Public Works articles from May 2004

Public Works archives from May 2004

Our non-stop editing, your one-stop shopping.(From the Editor)
May 1, 2004... Welcome to the most definitive, one-volume source of information yet published on the public works industry, those who serve it, the products they require, and both the ends and means involved in making it work. All of that is now in your...

Calendar.(Calendar)
May 1, 2004... 2004 JUNE June 2-4, Washington, D.C. -- 2004 Homeland Security Summit & Exposition. "Taking Action, Making Progress" is the theme of this year's conference, where local, state, and federal governments, private sector firms, and...

Product index.
May 1, 2004... A ADA compliance products 99 Admixtures, accelerators 113 Admixtures, air-entraining 113 Admixtures,...

Road to recovery still uphill: although positive signs are all around, APWA cautions "we're not out of the woods yet.".(2004 Forecast)
May 1, 2004... Try as they might, public works officials across the United States still are having a hard time generating much enthusiasm for 2004. Despite having spirits bolstered by a flurry of good economic news in recent months--from diving unemployment...

Infrastructure grades still falling, warn engineers.(Asce Report Card)
May 1, 2004... Last fall, the American Society of Civil Engineers issued an update of its 2001 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. Since then, ASCE officials have toured the nation with colleagues from APWA to present the findings jointly to...

Leaders step up in public arena.(APWA Top 10)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... This May, the American Public Works Association (APWA) will announce its "Top 10 Public Works Leaders of 2004" as part of the annual National Public Works Week festivities in Washington, D.C. From last fall, here is our review of the 2003...

APWA contacts.
May 1, 2004... APWA Leadership American Public Works Association National Headquarters 2345 Grand Blvd, Ste 500 Kansas City, MO 64108-2641 816-472-6100 www.apwa.net APWA Legislative Office 1401 K St NW, 11th Flr ...

Professional & trade associations.
May 1, 2004... NATIONAL Air & Waste Management Association 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh PA 15222-1435 412-232-3444 www.awma.org Alliance for Concrete Codes & Standards 4105 Terra Alta Dr San Ramon CA 94583 ...

Government contacts.
May 1, 2004... Members of Congress HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE 2165 Rayburn Office Building (HOB) Washington D.C. 20515 202-225-9446 www.house.gov/transportation Chairman Rep. Don Young (R-AK) ...

Asahi/America Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The Ultra Proline piping system for water and wastewater plants is made of HALAR, the only thermoplastic material resistant to 98% sulfuric acid. The product provides plants with superior protection against chemically induced failure. In...

Bandit Industries Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The Model 1290-H Brush Bandit has a 37-inch drum, much larger than competitive 12-inch drum-style chippers. The larger size enables the machine to cut on a downward arc and on an angle, letting it chip more easily and consume less fuel. The...

Baron Services Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... Threat Net and Mobile Threat Net radar display and storm tracking systems are designed to help you to make good preplanning decisions on construction jobs and keep the site and workers safe. The system uses data delivered by XM WX Satellite...

Bayne machine works premium lift systems.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The BTL 208 cart tipper is engineered to help refuse truck operators improve the pickup of containers on an uneven surface. The enhanced design offers a wider pickup envelope to grab the container, and it dumps deeper into the hopper. The new...

Caterpillar Inc.
May 1, 2004... The company has released three additions to its line of utility-sized vibratory asphalt compactors. The CB-214E is a double drum with a 39-inch compaction width; its operating weight of 5400 pounds, tight turning radius, and easy...

Flowserve Corp.
May 1, 2004... The 032000 and 132000 control valves provide excellent solutions for chemical feed systems in water treatment plants. Both products offer resistance to acid corrosion as well as precision control. The 032000 valves are machined from barstock...

Heil environmental industries.
May 1, 2004... The CP Python continuous-pack automated side loader combines an automated body with an advanced automated arm. The product offers a fast cycle time and a packer design that eliminates the need to stop and pack the load. The body uses...

Henderson Manufacturing Inc.
May 1, 2004... The company has added performance-enhancing features to its First Response 3-N-1 snow and ice control system. The product dispenses granular material, pre-wetted granular material, or liquid anti-icing material, all from the same platform. A...

Information Display Co./SpeedCheck.
May 1, 2004... The VSC-1820 speed compliance display is a portable, standalone kit that allows easy one-person setup for safer work zones. The product displays radar-tracked vehicle speed with the company's Safety-Mask technology, which helps to keep drivers'...

Neptune Technology Group Inc.
May 1, 2004... EZNet is a fixed network data collection system for targeted commercial and industrial applications. It can be deployed as a standalone system or work in conjunction with the company's handheld or mobile data collection products to provide a...

Pumpex Inc.
May 1, 2004... The new K60 and K63 sewage pumps are non-clogging, submersible centrifugal units designed to handle solids, fibrous materials, sludge, and other materials found in sewage, industrial wastewater, and other contaminated liquids. Each features a...

OPW fuel management systems.
May 1, 2004... The Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) inventory management system uses magnetostrictive technology that measures liquid product level changes to a resolution of 0.010 inch. The flexible probe is suitable for all petroleum and bulk-storage...

Ridgid Tool Co.
May 1, 2004... The Model 904 3/8-inch drive torque wrench is designed for underground pipe installations that use no-hub couplings. With a torque setting of 80 inch-pounds, the tool tightens hubless couplings with fast ratcheting action. A distinctive click...

Super Products Corp.
May 1, 2004... The company has added a hydroexcavation option to its line of Camel sewer and catch basin cleaners. The option increases the products' versatility by enabling the operator to safely uncover buried utilities and potholes-even in frozen...

VQuip.
May 1, 2004... The Haul-All M-Class is a multi-purpose side loader vehicle, ideal for waste collection and grounds maintenance. The lightweight, reinforced body is available in 14-, 16-, and 18-cubic-yard sizes. It has the lowest loading height of any side...

Komatsu America Corp.
May 1, 2004... The PC40MR-2 compact hydraulic excavator has many of the productivity features of a full-size machine, while providing a compact size that is suitable for maneuvering in confined areas. The operator compartment has been expanded for comfort,...

Wacker Corp.
May 1, 2004... The BPU 2540A and BPU 3050A reversible vibratory plates are designed for compaction of granular and mixed soils in confined areas. They offer hydraulic forward and reverse, and are easy to maneuver in any application. The shock-mounted guide...

Loegering.
May 1, 2004... Z-Track skidsteer tracks have hammer-forged steel traction cleats, which offer a high degree of wear resistance. These cleats are self-cleaning and give exceptional machine control. The tracks also provide a smoother ride and reduced operator...

Bomag.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... Delivering 6075 pounds of centrifugal force, the BP25/48 and BP25/48D single-direction vibratory plate compactors offer a frequency of 5400 vibrations per minute. Rugged, wear-resistant base plates maximize productivity and effectiveness. A...

Bobcat Co.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The SK160 skidsteer has a turbocharged diesel engine, rated at 56 hp. A high-flow option boosts hydraulic capacity to 27 gpm for enhanced attachment versatility. A radius lift path is designed for jobs in which digging and grading are a higher...

Fascut Industries Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The portable FS-1600 rebar bender/cutter is an electric/hydraulic machine that can be used to cut bars to length, fabricate stirrups, form hooks, and make 3-D bends on site or at the shop. It can handle #6 (3/4-inch diameter) grade 60 steel...

Wyco Tool Co.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... This company has introduced a single isolator mounting bracket, which attaches its hydraulic vibrators to any brand of paving machine, reducing concrete buildup and improving consolidation. The design has two to four rubber isolators that help...

Somero enterprises.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The CopperHead S-9210 is a walk-behind laser screed that cuts and screeds concrete with laser-controlled accuracy. The machine is easy and efficient to use: it works best with one operator, and a raker along each side ensures the concrete is...

Intervect.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The MS 5000 is a heavy-duty, twin-mast machine. The basic unit is 30 feet long and is mounted to a four-wheel chassis. The platform can be extended to as long as 60 feet by attaching a series of 5-foot decks to the main platform. The chassis...

Mueller Co.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The 2361 ductile iron resilient wedge gate valves come in 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-inch sizes, and in a number of end connection figurations. The company's AquaGrip design combines a double O-ring sealed compression connection with an integral pipe...

Abbott Enterprises Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The Shadow Tracker Premier GPS fleet tracker is an automatic, wireless download system that offers complete vehicle travel information, including locations, time traveling stops, and vehicle speeds. The easy-to-use software also provides a...

Air Technical industries.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The Reversible Boom Crane with knuckle boom has narrow tracks, making it suitable for working in crowded areas. The knuckle boom can reach into nooks and crannies-over, under, and above hard-to-negotiate obstacles. The self-propulsion is a...

Harley Enterprises/Glenmac Inc.(Public Works Tool Box)
May 1, 2004... The 4000 Tractor model pull-type beachcleaner uses oscillating sifting screens and an overhead conveyor. The machine efficiently separates out trash, butts, seaweed, and other debris from sand. After removing the debris, the cleaner whisks the...

Bridges & culverts: rehabilitating our nation's bridges; Maintaining bridges is no small task. Here's how we make decisions about repair and technology that will help them last longer.
May 1, 2004... According to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), 591,061 bridges in the United States are more than 20 feet long. Of this total, 360,446 (61%) are constructed of concrete and 194,827 are structural steel...

Bridges & culverts: product directory.
May 1, 2004... The 2003 infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers overall gave our nation's vast inventory of 162,000 bridges a passing grade of "C." Even so, it notes that some 27.5% of the total were either "structurally...

Construction equipment: equipment funds holding up surprisingly well for 2004; From Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas, equipment managers are finding that earlier tough decisions are paying off.
May 1, 2004... Many municipal equipment replacement budgets are faring surprisingly well despite the nation's recent economic doldrums. But others are still lagging, feeling the pinch from revenue shortfalls and cutbacks in other traditional government...

Construction equipment: product directory.
May 1, 2004... As budgetary concerns force public works departments nationwide to squeeze even more out of their equipment dollars, manufacturers have tried to answer the call with versatile models that multi-task via more attachments and a greater range of...

Erosion control: Maine going 'above and beyond'; An innovative federal incentive program is helping one state get ahead of its mounting erosion problems while others still weigh the costs.
May 1, 2004... Route 5 along Little Ossippee Lake in central Maine is a narrow causeway. To keep highway runoff from entering the lake, the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) 2 years ago found a non-standard solution that would work in a narrow space....

Erosion control: product directory.
May 1, 2004... Hardly confined to coastal areas and beachfront properties, erosion control projects are rarely as high-profile as last year's Hurricane Isabel. On the contrary, erosion concerns are just as important inland where flooding is a possibility and...

Fleets, trucks & accessories: stretching your trucking dollars; With city tax revenues dropping--as well as capital spending budgets--two agencies tell how they are managing to do more with their fleets.
May 1, 2004... Adam Smith, the Scotsman who practically invented capitalism in the 1700s, talked about an "invisible hand" that guides the use of resources in a free market economy. Indeed, one could argue that the results of Smith's invisible hand recently...

Fleets, trucks & accessories: product directory.
May 1, 2004... From demands for greater fuel efficiency to programs that extend tire life, fleet managers today are driving the search for more economical ways to increase the mileage of both their vehicles and personnel. Trash hauling, snow plowing, and road...

General operations: presenting substance with style; Don't be blinded by "power" presentations when selecting your project team--do your homework first.
May 1, 2004... Finding the best project team for a new construction, expansion, or renovation project is often easier said than done--particularly for public sector projects being spearheaded by public agencies. Project team selection committees for...

General operations: product directory.
May 1, 2004... A catch-all category that has grown more essential with the expansion of computer use into virtually every aspect of public works management, "general ops" has become the traffic cop of many departments. Hand-held computers and geographical...

Parks & recreation: playgrounds with personality; Each of these park facilities illustrates, in its own way, how a playground can be a work of art, enhancing and enlivening a neighborhood.
May 1, 2004... Communities building a new playground or rehabilitating an existing one can further enhance their neighborhoods by turning standard materials into works of art, with the help of landscape architects and a little creativity. Better still,...

Parks & recreation: product directory.
May 1, 2004... As green space becomes even rarer in cluttered urban and suburban environments, many officials are being charged with finding and maintaining multiple uses for limited public spaces. Softer surfacing solutions for safer playground design and...

Pavement construction & maintenance: German asphalt method, Superpave ride cresting wave; More states and municipalities are using stone matrix asphalt and Superpave hot mixes for both highways and heavily trafficked local roads.
May 1, 2004... Stone matrix asphalt (SMA) is catching on rapidly among more and more state departments of transportation (DOTs), particularly on urban interstates and other heavily trafficked pavements. This premiere paving surfacing originated in Germany and...

Pavement construction & maintenance: product directory.
May 1, 2004... Public works officials are charged with maintaining a network of highways approaching 4 million miles. At the same, roads are getting busier and more congested; commercial truck traffic, for example, has doubled since 1980. Products like those...

Pipe installation, maintenance & rehabilitation: Chicago cures ailing 100-year-old sewers; By using cured-in-place pipes and aggressive community outreach, the city completed a high-profile trenchless sewer rehab with few complaints.
May 1, 2004... When a large-diameter brick sewer collapsed on Chicago's north side during the cleaning stage of a city rehabilitation project in 2002, Chicago's Department of Water Management (DWM) decided to get proactive. Officials knew that time was...

Pipe installation, maintenance & rehabilitation: product directory.
May 1, 2004... Every day in the United States, more than 2 billion gallons of treated drinking water are reported as lost or unbilled, according to the American Water Works Association, the majority of it due to leaking pipes. Similarly, stormwater...

Roadside & grounds maintenance: Baton Rouge battles its resilient greenery; With approximately 4000 acres under management and fixed assets of manpower and equipment, mowers are out 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days a week, and are still challenged to keep the roadsides properly mowed.
May 1, 2004... As the state capital of Louisiana and the home of Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge is a flagship city that leads in many ways. That responsibility extends to landscaping along local roadsides. Thus, the goal of Billy Thompson,...

Roadside & grounds maintenance: product directory.
May 1, 2004... From chemical kudzu killers for the Bayou to industrial tree-trimming in the Pacific Northwest, this market involves much more than just cosmetic window-dressing. Mowers, mulchers, leaf blowers, rakes, chippers, edgers, and the like contribute...

Snow & ice control: let it snow--Dulles airport is ready; Low-maintenance, dependable snowplows keep a vital transportation hub up and running even in the fiercest weather.
May 1, 2004... Keeping airports open in and around our nation's capital is a huge job and a top priority. Security issues may now grab the most prominent headlines, but keeping airport runways open in the face of paralyzing winter weather remains the most...

Snow & ice control: product directory.
May 1, 2004... In northern states, nothing is judged more harshly than a municipality's ability to handle snow and ice removal. Tensions and expectations rise when flakes are falling, temperatures are dropping, and wet streets are freezing. With that in mind,...

Solid waste collection & disposal: a harmonious recycling effort; A performance arts complex seamlessly integrates environmental concerns into its recycling program.
May 1, 2004... While critics often dismiss some modern music as mere "trash," the Music Center in Los Angeles is being decidedly more constructive in cleaning up its act. Amid the glitz and glamour of its high-visibility performing arts schedule, the Center...

Solid waste collection & disposal: product directory.
May 1, 2004... The American Society of Civil Engineers reports the amount of solid waste sent to landfills has declined 13% since 1990, while the amount of waste recovered through recycling has nearly doubled. At the same time, recycling has become more...

Surveying & mapping: keys to selecting the right GPS firm; A firm's qualifications and related experience are vital for success. Knowing what to specify in a request for proposal and what to look for in reviewing a firm's qualifications can ensure better results.
May 1, 2004... Although differential global positioning systems (GPS) are significantly more accurate and faster than traditional surveying methods, gaining these advantages requires a well-crafted and thorough request for proposal (RFP). An RFP for GPS...

Surveying & mapping: product directory.
May 1, 2004... Few areas of the public works profession have felt the impact of technology as much as this one. From aerial satellite photography that can zoom in on a crack in a sidewalk to handheld global positioning systems (GPS) that are now affordable...

Traffic control & lighting: community involvement paves the way; Newly modernized, Fond du Lac's Johnson Street provides local employers with an improved connection to the regional freeway system and more efficient movement of materials, products, and employees.
May 1, 2004... Johnson Street, the major arterial roadway that serves east-west travel in the growing City of Fond du Lac, Wis., had been in desperate need of reconstruction for some time, but early efforts to ease local traffic problems had been largely...

Traffic control & lighting: product directory.
May 1, 2004... Safety is king in this market, where widespread public awareness campaigns still labor to reduce deaths and injuries in highway work zones. Also, as vehicle gridlock continues to increase--The American Society of Civil Engineers notes that the...

Water / wastewater / stormwater: scant resources spur scramble to meet needs; Southern California's expanding Hyperion wastewater treatment plant is just part of an emerging Southwestern strategy to stretch its resources.
May 1, 2004... Not far from the Los Angeles International Airport sits the mammoth, 55-year-old Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of the nation's largest. Originally built for secondary treatment in 1949, the facility now serves some 4 million area...

Drinking water demands, EPA driving innovation.
May 1, 2004... Establishing high and uniform potable water standards has been an EPA priority since the passage of the national Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974, followed by amendments in 1986 and 1996. These standards restrict the level of contaminants...

Water / wastewater / stormwater: product directory.
May 1, 2004... This category may be the one subject to the most intense market pressures. The American Society of Civil Engineers reports the average annual shortfall in capital replacement funding is $11 billion nationwide for drinking water facilities that...

Plastic water barrier guidance.
May 1, 2004... The primary application for plastic water ballasted barriers and barricades is to serve as longitudinal channelizers. A longitudinal channelizing barricade (longitudinal channelizer) is identified by the FHWA as a device designed specifically...

Manufacturers' index.(A-B)
May 1, 2004... A AaLadin Cleaning Systems 32584 447th Ave Elk Point SD 57025-9702 Tel 800-356-3325 Fax 605-356-2330 www.aaladin.com See: Heaters, waste oil; Pressure washers; Reels Abatron Inc 5501-95th Ave ...

Manufacturers' index.(C-D)
May 1, 2004... C Cabela's Inc 1 Cabela Dr Sidney NE 69160 Tel 800-753-3219 www.cabelas.com See: Safety clothing; Safety equipment CADS-USA Inc 268 W Beaver St Ste 108 Hallam PA 17406 Tel 800-470-4566 Fax...

Manufacturers' index.(E-G)
May 1, 2004... E EaCo Chem Inc PO Box 52 Forestville PA 16035 Tel 800-313-8505 Fax 724-656-0757 www.eacochem.com See: Cleaning materials, concrete Eagle Crusher Co Inc PO Box 537 Galion OH 44833 Tel...

Manufacturers' index.(H-K)
May 1, 2004... H H K Diamond & Hellcat Power Tools 2751 Saturn St Ste C Brea CA 92821 Tel 714-993-3339 www.hktradingcompany.com See: Coring bits; Coring drills; Edgers & groovers; Tools, power Haarup Maskintabrik A/S ...

Manufacturers' index.(L-N)
May 1, 2004... L Labor Finders 3910 RCA Blvd Palm Beach Gardens FL 33410 Tel 800-864-7749 Fax 561-627-6556 www.laborfinders.com See: Executive search firms Laborers-AGC Education & Training Fund 37 Deerfield Rd ...

Manufacturers' index.(O-R)
May 1, 2004... O O'Brien Wire Products of Texas PO Box 1227 Bellaire TX 77402-1227 Tel 800-662-6483 www.obrienwire.com See: Fastening tools; Reinforcement positioners; Tie wire; Tie wire reels & tools; Tools, hand; Wire fabric ...

Manufacturers' index.(S-T)
May 1, 2004... Sacramento Bag Mfg Co PO Box 1563 Sacramento CA 95812-1563 Tel 800-287-2247 Fax 916-448-3141 www.sacbag.com See: Bagging equipment & materials; Erosion control fabrics; Revegetation mats; Silt fence fabrics ...

Manufactures' index.(U-Z)
May 1, 2004... U Ulma Formworks Inc 58 Fifth Ave Hawthorne NJ 07506 Tel 973-636-2040 www.ulma-usa.com See: Bulkheads; Chamfer forms; Column forms; Culvert forms; Curb & gutter forms; Custom forms; Flying forms; Footings forms; Form...

Green Building Guidelines; Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource Efficient Homes Updated: Fourth Edition.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... Full of useful design tips, explanations, and references on topics ranging from energy conservation to improved indoor air quality and the most inexpensive yet sustainable construction materials. If you've ever dreamed of building the perfect...

Managing Public Equipment.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... Today's equipment environment demands more creativity and ingenuity than before. This comprehensive manual is designed to help equipment managers find innovative ways to keep equipment up and running while staying within capital budgets. ...

Public Works Outreach Toolkit.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... This toolkit is filled with helpful ideas and resources to assist you in your outreach. The kit includes: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * A 6-minute video entitled Everyday Heroes that emphasizes the everyday role of public works...

ADA and Accessibility: Let's Get Practical (2nd Ed).(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... Design? Build? Retrofit? Look beyond the law and learn what really makes sense in making your facilities comply with ADA guidelines. This newly revised edition of APWA's popular ADA handbook will help you make practical decisions about assuring...

Top 10 Performance Measures for Fleet Managers.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... Developing a program and tracking performance measures help fleet managers demonstrate the value of their departments to the communities they serve. Dozens of performance measures exist--and vary from agency to agency. This book outlines the...

Beyond Maps: GIS and Decision Making In Local Government.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... Geographic information systems (GIS) have become a fact of life in most large and small local governments, and the business of local government is to make decisions in the public interest. Using the varied case studies included, this...

Caring for Your New: Asphalt Pavement.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... A driveway is a significant investment in your property, and proper maintenance can help make your investment last twice as long as unmaintained pavement. This pamphlet gives you a 10-step approach to maintaining your driveway. From...

MUTCD Complete Manual: 2003 Edition.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... This updated piece has more than 1000 changes since the Millennium Edition of the MUTCD. A few of the new ones include: * Interim approval process for new traffic control devices and applications; * Chapter on temporary traffic control...

Guidelines for Bridge Management Systems.(Public Works Bookstore)
May 1, 2004... This guide is intended to help agencies develop bridge management systems to evaluate current and future conditions and needs, and determine the best mix of maintenance and improvement work. For more information or to order this book, visit...