Public Works articles from August 2000

Public Works archives from August 2000

EDITORIAL VIEWPOINT.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 1, 2000... Sprawl, New Urbanism and the "lowly traffic engineer." Traffic engineers are familiar with neighborhood activists' requests for traffic calming measures, including stop signs and traffic signals, to slow down vehicles on community streets. But...

The U.S. Congress.(amends Environmental Protection Agency legislation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The U.S. Congress has derailed two controversial EPA rulemakings. The House of Representatives amended the $7.2-billion EPA funding bill to ban funding for EPA efforts to set total daily maximum load (TDML) rules on runoff into rivers and...

The city of Santa Monica, California.(sues 9 oil companies for alleged water pollution)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The city of Santa Monica, California, has sued nine oil companies for allegedly polluting the city's water supplies. The suit alleges the companies made or used the gasoline additives methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and tertiary butyl...

EPA.(water pollution report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... EPA said new data show that 40 percent of the nation's waterways assessed in 1998 remain too polluted for fishing and swimming, about the same level as noted throughout the decade. The agency said runoff from agricultural lands and urban areas...

American water systems.(report on drinking water standard violations)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Another EPA study said 94 Percent of American water systems have reported no violations of health-based drinking water standards. The study, based on data reported by states to EPA's computer-based tracking system, said 84 percent of all...

The National Association of Governors.(report on US quality of life)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The National Association of Governors, in a report on quality of life in the U.S., says changes must be made to the traditional style of suburban growth. The study said, "For 50 years, the U.S. has experienced unprecedented economic growth,...

CABLE-STAYED Bridge Forms Boston Landmark.(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Contractors building Boston's new signature bridge, the $100-million highway structure over the Charles River, are charging full speed toward completion of the bridge next summer. "It's right on schedule," said Terry Brown, a spokesman for...

PAVEMENT REINFORCEMENT MESH USED IN Turnpike Widening Project.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... A major of the 241-mile long Ohio Turnpike is being widened from four lanes to six to accommodate increased traffic. Pavement reinforcement mesh is being used on construction joints to solve a potential problem. The Ohio Turnpike...

WISCONSIN DOT PLEASED WITH Bridge Deck Resurfacing.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The most important result that a department of transportation organization wants and expects when using a highway maintenance or new construction product is success. To ensure success, the organization will usually do in-house and independent...

WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, Arizona County Stabilizes Its Roads.
August 1, 2000... Cochise County, in the southeast corner of Arizona, is home to "Wild West" history and is world-renowned for Tombstone, town of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral. The county is mostly rural with strong ranching, agriculture, mining, and...

GIS-BASED LIFE CYCLE Management of Highway Assets.(geographic information system)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Camden County, New Jersey's sign and signal management system provides an important, powerful tool for planning and tracking the work objectives of the county's sign management program. Through this state-of-the-art decision support system,...

MARYLAND COUNTY IMPLEMENTS Computerized Asset Management System.
August 1, 2000... In 1996, John Brusnighan, director, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Department of Public Works (AACDPW), decided his department had grown too large and diverse to be managed properly with old-fashioned paper records and labor-intensive filing...

WASHINGTON DOT INVESTIGATES THE Soil Bioengineering Alternative.
August 1, 2000... Soil bioengineering is an applied science that uses live plant materials and "soft" engineering techniques to alleviate environmental problems such as destabilized slopes. This approach involves building living systems using plants, soil, and...

BYPASS ROAD CONSTRUCTED OF Sand, Coral, and a Cellular System.
August 1, 2000... The Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay along Oahu's north shore connecting Pupukea to Haleiwa was closed March 6 by a rockslide that caused several tons of rock to slide and fall on the highway, hitting and damaging two vehicles. The slide spread...

NO-DIG DISTANCE EXTENDED, Sink-Hole Problem SOLVED.
August 1, 2000... In a dramatic example of how the reach of no-dig excavation techniques has increased, a contractor/consultant/city team effectively cleared an almost-inaccessible pipeline cave-in 125 ft from the nearest access point and 14 ft down. The...

POWER HORSES: The Teams for Success.
August 1, 2000... During good economic times, employers and employees face stiff competition, and both need an edge. On one hand, organizations benefit from employee growth through specialized training that includes health and safety practices. Employees, on the...

The low-down on equipment trailers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... There's a lot more to choosing an equipment trailer than just making sure the trailer's weight rating is sufficient to support the machine you want to haul. More than 30 manufacturers build equipment-hauling trailers in various sizes, and each...

Tag trailers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A review of features from some of the leading manufacturers will provide an overview of things to look for when choosing a tag trailer. "We use wood flooring and I-beam construction on the frame," says Treye Phelps, a salesman for Interstate...

Points to watch.
August 1, 2000... Deck thicknesses are a point to watch. A "nominal two-in." thick wooden deck can mean a deck that is actually 1-1/2 in. thick. "Our thinnest deck is 1-3/4 in.," says Kulyk. "The vast majority of decks are 1-3/4 in. to 2 in. thick. The...

Design differences.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... "Predominantly what we sell are hydraulically removable gooseneck trailers, with a capacity range from 35 to 100 tons," says Bill Staddon, product and sales manager, Etnyre Trailer Company, Oregon, Illinois. "There are design differences,"...

Trailer safety.
August 1, 2000... All employees who work with construction equipment trailers should be adequately trained in the proper procedures for safely loading, securing, transporting, and unloading equipment. Weight, balance, height, overhead clearances, ground/road...

COMPACT TRACTORS AND FRONT MOWERS DEMONSTRATE NEW VERSATILITY.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... In mid-June, New Holland announced enhancements to two popular lines of utility equipment. It has added six higher horsepower models to its Boomer [TM] compact tractor line, which now ranges from 18 hp to 45 hp. It also introduced three new...

Snowplow Blades.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... These carbide-edged snowplow blades outlast all-steel blades by up to 20 to 1, says the company, reducing downtime/labor, parts inventories, and operating costs. "The plowing edge provides unsurpassed: combined hardness and fracture toughness,...

Walk-Behind Brooms.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... These walk-behind power brooms feature an easy-to-adjust broom head that allows for snow removal, pavement sweeping, leaf raking, or lawn thatching. The self-propelled broom features separate drive controls for broom rotation and wheel, with...

Snow Removal Innovation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Snowbucket [TM] for small backhoe loaders and large front-end loaders is said to triple your snow removal production. The open bottom and high sidewall design reduces snow packing and removes more snow in each pass. Its spring loaded plow...

Spreader for Smaller Jobs.
August 1, 2000... The Mini Jr. is a lightweight and easy-to-install and remove spreader that attaches to a standard square channel trailer hitch. Its no-rust thermoplastic hopper holds up to 400 lb of rock salt. An internal spiral auger provides a continuous and...

Snow Removal Equipment.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This firm supplies snowblowers, snow throwers, front blades, and rotary brooms for various models of its tractors, front mowers, and compact utility tractors. Rotary brooms are available for the F900 Series and F1145 front mowers; 55 Series...

Hot Meals--Anyplace.
August 1, 2000... "HeaterMeals are good-tasting meals that heat themselves in their own package." No refrigeration required. Two-year shelf-life. HeaterMeals come with a generous 3/4-lb entree, fork, napkin, salt and pepper, and the water-activated food heater...

Improved Reversible Plows.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This company has developed a new plate semi-circle for its line of reversible front snowplows. The plate semi-circle provides a greater bearing surface with the A-frame, provides extra strength--which is needed for larger trucks--and can be...

Speeds Snow Removal.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The new C-Plow combines the functions of conventional snowplowing and backdrag plowing systems into a single design. The C-Plow is operated as a conventional plow in the forward plowing mode. For backdragging, the upper 3/4 of the moldboard is...

Ultrasonic Level Transmitter.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Model LT3000 high performance transmitter senses liquid levels up to 22 ft, with accuracy up to 1/4 in. Applications include sump control, tank level measurement, and pond level monitoring. Proprietary circuit ignores false echoes from...

Free Snow & Ice Manual.
August 1, 2000... This company's free manual on good practices for snow and ice control focuses on the company's line of dry and liquid calcium chloride deicer products. The manual covers both highway snow and ice melting and grounds maintenance applications....

Membrane Microfiltration Systems.(available from Aria)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Aria [TM] family of membrane microfiltration systems is available to filter drinking water in municipalities with populations of 10,000 or less. The systems are skid-mounted, fully automatic, and self-contained to facilitate installation....

Pipeline Inspection System.(Eel Cam 100 and Eel Cam 200)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... These new pipeline inspection systems are designed for a wide variety of uses including in-line inspection of sewer and drain lines, septic tanks, and service laterals. Optional in-line transmitter allows you to locate broken pipes, leaking...

One-Bolt Fittings for Pipe.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... One-Bolt integrally restrained fittings for ductile iron and PVC pipe use one bolt to seal and restrain the fittings, reducing installation time to three minutes or less. Users can reduce their inventory needs. The system uses an O-ring seal...

Speed Bumps.(Easy Rider [TM] speed bumps)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Easy Rider [TM] speed bumps are made from recycled rubber and will not warp, crack, chip, or rot. Their light weight means easy handling and storage and one-person installation. Yellow polyurethane glass beaded paint for maximum reflectivity....

Really Big Baler.(the T-Rex)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This firm has manufactured and delivered the largest baler in its 55-year history. The baler is a custom-engineered T-Rex model designed to increase production at a waste management facility. The T-Rex features an extra large 80- by 70-in,...

Identify Fire Hydrants.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Heavy-duty N.I.S. (not in service) bags are bright orange with "Not in Service" printed on them in bold black to identify hydrants that are not in service. The N.I.S. bags are securely attached to the hydrant with adhesive strips.

Vehicle Remote Valve Controls.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Two of these three remote valve controls for actuating valves on heavy-duty and off-road vehicles are made of high-strength, composite materials and allow for field conversion of the levers to a straight-up or 70[degrees] angled position. The...

Bridge Joint Sealant.(Wabo(R)SiliconeSeal)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Wabo(R)SiliconeSeal is a dynamic, high-performance, 2-part sealant designed for a variety of bridge expansion joint applications. The self-leveling, rapid cure sealant is ideal for joints where the anticipated movements are [+ or -] 50...

Hydraulic Excavator.
August 1, 2000... The boom of the Solar 55 excavator can swing 50[degrees] to the left and 90[degrees] to the right, making it easier to work close to walls or along road sides. It offers over 7,198 lb of digging force with a standard 0.23-cu yd bucket. Low...

Hydraulic Cement.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... GranCem(R) is a ground granulated blast-furnace slag material that typically replaces, pound for pound, a portion of the cement in mixtures. It is commonly used for combinations of reasons, including improving fresh concrete's workability,...

Powerful Litter Collector.
August 1, 2000... The 231-D litter collector has a new powerful vacuum fan that facilitates picking up such heavy debris as bricks, along with cans, bottles, newspapers, and other materials through its 8-in, diameter hose. Fully robotic vacuum arm is controlled...

Buried Service Valves.
August 1, 2000... The Series 75B buried service valve eliminates the need for vaults and manholes by allowing direct burial of the valve. The key to this ability is the long-wearing pinch sleeves, which completely isolate the process materials from the operating...

Truck Storage Products.
August 1, 2000... Fabricated entirely out of galvanneal steel, these platforms feature flange mount bulb rubber door seal, adjustable stainless steel T-handle lock, bolt-on stainless steel strap hinge, and durable chip-resistant epoxy primer finish. The Welder's...

Arrow Boards.
August 1, 2000... The 24 x 48 and 30 x 60 Traffic Manager arrow boards are available in 13, 15, and 25 lamps and feature either a four- or 12-function control box. Each arrow board is available with a 20-, 30-, 40- or 50-ft harness to meet any of your...

Truck Safety System.
August 1, 2000... The Lookout [TM] is a safety aid for solid body trucks and vans that acts like a "sixth sense" in locating people and objects in their "blind" spots. It has an LED display located inside the truck cab that provides the driver with data about...

Pipe Joint Coupling System.
August 1, 2000... The new Quick Stab [TM] joint for corrugated metal pipe creates a bell and spigot joining system with the bell only 3/4 in. larger than the pipe. At the factory the Quick Stab sleeve is attached to the pipe, then shipped to the job site ready...

Multipurpose Maintainer.
August 1, 2000... The 20-ft 3-in, long mid-sized M413XT maintainer combines the functions of a grader with the versatility of a loader or skid-steer. Along with the 10-ft moldboard, the quick-attach feature at both the front and rear gives the maintainer...

Increased Mixer Efficiency.(mixer blade design)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The aerodynamically engineered shape of an EMU mixer blade creates lift as it moves, thereby drawing liquid through a created low-pressure zone. In addition, the blades of EMU submersible mixer propellers are made with a "backward" curve to...

Mobile Lift Systems.
August 1, 2000... The SVL2000 Series lift is available with 4 or 6 mobile columns, with lifting capacities up to 92,400 lb. Servicing multiple bays with only one mobile lift system is made simple with an extra set of heavy-duty accessory stands. The SVL2000...

Signpost Reflective Panels.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... BriteSide(R) reflective panels are now available in the BSD Series to fit round, square (telescopic), or octagonal sign mounting posts. Users may opt to use either one or two panels per post. Traffic engineers may use them for street name...

New Skid-Steers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The 228 and 248 skid-steer loaders have a load sensing variable displacement hydraulic pump that can send 100 percent of engine power to hydromechanical tools for optimum productivity. High hydraulic horsepower enables the machines to handle...

Arctic Booster Pack.(inlet preheater)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Arctic Booster Pack (ABP) is described as an innovative, cost-effective inlet preheater for your plural component equipment. It has been designed with an internal temperature probe and solid state controllers to complement the existing...

Improved Drum Chipper.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A redesign of the Model 1890 Drum Bandit chipper has greatly increased its throwing velocity while eliminating all blow-back from the infeed spout. Airflow has been enhanced, virtually eliminating the possibility of plugging. New feed system...

Sweepers Meet Air Standards.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This company offers the following PM10 efficient sweepers: Crosswind (pictured), Pelican P, Pelican SE, Eagle F, Eagle E, Air Bear, DLS 400, and DLS 550. The EPA has set standards for air quality by identifying acceptable levels of PM10, a...

Rehab Culverts and Sewers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This new lining system for rehabilitating deteriorating culverts and sewers incorporates a PE 3408-profile HDPE pipe. The profile wall liner comes in 12-in. to 120-in. sizes. The pipe comes with pre-machined male/female ends with a built-in...

Tough Truck.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The 5900i combines the strength and durability of a severe service truck chassis, a spacious cab, and plenty of head-turning chrome. And now the 5900i is even easier to order for faster delivery. Diamond SPEC [TM] for severe service is an...

Electric Asphalt Patcher.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A new version of the Patch King asphalt patcher can be simply plugged in at the end of the day, keeping left over material hot so it is ready to hit the road the next morning. The PK30T is a trailer-mounted unit with thermostat control to hold...

Vibratory Asphalt Compactors.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... This company says its New DuraPac [TM] Series vibratory asphalt compactors provide unsurpassed overall value through industry leading drum performance, unmatched operating intervals, and the highest level of standard safety features. The...

Trench & Flagger Safety Training.
August 1, 2000... Trench Rescue Training is an intensive three-day course designed to teach personnel involved with the rescue of trapped victims. Also offered is a training course on flagger safety and operations available at many of this company's branches as...

Plate Settlers.
August 1, 2000... These pre-engineered, inclined plate settlers can tackle a wide spectrum of water treatment applications. The packaged units are designed to pack up to 10 times more settling area into the same space as conventional clarifiers, providing a 90...

Surface Cleaning System.
August 1, 2000... The Vaxjet cleaning system removes oil, dirt, grease, rubber, and other contaminants from flat surfaces. It combines high-pressure water (up to 10,000 psi) technology with a powerful vacuum source and a multi-stage filtration process. The user...

Unique Asphalt Paver Boasts Programmable Microprocessor.
August 1, 2000... The ProPaver 814 MPC all-new asphalt paver is said to be the first to feature a programmable microprocessor to control major functions. Standard equipment includes a fully-enclosed 76-hp Deutz diesel engine for quieter operation, adjustable...

MaRB Safety Lights.
August 1, 2000... This firm announces that the MaRB Light Road Marker products are now available to roadway designers and planners in the U.S. MaRB lights are self-illuminated, flashing highway safety devices designed to improve road conditions for motorists and...

Updated 4-Post Lifts.
August 1, 2000... Key features on these new 4-post surface lifts include 6-in. increase in rise for more headroom and workspace under the vehicle, new rolling jacks that glide easier and require less maintenance, an improved lock system with fewer moving parts,...

Scares Birds Away.
August 1, 2000... Prowler Owl is designed to rid any area of bothersome birds. It is poised in an always-moving "hunting" posture so birds cannot adapt to it. This life size predator's huge 44-in. flapping wings lift and fall as the head and airfoil body move in...

Oil/Water Separator.
August 1, 2000... The EZ-Access oil/water separator was developed with removable grates, covers, and guard rails. The separator is configured with one or two rectangular access chambers to allow for total, unconfined, unrestricted access from above/to the...

High Mast Lighting.
August 1, 2000... High Mast Systems (HMS(R)) promote greater visibility and lower operating costs on high-speed, high-volume roadways, says the company. The systems--which are generally mounted from 60 to 150 ft above grade level--may be used with a wide...

Enhanced Pavement Software.
August 1, 2000... This supplier of asset management software has released PAVEMENT view and PAVEMENT view Plus Version Five. Each form, field, report, import and export routine, and toolbar can be customized so that the system will display and process only the...

New Excavator.
August 1, 2000... The economical XL 3100 hydraulic excavator (34,000-lb weight class) uses a single diesel engine to power both the speedy wheeled undercarriage and the powerful telescoping boom upper-structure. Eliminating the need for "mode" selection, its...

Brush Chipper.
August 1, 2000... The BC625A brush chipper is built to handle up to 6-in. diameter brush and debris. It boasts a four-sided bed knife and a thick cutter disc for more cutting inertia, and an improved variable-speed hydraulic system. Three engine options: a 20-hp...

Software Trilogy Released.
August 1, 2000... This firm announces the simultaneous release and feature consolidation of its powerful and popular software trilogy: SewerCAD(r), StormCAD(r), and WaterCAD(r). The joint Version 4 release of these products follows a seven-year software...

Cities report on equipment needs for pavement projects and maintenance.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Over 8,200 cities in the U.S. and Canada were recently surveyed as part of the Public Works 2000 City Engineering Survey. Cities were queried on equipment purchase plans and upcoming roadway projects. Forty-nine percent or 4,018 cities...

City takes proactive approach to preserving tree-lined streets while repairing aging sewers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Elmhurst, Illinois, a Chicago suburb known for its numerous parks and tree-lined streets, has adopted a proactive and non-disruptive approach to maintaining its aging sewer system. The city of 46,000 currently budgets nearly $1 million a year...

Pipeline project poses special challenge.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... During the bid process for a 9,000-ft pipeline project in Long Beach, California, contractor Andrew Papac, of Papac and Sons, realized he would need to meet the project requirements of close sheeting on 3,500 ft of pipeline. The project owner,...

Port of Long Beach contracts to build water treatment system.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The Port of Long Beach has chosen Gradient Engineers, Inc. (Irvine, California) to build a water treatment system and to operate it for the first year. The consultant will build and operate the system to treat groundwater collected in the...

New Superpave software available.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... The following information is taken from the February/March 2000 issue of Focus, a publication of the Federal Highway Administration, McLean, Virginia. The long-anticipated Superpave software has arrived. The software allows users to design...

Water and sewer district awards contract to expand and operate its rural water services.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Floyd County, Kentucky's Southern Water and Sewer District has awarded USFilter Operating Services (Palm Desert, California) a 20-year design, build, operate, and finance contract to expand and oversee the operations and maintenance of its...

Workers' compensation exemption defined.(in case between the Board of County Commissioners of Pawnee County, Oklahoma, and Lynn Maltsberger)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The appeal in the case of Lynn Maltsberger Appellant, versus the Board of County Commissioners of Pawnee County, Oklahoma, concerned the liability of Pawnee County for injuries allegedly sustained by Lynn Maltsberger when a bridge maintained by...

Noteworthy.(Office of Management and Budget case)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... A lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) against the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) alleges that OMB has illegally delayed issuing a proposed arsenic rule, which had been due January 1, 2000. In response to the...

Herbert L. Henkel.(selections and appointments)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... * Herbert L. Henkel has been elected chairman of Ingersoll-Rand Company (Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey). Henkel will retain his previous titles as president and CEO. * ABS Pumps Inc. (Meriden, Connecticut) has acquired CH&E Pumps, which will...

ATM Corporation.(donates brass sieves to community college)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A donation of two sets of 8-in. brass sieves by ATM Corporation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to Alpena Community College (Alpena, Michigan), will help students enrolled in the concrete technology program. The college offers an associate degree in...

Midland Machinery Company, Inc.(acquired by Barre Banks)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Midland Machinery Company, Inc. (Tonawanda, New York) has been acquired by Barre Banks, former executive vice president of the company. The new president stressed that the move serves to enhance support of an already strong product range....