Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in September, an increase of 9.4% compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos were also above the month’s five-year average by 4.5%. Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 10.6% from 2023. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 678,580 tons, an increase of 4.2%. Year-to-date the…
Read MoreTag: infrastructure
California Building
Oct. 23, 2024 – The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association reported that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated nearly $4 billion to improve California’s transportation infrastructure. These projects include improving and enhancing safety in coastal rail lines, bridges, highways and more. Some of the projects include “improvements for locations along the coastal LOSSAN (Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo) rail corridor, four…
Read MoreSingle-Family Starts Trend Higher in September
With the Federal Reserve beginning an easing of monetary policy and builder sentiment improving, single-family starts posted a modest gain in September while multifamily construction continued to weaken because of tight financing and an ongoing rise in completed apartments. Overall housing starts decreased 0.5% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.35 million units, according to a report…
Read MoreThe Pulse – October 2024
TRIP: 13% of Pennsylvania Bridges are in Poor Condition
Thirteen percent of Pennsylvania bridges are rated in poor condition, the sixth highest share in the nation. According to a new report released by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation research nonprofit, each day more than 10 million vehicles drive over Pennsylvania bridges in poor condition. This includes bridges 20 ft. or longer. A bridge is rated in poor condition…
Read MoreVulcan Materials Dispels False Accusations by Mexican Government
In 2022, the Mexican government ordered a halt to limestone quarrying at Vulcan Materials’ mining unit in Quintana Roo, alleging environmental damages. Vulcan Materials said it rejects the “illegal expropriation” of its investments in Mexico but remains open to a negotiated solution with the Mexican government. Mexican President Lopez Obrador said last week that the site had not been expropriated,…
Read MoreNew Economic Impact Study Highlights Critical Role of Commercial Explosives
The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) released its first-ever economic impact study highlighting the importance of the commercial explosives industry at the national, state and congressional district levels. The study, based on 2023 data, revealed that the commercial explosives industry creates more than 60,000 jobs and contributes more than $19 billion each year to the U.S. economy. Considered the…
Read MoreInfrastructure Decade
May 15, 2024 – When President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, he committed to delivering once-in-a-generation investments to rebuild America’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Today, projects across the country are in progress to rebuild our roads and bridges, deliver clean and safe water, tackle legacy pollution, expand access to high-speed internet, and build a clean energy economy for all Americans. The Biden administration…
Read MoreHolcim Touts First-Quarter North American Market Expansion
Holcim is reporting first-quarter 2024 net sales of CHF $5.586 billion, a 2.4% decline from CHF$5,725 in 2023. North America delivered margin expansion with a 3.9% increase in local currency recurring EBIT driven by strong underlying market demand. While the first quarter was impacted by fewer shipping days and adverse weather conditions, strong performance is expected to continue in 2024.…
Read MoreTRIP: Baltimore Bridge Collapse Highlights Importance of Infrastructure Network
The month following a collision by a cargo ship that collapsed a portion of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has highlighted the importance of the safety, reliability and condition of the nation’s freight transportation network in meeting the growing need for timely and safe movement of goods, according to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.
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