Underground Construction articles from February 2004

Underground Construction archives from February 2004

The year of stabilization (and random, post-UCT observations).(Editor's Log)
February 1, 2004... After a few months of hearing and seeing positive developments in the underground construction market, I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that the worst is over. It seems like we've finally hit bottom; now we can start the rebound. After...

Companies ready to deploy fiber-to-the-premises.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... Regional Bell operating companies (Verizon, SBC and BellSouth) say they will begin deploying fiber-to the-premises (FTTP) technology this year. Verizon has named its equipment suppliers--Advanced Fibre Communications is the chief...

Construction forecast shows strong optimism for 2004.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... CIT Equipment Finance, a unit of CIT Group Inc., announced the results of the 28th annual CIT Construction Industry Forecast. The 2004 outlook indicates that U.S. construction industry leaders are significantly more positive about the...

Largest stop gate in Detroit passes testing.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... Spalding DeDecker Associates, Jay Dee Contractors Inc., and the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept. (DWSD) successfully tested a newly constructed stop gate for the Garfield Road Interceptor Tunnel project. The stop gate, the largest...

Forecasts see increases in non building construction.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... The construction forecast from industry management consultant FMI Corp., Denver, calls for overall growth in the non building structures. Sewer system growth is expected to increase from $10,175 million in 2003 to $10,775 million in 2004, a 5.9...

Mayor inaugurates new pump station in Dearborn.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... Mayor Michael L. Guido officially cut the ribbon to open the Miller Road Pump Station in Dearborn, MI. This $7.2 million infrastructure improvement is part of the federally-mandated Combined Sewer Overflow program. The program is to improve the...

Going underground increases power lines' costs.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... A new 69-mile, 345-kV transmission line from Middletown to Norwalk, CT, will cost $604 million, about $100 million more than previously estimated, say project sponsors Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating. Several factors contribute to...

Suit claims telecom failed to make one call.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... According to a suit filed Dee. 2, 2003 in state District Court in Travis County in Austin, TX, the city states that it found large pieces of high density polyethylene plastic lodged in the pump station at its South Austin Plant. The city has...

In memorial.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
February 1, 2004... Keith Greenhalgh, an active member of the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada Safety Committee since 1990, died on Dec. 30, 2003. Greenhalgh was the manager of safety for O.J. Pipelines Canada for over a decade. In 2001 he founded KSG...

Commerce department rejects Millenium route.(Washington watch)
February 1, 2004... Columbia Gas Transmission is unhappy with Commerce Secretary Don Evans' decision to side with New York State in its opposition to the route for the Millenium pipeline. But Columbia will continue to talk with New York about an alternative route,...

John Deere.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... The 410G is a powerful backhoe in the mid-size range. An excavator-style hydraulic system delivers immediate response, combined-function metering, and low-effort control regardless of the load or application. Its high-torque 92 horsepower...

Kubota tractor.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... Kubota's L48 is offered as either L48TL (tractor/loader) or L48TLB (tractor/loader/backhoe). With the loader and backhoe mounted, the length is 241 inches, width is 75 inches, and overall height is 113 inches. Weighing approximately 7,760...

Ingersoll-Rand Company.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... The new models include the BL 275, BL 370, BL 375, BL 470, BL 475, BL 570 and BL 575. They range in horsepower from 81.5 horsepower on the 270 to 56 horsepower on the 570 unit. These new units can excavate depths up to 12 feet, and are ideal...

JCB.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... A new generation of JCB backhoe loaders--models 212S through 217S--feature: an all-new automotive quality cab built for confrere and ease of use; JCB Precision Control; an increase in all-round visibility; in-cab noise levels which are up to 2...

Caterpillar.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... The 74 net horsepower 416D backhoe loader offers 14 feet 5 inches of backhoe digging depth with a standard stick and 18 feet 1 inches of digging depth with an extendible stick. The 416D boasts several features not found on Cat's C-Series...

Volvo construction equipment.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... The new Volvo BL60 was designed for the operations of multi-machine fleet owners, construction equipment rental businesses, governmental agencies, and owner/ operators. The Volvo BL60 is equipped with a low-emission, 83 net horsepower,...

Case.(Loader Backhoes)
February 1, 2004... The Case M Series loader backhoes include five models--the 580M Turbo, 580 Super M, 580 Super M Wide Track ant the 590 Super M. These range in horsepower from 73 to 99 with loader capacities from 6,182 to 7,327 pounds. The M Series offers...

John Deere Construction & Forestry.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The 27C, 35C and 50C ZTS compacts deliver performance, maneuverability and flexibility. The zero-tail-swing design of the C-Series ZTS compacts enables the body of the machine to rotate 360 degrees within the width of its tracks. Each C-Series...

Kubota tractor.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The KX41-3V compact excavator boasts a Kubota E-TVCS Combustion, three-cylinder, diesel engine rated at 17 horsepower. With an all-new digital monitoring panel, operators can easily view and check engine function. The control panel displays the...

Bobcat Company.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The Bobcat ZHS series compact hydraulic excavators, models 430 and 435, feature the FastTrack drive system and zero house swing (ZHS). This system works like the drive system on a skid-steer loader by splitting the power infinitely between the...

Vermeer Mfg.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... Weighing in at 3,748 pounds and measuring 3.3 feet wide, the CX218 features 8.9 feet of reach and a digging depth of 7.8 feet, bucket breakout force of 3,310 pounds and a Kubota D1005-E Diesel engine. The maximum digging height is 11.4 feet...

Caterpillar.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The M313C replaces the M312, and the M315C replaces the M315. Like their predecessor models, the new machines feature high efficiency hydraulics, a heavy-duty undercarriage and a wide range of boom, stick and work tool options. Designed and...

JCB.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The JCB Micro and Micro Plus Mini Excavators weigh in at 2,509 pounds and 2,893 pounds with the highest breakout forces and digging performance hi the .8 metric ton and 1.2 metric tons size class. A 17 horsepower diesel engine on both models...

Komatsu America.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... Komatsu expanded the size of the operator's compartment for the PC35MR 2 to enable easier entry and exit, and to provide more room for operating the machine's foot pedals and joystick controls. The machines offers two styles of Roll-Over...

Ditch Witch.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The new Ditch Witch SK300 is a versatile mini skid steer designed to perform a wide range of landscaping, utility, fencing, and construction tasks. The timing is right for the SK300, as construction budgets are increasingly dictating the...

Yanmar Diesel America.(Mini Excavators)
February 1, 2004... The ViO50 11,000 class operating weight mini excavator features true zero tail swing and left and right boom swing which allows the unit to operate close in and track adjacent to walls. The ViO50 also comes standard with the quick coupler...

Reports surface of possible federal long-haul project.
February 1, 2004... Companies watching for signs that the struggling telecommunications industry is recovering understand the many factors influencing when that will occur and what it will mean for organizations involvement underground construction. Replacing...

Making sense of a complex market.(7th Annual Municipal Survey)
February 1, 2004... Through the numbers are up, the numbers are also down, yet the numbers are more realistic. Confused? So is most of the municipal market place as cities, engineers and contractors all try to make sense of the near term outlook for...

Attachments: integral part of underground construction.
February 1, 2004... A continually growing selection or specialized attachments hell) crews who build and maintain the underground utility infrastructure achieve maximum utilization of their equipment by extending the capabilities of standard construction machines...

New regulations, opportunities emerging from government in 2004.
February 1, 2004... The Bush administration has a reputation for keeping its regulatory dogs oil tight leashes. But 2004 looks to be a year when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be straining to gel at underground construction...

Keyholing: attracting renewed attention.
February 1, 2004... It's a familiar sight in cities around the world. Several workers wait as a backhoe makes a large excavation in a street. so that repairs can be made to a buried utility. Traffic slows while work is completed, the excavation filled in and the...

Change, recovery highlight roundtable discussions.(Underground Construction's Annual Contractors Roundtable)
February 1, 2004... The turn of the century and subsequent economic recession has brought many changes to the world of underground utility construction. As hope slowly returns to the market, place, those changes are becoming increasingly evident. Much of the...

Challenges, opportunities lie ahead, says DCA president.
February 1, 2004... Reflecting on what he terms a "difficult" 2003 for many utility contractors, Michael D. Murphy, outgoing president of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA), looks forward to a brighter new year. However, Murphy cautions that...

HubLine interconnect: poses multifaceted challenges for HDD contractor.
February 1, 2004... The successful installment of seven horizontal directionally drilled (HDD) crossings by Michels Directional Crossings has demonstrated the growing face in the installation of high-pressure natural gas pipelines. The crossings were...

NASSCO: maintains strong foundation.
February 1, 2004... Keith Alexander draws upon 15 years experience in the sewer inspection, evaluation and rehabilitation industry to fulfill his obligations as president of NASSCO, a national organization dedicated to establishing and implementing standards for...

Municipal Trenchless Workshop: scheduled for Orlando, FL April 13-14.(UCT Brings The Rehab Industry To You)
February 1, 2004... Orlando, FL, will be the site of the next UCT Seminar Series' Trenchless Municipal Workshops scheduled for April 13-14, at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. Underground Construction magazine and UCT will be jointly sponsoring the event...

MVI process offers cost-effective fiber-reinforced structural products.(First Look)
February 1, 2004... A new method of forming fiber-reinforced structural products is expected to play a growing role in underground utility construction projects, believes Jim Caldwell, manager-owner, Caldwell Design & Fabrication, LLC, Greenville, NC, developer of...

Rental yards see growth: for compact equipment.(Rental Market)
February 1, 2004... Big isn't always best. A case in point is the growing popularity of compact construction equipment. The small size and versatility of mini-excavators and skid-steer loaders with their many and varied attachments are bringing these machines...

Proposed lease tax keeps ARA on alert.(Rental Update)
February 1, 2004... Chicago area rental operators are keeping a watchful eye on a proposal that calls for a 4 percent lease tax on rental equipment. The tax would affect rental businesses in Cook County, IL, which includes Chicago and more than 100 suburbs. ...

United Rentals names CEO.(Rental Update)
February 1, 2004... United Rentals Inc. announced that Wayland Hicks has become chief executive officer in accordance with the company's previously announced succession plan. He succeeds Bradley Jacobs, who remains chairman. Hicks has served as chief operating...

Pate Engineers.(Business: general industry reports)
February 1, 2004... Mark Stendahl, P.E., has been named vice president, Public Works at Pate Engineers, replacing J.E. Pate, Jr., who has been named to a corporate development position. Stendahl joined Pate Engin-eers in February 2003 as senior project manager in...

Hatch Mott MacDonald.(Business: general industry reports)
February 1, 2004... The water division of Hatch Mott MacDonald has been awarded the annual Acknowledgement of Employer Support Award from the New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association (NJAWWA) for the second consecutive year. The award was...

Sewell-Howard named CEO of Charles Machine Works.(Business: general industry reports)
February 1, 2004... Tiffany Sewell-Howard has been named chief executive officer of The Charles Machine Works Inc. (CMW), manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment. Sewell-Howard has been the company's chief operating office since February...

Hobas hosts group for Texans game.(Business: general industry reports)
February 1, 2004... Larry Johnson (left) of Hobas Pipe USA hosted Linda and Ollie Klinger of Underground Construction for a Houston Texans football game at the company's suite in Reliant Stadium. Other attendees included Todd Papes, Buddy Barnes, Gary and Kevin...

Michels Corp. adds satellite offices, managers.(Business: general industry reports)
February 1, 2004... Michels Directional Crossings, a division of Michels Corporation, announces the addition of Thomas Breunig and Ted Foltz to their management staff. Breunig will serve as assistant operations manager and can be reached at Michels' corporate...

CertainTeed.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... Yelomine IB (Integral Bell) is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant PVC pressure piping system for directional drilling applications. With its special high impact, W-resistant formulation, Yelomine IB is also ideally suited for above ground and...

Connectra fusion technologies.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... Connectra's new 28 CQ hydraulic HDPE fusion machine offers 2-inch IPS to 8-inch DIPS capability in a unit that sells for under $7,000. With a carriage weight of only 98 pounds, the two-clamp, lightweight design is powered by a unique hand...

Toro.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... The Dingo TX 413 compact utility loader is powered by a 13 horsepower Honda gasoline engine, and features the Dingo TX-patented control system for travel direction. A 420-pound rated operating capacity suits the needs of varied jobs. The Dingo...

Condux Intl.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... Condux now offers a 9,000 pound Hydraulic Underground Pulling Trailer for installing underground conductor. The trailer provides up to 11,240 pounds of pulling force and a maximum speed of 219 foot/minutes. It comes equipped with a digital...

Yanmar diesel America.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... Yanmar's 11,000 pound, low ground pressure track carrier has a maximum payload of 8,379 pounds, with a machine width of 6 feet 7 inches. The unit features a one touch reversible seat and spacious operator's platform. Choose ROPS/FOPS cabin or...

GrimmerSchmidt Compressors.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... A redesigned propane powered, portable construction machine from GrimmerSchmidt Compressors uses a Ford electric controlled dry gas engine. The unit complies with the California CARB emissions standards for engine driven construction equipment....

Cues.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... CUES' new generation of data collection and management software, the Granite XP or GXP, is designed to work with mapping and asset management systems used by municipalities and private contractors. The software exceeds many requirements of the...

'Simplified' sewer line repair using the vaXcavator.(New products: the latest product developments)
February 1, 2004... Bill Gardner, regional manager for Vacuum Source Inc., recently demonestrated the company's vaXcavator vacuum excavator's many applications for a South Carolina municipality. Inflow and infiltration, ground water and other outside material was...

Earth Tool Company.(New rehab products: the latest rehab product developments)
February 1, 2004... The HammerHead PB30 portable pipebursting system is a compact, small footprint, versatile system designed for the replacement of four-inch and six-inch pipe. The PB30 offers plumbing, sewer mid water contractors a cost effective alternative to...

Applied Felts.(New rehab products: the latest rehab product developments)
February 1, 2004... Applied Felts starts by selecting the specific fibers and granular polymer coatings for your job. Then they needle punch the fibers into felt, coat it and build the tube by hand to produce your finished liner. The result is Silly integrated,...

Badger daylighting.(New rehab products: the latest rehab product developments)
February 1, 2004... Badger's Hydrovac employs a comprehensive safety program to eliminate damages when exposing all types of lines. Its proven non-destructive excavating eliminates risk, keeps crews on schedule, and helps save money. Pressurized water breaks up...

American water services.(New rehab products: the latest rehab product developments)
February 1, 2004... Epoxy resin lining is a reliable and cost-effective method for rehabilitating potable water distribution systems. This non structural lining technique's main objective is to improve the hydraulic characteristics while simultaneously preventing...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... 2004 Feb. 13-17, Power & Communication Contractors Association, 59th Association Annual Convention, Wyndham El Conquistador, Las Croabas, Puerto Rico, PH: (800) 542-7222 Feb. 16-20, World of Concrete 2004, Orange County Convention...