Public Works articles from August 2001

Public Works archives from August 2001

Making sure workers are protected.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Making sure workers are protected. According to a survey of road construction safety leaders, the main reason road construction workers do not wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed is because their employers do not require or...

Water/wastewater still a "hot" market.(management and industry information)
August 1, 2001... Water/wastewater still a "hot" market. A new market report from ZweigWhite (Natick, Massachusetts; www.zweigwhite.com) entitled, "U.S. Environmental Markets: 2001-2004," reports that the "hot" markets in the environmental industry will be...

The cost of water becomes an issue.(drinking water infrastructure report information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The cost of water becomes an issue. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has issued a study that concludes the nation must invest $250 billion to replace aging drinking water infrastructure over the next 30 years, at a cost ranging from...

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has sued the EPA for suspending the arsenic-in-tap-water standard.(brief court cases information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has sued the EPA for suspending the arsenic-in-tap-water standard. Erik Olson, an NRDC senior attorney, said, "The Bush EPA's suspension of the arsenic standard is a distressing, unscientific, and...

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on record keeping would largely go into effect as scheduled on January 1.(record keeping standard information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on record keeping would largely go into effect as scheduled on January 1. "This rule is a big step forward in making workplaces safer for employees,...

The EPA is proceeding with a program to warn consumers about exposure to wood pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenicals (CCA), a preservative that contains arsenic.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The EPA is proceeding with a program to warn consumers about exposure to wood pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenicals (CCA), a preservative that contains arsenic. Those pressure-treated woods are commonly used for many outdoor...

The chairman of a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel has told Congress about the need to improve the total maximum daily load (TMDL) approach to water pollution runoff into rivers and lakes.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The chairman of a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel has told Congress about the need to improve the total maximum daily load (TMDL) approach to water pollution runoff into rivers and lakes. The House of Representatives Water Resources...

Federal officials have told the House Aviation Subcommittee the Federal Aviation Administration is failing to address the growing problem of airport runway incursions.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Federal officials have told the House Aviation Subcommittee the Federal Aviation Administration is failing to address the growing problem of airport runway incursions. At a hearing, the subcommittee was told there were 431 runway incursions in...

The U.S. Transportation Department has announced four winning designs for high-capacity buses to relieve urban congestion.(Village Technology Team, Portland and Company Team, Toyota Motor Corp. and University of Hawaii at Manoa Team win)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The U.S. Transportation Department has announced four winning designs for high-capacity buses to relieve urban congestion. The vehicles would be used by bus rapid transit systems to conserve fuel, improve safety, and offer improved passenger...

Architects usher historic City Hall into 21st century.(Brown-Teefey and Associates Architects renovates Bloomfield Hills City Hall)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Architects usher historic City Hall into 21st century. Three years ago, a prominent neo-Tudor building at the corner of Long Lake Road and Woodward served as Bloomfield Hills, Michigan's City Hall and the police and fire station. The 4,000-sq...

Consultant wins six maintenance contracts.(LA Consulting Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Consultant wins six maintenance contracts. The cities of Orange and Pleasanton, California; the city of Reno, Nevada; Contra Costa County, California; Seminole County, Florida; and Clark County, Washington have retained LA Consulting, Inc. (El...

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE TRACKLESS: Seasonal Maintenance Challenges.(Sault Ste. Marie border)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... July is one of the best months to live on the U.S./Canada border, especially for fireworks fanatics. The countries celebrate birthdays within two days of each other, splashing a double shower of light and thunder along the 49th parallel. With a...

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ROUTES FOR Snow and Ice Control.(Brighton, Rochester, New York)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... The town of Brighton is an inner ring" suburb of Rochester, New York, so we must deal with both residential traffic as well as commuters passing through to jobs in the city. We maintain a total of 314 lane-miles; all are surface streets, with...

EXTENDING BEYOND THE CURB: Winter Maintenance Liability.(pedestrians and Winter sidewalk safety)
August 1, 2001... Winter maintenance liability can cover several different areas an agency may be responsible for, not only limited to the roadways. Sidewalks also play a key role in the safety of pedestrians. Maintaining mobility and safety for those who choose...

BUILDING BETTER BASES IN THE SOUTH: Expanded Asphalt Debuts in Georgia.
August 1, 2001... Expanded asphalt (also called foamed asphalt) base stabilization was introduced to the south in 1999 as an economical alternative to conventional repair methods for distressed roads and parking lots. This technology was offered to DOT forces,...

COLORADO USES PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS FOR Interstate Highway Pavement Repair.
August 1, 2001... How can a highway maintenance department replace deteriorated concrete panel without tying up traffic on a busy interstate for the 24 to 36 hours concrete needs to cure? In Colorado the answer is a to use precast panels and install them...

DEVELOPMENT OF A STREET UTILITY FOR Funding Street Maintenance.(Lake Oswego)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Lake Oswego maintains approximately 158 miles of paved streets. Through its pavement management program the city has identified an annual need of $1.2 million for preventive maintenance, including crack sealing and slurry seals, and...

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR Stabilizing Urban Streams.
August 1, 2001... Part 1 Today, public works professionals are increasingly being called upon to address day-to-day stream management issues in an environmentally responsible manner. This means that urban watercourses can no longer simply be regarded as...

MECHANICALLY-BONDED FIBER MATRIX CONTROLS Slope Erosion.
August 1, 2001... Last January, Jake Orbin, grounds maintenance manager with the city of San Diego, California, Park and Recreation, Metro Park Division, faced a slope erosion control challenge. Several months earlier, wildfire had burned a steep hillside at...

VIRGINIA DOT DEMONSTRATES HOW TO Win Public Support on Highway Projects.
August 1, 2001... Consider the following scenario: a project team is expending money time and considerable energy designing a highway project that cuts through a subdivision. The project team has developed a conceptual design that will not adversely impact the...

WATER RECLAMATION DEPARTMENT ACHIEVES THE Right Balance.
August 1, 2001... The Cocoa Beach (Florida) Water Reclamation (CBWR) Department has met the challenge of operating a wastewater treatment plant efficiently without compromising conservation and regulatory goals. This resourceful, well managed utility...

PW UPDATE: EQUIPMENT.
August 1, 2001... Solving the mechanics' training problem. No doubt about it--finding training for mechanics is a thorny problem these days. At the same time, vehicle complexity has increased, particularly with electronic controls for engines and transmissions....

Snow Removal Innovation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Designed to fit small backhoe loaders and large front-end loaders, the Snowbucket[TM] "triples your snow removal production." Its open bottom and high sidewalls reduce snow packing and remove a larger volume of snow in each pass. A...

Pickup-Mounted Spreader.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The MP pickup-mounted deicing spreader features easy-to-remove spinner assembly, Screen-N-Store[TM] material screen that converts into a stand to store the MP during the off-season, and a control panel that starts and stops the engine and/or...

Straight-Blade Plow.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new 7-ft 6-in. Standard-Duty Straight-Blade Plow for use with half-ton trucks features a high-strength steel moldboard, which helps to reduce the weight of the plow to just 625 lb. The plow's optimized blade curl allows snow to roll away...

Walk-Behind Snowblowers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This firm's walk-behind snowblower lineup includes four new dual-stage models: the 924DE, 1128DE, 1128DDE, and 1332DDE. All DE and DDE models include a Tecumseh overhead-valve engine that improves fuel economy by 30 percent over the models they...

Snowplow Controls.(ControlGuard System )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The ControlGuard System by Storm-Guard is described as a revolutionary new concept in total operator control of snowplow equipment. The Uni-Grip joystick puts total control of all hydraulic functions in one hand. The low profile and high...

Winter Attachments for Loader.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The RC-30[TM] is a driveable, all-surface loader that fits in the back of a pickup. Thanks to rubber-tracks, it goes just about anywhere--all without harm to sensitive terrain. A 31.5hp Caterpillar 3013 engine powers the 2,850-lb machine. Its...

New V-Plow.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Model 1951 9-ft, 6-in. V-Plow for use with the new dual-wheel 4WD trucks from GM, Ford, and Dodge clears a 98-in, path in the fully angled position and a 101-in, path in the vee position. Quick-Hitch mounting system provides fast, simple...

Compact Sno Pusher.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new Sno Pusher[R] for compact utility tractors with 20 or more horse-power is said to increase the snow removal capacity of any machine up to 500 percent. Safety features include a rubber cutting edge, 45-degree angle front and rear wear...

Urethane Salt and Sand Spinners.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This company's urethane winter road maintenance products "are engineered to outperform metals, rubber, and plastics by eliminating the problems of rust, corrosion, and impact damage." Salt and sand spinners, and heavy-duty rock and cinder...

Deicer Inhibits Corrosion.(Liquidow Armor product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Liquidow [TM] Armor [TM] deicer is a corrosion-inhibited product used for highway anti-icing, prewetting rock salt and abrasives, and stockpile wetting. It exceeds the corrosion specifications in National Association of Corrosion Engineers...

Long-Life Snowplow Blades.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... These snowplow blades are made using macrocrystalline tungsten carbide for long life, and are said to outlast all-steel blades by up to 20:1. "With combined hardness and fracture resistance and superior wear resistance, these blades will...

Tailgate Spreader.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Hi-Tech Model 2100 stainless steel rubber-trough tailgate spreader's slotted lid swivel eliminates the use of cotter pins. The lid latches on each side of the spreader apply enough pressure to secure the lid in either the up or down...

Snowplow Line Expanded.(brief plow product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new HML-10 ft heavy-duty plow is designed for reduced weight compared to other 10-ft snowplows, yet is tough enough for heavy-duty municipal and contractor use. The HML 10 ft snowplow "is designed for a perfect fit on the Ford F450 or F550...

Twin Scissor Lift.(Model TSL-7)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The 7,000-lb capacity Model TSL-7 twin scissor lift is available with four fully rotating swing arms, and various rubber blocks to make contact with all vehicle lifting points. The TSL-7 fits in the narrowest of service bays. Features include a...

Cyclone Sweeps Up a Storm.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new PM10 compliant 770 Cyclone air sweeper's special water re-circulation system maximizes productivity and reduces dust emissions because it allows the Cyclone to sweep up to three times longer than normal without having to refill the...

High-Tech Watertight Joint.(Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... This firm's new watertight joint is designed by fusing a 2-in, wide ceramic/polymer composite onto the outside wall of the integral bell of the pipe. Designed for use with N12 ProLink ULTRA WT[TM] HDPE corrugated stormwater pipe, it meets or...

Brush Cutter.(Carlson Tractor and Equipment Co. Brush Technology Div.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This skid-steer mounted brush cutter for clearing brush and trees in tight spaces or delicate terrain can maneuver in softer soils without leaving a huge footprint, thanks to its 5-psi ground pressure and 18-in, wide rubber tracks. It is...

Telescopic Lift.(Bil-Jax Inc. product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... The Odyssey [TM] 34 telescopic lift "features a 34-ft platform height (40 ft maximum working height), a revolutionary new aluminum mast section design, and a radically different outrigger pattern. It also includes the ability to roll through a...

Rugged Spring Latch for Heavy-Duty Applications.(Paneloc Corp. product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... This new spring latch for heavy-duty applications such as automotive, trucks, construction, and cabinets has a 3/8-in. pin diameter and is 0.090 in. thick. It features a lock "back" and lock "forward" option and is available in most standard...

Vibratory Plate.(M-B-W Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... The AP2000 vibratory plate for asphalt compaction is now fitted with an improved gravity feed water delivery system. Its larger 3-gal water tank allows it to operate longer between fill-ups. The AP2000 includes a protective roll-cage to prevent...

Total Station.(Carl Zeiss Optical Inc. product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... The compact Zeiss Elta C30 total station provides the speed of a servobase instrument without the power consumption. It reads out direct to one second, has an accuracy of 3 seconds, and can shoot 8,200 ft to a single prism. Its QuickDrive...

Asphalt Paver and Grader.(see www.towboy.com)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... This unit "paves like an expensive paver but sells for a fraction of the price." Paves roads, parking lots, bike trails, and all other paving jobs including shoulder paving, curb edging, patch work, and trench filling as narrow as 12 in....

Barrier System.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new Quickchange[R] Reactive Tension Barrier System for keeping vehicles from penetrating into opposing lanes of traffic or crashing into roadside hazards is available in either heavily reinforced concrete or steel version, both of which can...

Excavator Slash Blade.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Slash Blade for use with excavators cuts like a dozer, loads like a bucket. It allows for level grading without leveling the excavator. It moves more material than a bucket, is said to be excellent for sticky material, and cleans itself...

Universal Lift Adapters.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new Universal Saddle and Adapter combination will reduce the time it takes a technician to search through the service facility for the correct lift adapters to raise the vehicle. This assembly is now standard on the company's heavy-duty...

Walk-Behind String Trimmers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This new line of walk-behind string trimmers features an offset head that allows easy access for trimming close to buildings, posts, trees, and under fences. Changing the cutting cord is easy and requires no tools or disassembly of the cutting...

Protects Highway Barriers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The FHWA-approved BEAT (box beam bursting energy absorbing terminal) is designed to protect the end of box beam barriers. The energy absorbing BEAT uses a lightweight impact head. During end-on-impacts, the vehicle forces the mandrel portion of...

Frightens Pest Birds.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Irri-Tape is a 2-in, wide, 2-mil thick ribbon of polyester film with an iridescent, holographic pattern that resembles the eyes of an owl or the skin of a snake--natural predators of small birds. Light hitting its surface intensely reflects the...

Thermoplastic Pre-Melter.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This low-profile thermoplastic pre-melter system is available as singles (one) or sets (two): skid mounted, truck mounted, or trailer mounted. The trailer mounted NM1500TPM set is shown. Features include automatic ignition, high torque...

Inspect Large Pipes.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The state-of-the-art Titan wheeled camera transporter can negotiate through large diameter pipes, ducts, or culverts with exceptionally rough interior deposit conditions, says the company. It boasts a 4-wheel drive system with variable speed...

Recycled Plastic Guardrail Block.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Re-Block is this firm's latest version of its recycled plastic guardrail offset block. In addition to design improvements, it has also successfully passed a full-scale NCHRP-350 Test Level 3 strength test. "Additional benefits of the Re-Block...

Stormwater Management.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Ultra-GrateGuards help facilities comply with new stormwater management regulation, NPDES 40 CFR 122.26 (1999), by capturing sediment, oil, and other contaminants before they enter storm drains. The "curb style" unit (pictured) is designed for...

Aerial Lifts.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This company supplies a full line of self-propelled electric slab scissor lifts, rough terrain scissor lifts, articulated booms, and telescopic booms. Truck mount units ranging from 90 to 210 ft are also available from the company's Truck Mount...

Distance Measuring Wheels.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This corrosion-resistant distance measuring wheel features 14.3-in. diameter wheel, 5-digit counter, telescoping handle, convenient kickstand, and full lifetime warranty. Choose from 20 models.

Skid-Steers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This company offers four skid-steers: the 1340XL, 1550XL, 2060XL, and the 1760XL. Said to offer excellent visibility, they feature universal attachment system, heavy-duty boom, hydrostatic transmission, wide stance and low center of gravity,...

Boring Software.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... For fast HDD calculation in the field, the new Atlas Bore Planner(R) FieldCalc[TM] software "is the ultimate bore planning calculator." It allows users to calculate setback distance, figure point-to-point bore paths, estimate pullback time and...

Truck for Construction Work.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Condor Class 8 low cab forward truck is said to excel in concrete pumping, and concrete and aggregate conveyor applications. The 68-in. BBC vehicle is available in 6 x 4 and 4 x 2 configurations and with numerous component and feature...

Scaler/Needle Scaler.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This firm announces its newest tool, the Scaler/Needle Scaler. The Model 300 scaler can be used with various chisels and star drills to fit many different surface cleaning applications. Models 305 and 307 include an attachment with a set of 19...

Surface Planer.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The 5-hp SP8/G Series II surface planer comes with a full line of tungsten carbide insert flails and economical, steel-type flails made from the newly developed Alloy X. The planer is especially suited for milling misaligned sidewalks and...

Channelizer Tape.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Resilience[TM] channelizer tape features improved durability, color and fluorescence retention, and photometric performance. This enables motorists to detect the material from further away and therefore affords more time to react and maneuver...

Concrete/Asphalt Saws.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This firm offers three new self-propelled saws. The FS2SP Series offers choice of 13- or 20-hp gasoline engine. The FS4SP Series offers choice of 40-hp fuel injected gasoline or 30-hp diesel engine. The FS5SP Series (shown) offers choice of...

Fully Automatic Pumps.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Self-priming Dri-Prime [R] pumps are offered in 2- to 12-in, sizes for handling stormwater, sewage, sludges, and many other pumping needs. Available as high volume or high head and jetting models, they are capable of flows to 5,000 gpm, heads...

Ultra-Compact Skid-Steer.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The new 463 ultra-compact skid-steer loader, nicknamed the Mini-Bob[TM], offers a 700-lb rated operating capacity, and the comfort and safety of an operator cab. Measuring just 3 ft wide and 6 ft tall, the 15.7-hp machine can power numerous...

Backhoe Loaders.(see www.cat.com)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Pilot operated joystick controls are standard on the new 420D and 430D backhoe loaders. The 85-hp 420D has a backhoe digging depth of 14 ft 5 in. when equipped with the standard stick. The 94-hp 430D can dig to 15 ft 3 in. using its standard...

Tough Geogrids.(Geotex [R] geogrids)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... This company offers degradable and permanent solutions for erosion control and stormwater management as well as engineered fabrics for roadway, shoreline, and slope stabilization; separation; drainage; and dewatering of dredged materials. Newly...

WORTH TELLING.
August 1, 2001... * Joining Homer & Shifrin, Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri) as a senior structural project manager is Jarek M. Czernikiewicz, P.E. * The National Association of County Engineers' 2001 Annual Management and Technical Conference saw the...

LEGAL ASPECTS OF PUBLIC WORKS.(Town of Nelson vs. New Hampshire Department of Transportation)
August 1, 2001... Reclassifying road maintenance responsibility. The Supreme Court of New Hampshire, in its ruling on the appeal of Town of Nelson vs. New Hampshire Department of Transportation, stated in part: "The plaintiff, the town of Nelson, appealed from a...