit of $189.5 million on revenue of $1.28 billion. In its quarterly report, the company looked ahead, stating, “Infrastructure construction, particularly for aggregates-intensive highways and streets, should benefit from recent accelerations in state lettings and contract awards in key Martin Marietta states, continued FAST Act funding, and regulatory reform that allows…
Read MoreNew Transportation Bill Falls Short
July 29, 2019 – A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is going to introduce the $287 billion America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019. The bill is the largest highway legislation in history. And it is nowhere near enough. Ninety percent of that money would automatically go to states, so every community can have its needs met in red states and blue…
Read MoreMurray Talks About Construction Market
July 25, 2019 – Dodge Data and Analytics released its report for June,and thus the first half of the year. “On balance, the pace of construction starts has been sluggish so far in 2019, as activity has been generally lower than the healthy amount reported during the first half of 2018,” stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics.…
Read MoreA Hit to American Households
July 24, 2019 – According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, commerce in America suffers as a result of poorly maintained infrastructure, and the costs are often passed down to American consumers. A study the American Society of Civil Engineers suggests that infrastructure deficiencies are estimated to cost American households $3,400 in disposable income this year, and by 2025 will cost…
Read MoreHighway Costs Keep Rising
July 22, 2019 – The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently posted a first-quarter 2019 value for its National Highway Construction Cost Index (NHCCI), along with revised estimates for the second quarter through fourth quarter 2018. Prices fell 1.6% in the latest quarter, the first decline since the fourth quarter of 2017. But the year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2019 was…
Read MoreOkada Expands on Demand
July 19, 2019 – It’s always nice when there is an industry event held locally. That is a tough call when you live in Medina, Ohio, as I do. But Okada America Inc. is the exception to that rule. The company showcased the expansion and upgrade of its Medina, Ohio, facility at an open house, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony presided…
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