Public Works articles from September 2003

Public Works archives from September 2003

Millstones and milestones.(editorial viewpoint)
September 1, 2003... This issue marks my first as editor of PUBLIC WORKS. During our transition to new ownership this summer this space has been occupied by editor-in-chief Bill Palmer, who also heads editorial operations at sister publication CONCRETE...

ASCE's Geo-Institute and the ADSC.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... In February 2004 ASCE's Geo-Institute and the ADSC will join forces to present the largest geotechnical engineering and drilled geo-construction conference ever. Billed as the "Greatest Show IN Earth," the technical program will focus on the...

Berryman & Henigar.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... James F. Warren, PE, has been appointed division manager of construction management services at Berryman & Henigar, San Diego. Warren will be in charge of the division's Northern California operations, working closely with a wide variety of...

One-day seminar in Toronto.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... In rapidly expanding cities, it's challenging for city planners to keep pace with ever-expanding infrastructure demands. The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) is aware of. these issues and is offering solutions. PPI has scheduled a one-day seminar...

R.A. Smith & Associates.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... R.A. Smith & Associates, civil engineering, surveying, and technical services consultants in Brookfield, Wis., has added Patrick Hawley as a project manager in its transportation division. Hawley brings an expanded capability to the firm in the...

efleetmgmt.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... Online education and information services provider efleetmgmt will present two seminars in October designed to help transportation businesses improve their financial and operating performance. The seminars, titled "Financial Strategies for...

Netzsch Group.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... Germany's Netzsch Group with its four divisions: Analyzing and Testing, Filtration, Grinding and Dispersing, and Pumps, will remain independent. In April 2003, Netzsch and the US-based Colfax Corp. had announced plans to join forces, with...

CONTECH Bridge.(worth telling)
September 1, 2003... Robert Morris III has been named manager, vehicular bridge marketing for CONTECH Bridge's eastern area. CONTECH Bridge is a wholly owned subsidiary of CONTECH Holdings Corp., Middleton, Ohio, and is comprised of two separate companies,...

Amtrak threatens October shutdown if funding not doubled.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... Amtrak has warned that it would shut down operations if Congress only appropriated $900 million for it in fiscal 9004, as the House Appropriations Committee has recommended. Amtrak claims it needs $1.8 billion for the fiscal year beginning...

TEA-21 renewal deadline will force tough funding choices.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... This is a critical month for transportation legislation in Congress, as legislators face a Sept. 30 deadline for reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The law would regulate federal highway and transit...

Transportation costs rising for low-income families, study finds.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... According to the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), transportation costs have become an even greater share of family expenses, taking more than 19 cents out of every dollar. STPP says transportation, is second only to housing...

EPA, Corps target cleanups to restore four urban rivers.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have launched pilot projects to clean and restore four urban rivers throughout the United States: the Passaic River in northeastern New Jersey, which flows through...

Reluctant to hike taxes, states make cuts to balance budgets.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) said in July that states have been able to balance budgets in the current recession without relying heavily on broad tax increases. However, despite related cuts in services and expenditures,...

EPA seeks tougher regulation on Cryptosporidium as part of broader program to enhance 1974 drinking water act.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed rules to require drinking water systems to increase protection against Cryptosporidium and expand control of disinfection byproducts. The 29-year-old Safe Drinking Water Act...

Corps funding bill clears first House hurdle.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has reported a bill to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers projects for river and harbor navigation improvements, flood and storm damage reduction, and environmental restoration. Rep....

House panel proposes $20 B grant to boost wastewater spending in smaller communities.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has approved legislation to close the $10 billion per year gap between wastewater infrastructure needs and current levels of spending. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) says, "Maintaining...

Agencies set wetlands replacement guidelines for new highways.(Washington report)
September 1, 2003... The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all have agreed on a new guidance to ensure the replacement of wetlands affected by federal-aid highway projects. The...

Huge UV system to debut in NYC.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... The joint venture team of Hazen and Sawyer/CDM was awarded a $35.7-million contract by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) for permitting and design services during construction of a 2-billion-gallons-per-day,...

HDR lands $300M Omaha M.U.D. project.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... The Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) of Omaha recently awarded a $11.5-million contract to an HDR-led design team to provide engineering services for the Platte West Water Project, a $300-million-treatment facility to meet growing water...

Broad coalition forms to regulate building interoperability.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... The National Alliance for Building Regulatory Reform in the Digital Age, its Secretariat, the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, FIATECH, the New York City Department of Buildings, and the National Institute of...

Stormwater project straddles the pond.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... Black & Veatch has announced completion of the first phase and initiation of the second phase of a 3-year, $690,000 study of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in the United States and United Kingdom....

Desalination patent awarded in UK.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... PB Power, a subsidiary of Parsons Brinckerhoff, has been awarded a United Kingdom patent for an innovative desalination technique that promises to be the template for future power and water plant design. The patented design--a variation on the...

Forecasting made easier with GIS.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... Minneapolis-based Meteorlogix has announced that it is providing High Point, N.C., with an Internet-based weather data information system in geographic information system (GIS) format. MxInsight GIS Weather provides the power to quickly and...

Utah governor slated to head EPA.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... President George W. Bush has selected Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt to replace Christie Whitman as head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to The Associated Press (AP). Bush made the announcement during a speech on Aug. 11,...

Akron plan gives HDPE a chance.(engineering notes)
September 1, 2003... Rubber is king in Akron, Ohio. It's home to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and the Local university's football stadium is aptly named the Rubber Bowl. But as of spring 2003, there's another round, durable, solid black product that's improving...

A harmonious recycling effort.(Onsite Recycling)
September 1, 2003... A performance arts complex seamlessly integrates environmental concerns into its recycling program. While critics often dismiss some modern music as mere "trash," the Music Center in Los Angeles is being decidedly more constructive in...

APWA top 10 leaders of 2003: winners share common threads.(Top Ten APWA)
September 1, 2003... Last month at its annual convention in San Diego, the American Public Works Association officially honored its "Top 10 Public Works Leaders of 2003." The event marked the 44th consecutive year that the 27,000-member organization has recognized...

Rising population tests small town drainage plan.(Stormwater)
September 1, 2003... One growing Missouri municipality found answers to its stormwater problems when its master plan hit the fast track. A small city enjoying a development boom may not have the luxury of time or money to create an exhaustive stormwater master...

Alternative funding resources.(Money Management)
September 1, 2003... Residents can reduce costs using a new revenue-generating program. When Prince George's County, Md., needed funds to build, operate, and maintain new municipal solid waste disposal systems in the mid-1980s, they issued bonds and relied on...

'GREAT' program stretches thinning supply.(Water Treatment)
September 1, 2003... Oxnard's new water supply plan helps local residents tackle difficult water conservation issues. Water professionals in Southern California are acutely aware of the need to conserve and stretch available water supplies. Water has always...

Let it snow--Dulles airport is ready.(Snow Removal)
September 1, 2003... Low-maintenance, dependable snowplows keep a vital transportation hub up and running even in the fiercest weather. Keeping airports open in and around our nation's capital is a huge job and a top priority. Security issues may now grab the...

ODOT gears up for winter.(Snow Removal)
September 1, 2003... Unprecedented snow and ice accumulations required massive response of equipment, materials, and manpower. Last winter, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 12 in the northeast corner of the state used record amounts of...

Catch basin cleaners.(Product Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... CATCH BASIN CLEANERS & LEAF LOADERS American Road Machinery Inc. 401 Bridge St. Minerva, OH 44657 330-868-7724 For FREE LITERATURE Circle No. 501 on Reply Card Giant-Vac Inc. 11 Machine Shop Hill Rd. PO. Box...

Encapsulating pier rehab.(PW update: technology)
September 1, 2003... It's a fact: Reinforced concrete structures installed in saltwater are at high risk for the damaging effects of rebar corrosion. Cathodic protection has long been known as one effective way to address the problem, but public works officials'...

Fleet maintenance software.(Literature Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Public agency fleets face the same problem--managing their fleet operating budgets more effectively. Since 1979, proactive City, County, and State agencies have used Dossier maintenance management software to reduce fleet-related operating...

Non-destructive concrete sounding.(Literature Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Sounding Technology presents the complete patented concrete delamination sounding, marking and measuring system. Use patented rotary percussion technology to reach overhead and top slab concrete structures with ease and accuracy. "Sound" the...

EDCO scarifiers are multi-purpose machines!(Literature Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Used by more than 50 different industries, EDCO's 8" and 10" push-model scarifiers will repair trip hazards, remove traffic markings, groove concrete, remove coatings, mill asphalt, repair damaged surface areas and much, much more. The CPM-8...

INFI-SHIELD[R].(Literature Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Made from high quality EPDM rubber, INFI-SHIELD[R] external seal prevents Inflow and Infiltration in manholes or catch basins. Having excellent adhesion properties, INFI-SHIELD[R] is bonded with non-hardening butyl mastic and it will pass a...

ADA approved detectable warning tile.(Literature Showcase)
September 1, 2003... NYC becomes compliant by using Step-Safe[R] tiles at Street corner ramps. These pre-cast polymer concrete tiles can be set in fresh or existing concrete and come in a variety of colors. State DOT agencies specify Step-Safe[R] because of its...

Review of catalogs: featuring: lifts.
September 1, 2003... * 526 HEAVY-DUTY INGROUND LIFT Literature introduces redesigned heavy-duty lift system with enhancements for easy maintenance, including push-button equalized controls and shutter plates that keep the trench covered at all times. ...

American Shoring Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Mighty-Lite modular soil system consists of components that can be transported in a pickup truck to a jobsite, where they then can be hand-assembled into a lightweight trench shield. The product--constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy--has a...

Pro-Tec Equipment Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... PAL-4 Series trench shields offer 4 inch-thick, double-wall steel construction and are suitable for use in water, sewer, gas, fiber-optic and cable-line applications. The shields are light enough to be handled by small excavators, yet strong...

Efficiency Production Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Build-A-Box modular aluminum trench shield system is modular, easy to transport, and can be assembled quickly in a wide variety of configurations. The product is designed for municipalities, utilities, and contractors who use rubber-tired...

Safe-T-Shore.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Power Pump is a fully automatic pump designed to withstand the rugged requirements of shoring applications. The unit is gas-powered and operates at a pump pressure of 1000 psi. Other features include a 12-gallon plastic reservoir with a...

Allied Construction Products LLC.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Interlocking aluminum panels create a high degree of strength security in Tren-Shore hydraulic shield boxes. The products offer hydraulic trench wall support or static wall protection against trench-wall collapse. Telescoping steel struts with...

Quik-Shor.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... These high-clearance shores offer 4 feet 11 inches clearance from the bottom of the rail, and up to 6 feet 11 inch clearance in A or B soils. Rail lengths of 8, 12, and 16 inch are offered, and the line of shores comes in a wide range of...

Metabo Corp.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The model Hs8635S 26-inch hedge trimmer provides a high level of safety as well as precise, efficient cutting. To operate, the user must simultaneously depress dual safety switches; the 'instant stop' blades stop 0.5 second after either safety...

Easi-Set Industries.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Easi-Set and Easi-Span precast concrete buildings are available in a range of standard sizes from 6 x 8 feet to 30 x 170 feet, in addition to a range of custom sizes and designs. They can be ordered with full A/C, electrical, plumbing, and...

Gradall.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Model XL 4300-II hydraulic excavator is a 45,000-pound-class machine that combines the advantages of a tilting, telescoping boom and mobility on and off paved surfaces for maximum versatility. Equipped with powerful load-sensing hydraulics,...

Komatsu America Corp.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The SK1020-5 skidsteer is a 7525-pound unit designed to withstand tough applications while delivering power and performance. The automatic power control enables the machine to work at full power without risk of engine stall-out, The company's...

Ground Heaters Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The AC1100 ground heater enables equipment and crews to prepare sites and place concrete indoors or outdoors, all year round. It can thaw up to 1650 square feet of frozen ground at a depth of one foot per day, and it can heat up to 2200 square...

Caterpillar Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The H140Ds hydraulic hammer is compatible with the company's 325C and 330C hydraulic excavators and other comparatively sized machines. It measures 103.9 inches from the top plate to the tip, operating weight is 5182 pounds, and it can be...

Dressta North America.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Upgrading three of its wheel loaders (the 103-hp 510E, 120-hp 515E, and 142-hp 520E), this company has added a number of features to enhance performance. All three models include a single-lever equipment control joystick for fingertip control...

Vac-Tron Equipment.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Tow-Behind sweeper features a 25-hp motor, 2-cubic-yard hopper, and a 16-inch pickup head. The blower uses a radial turbine, with a V-belt fan drive. The dust control system uses pump pressure from the top of the hopper. Other features...

BOMAG.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The midsize BOMAG BW145-3 single-drum vibratory rollers offer favorable compaction force, grade-ability, and tractive effort on granular and mixed soils. The 56-inch-wide drums are suitable fur utility and highway construction work, driveways,...

Rockland Mfg. Co.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The company introduces the TS transfer station bucket, which enables users to doze, load, and separate material with one machine. The bucket comes with a slotted spill guard and a choice of rubber or reversible bolt-on edges....

Reznor.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Burn crankcase oil, transmission fluids, hydraulics, and other used materials with the Venturion used-oil-fired heaters. Free shop heat and eliminated haul-off costs and liability associated with shipping off used oils are some of the...

Komatsu America Corp.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The PC160LC-7 hydraulic excavator--a replacement for the company's PC150LC-6 model--features enhanced stability and productivity as well as reduced weight. Lubrication intervals have been extended from 100 to 500 hours, and the fuel tank...

ICON Industries.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The 18D earthmover is a cost-effective scraper with transport width of less than 12 feet, maximum capacity of 18 cubic yards, two-valve sequence operation, CAT cutting bits, top-quality hydraulics, high durability, and rapid cycle times....

Garon Products Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Arctic Freezelite is 100% solids epoxy mortar that provides fail-safe repairs--indoors or outdoors--in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees F. The mortar fills potholes in concrete and allows for traffic flow within two hours of repair. The...

Schmidt.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Abrasive airblasting systems are profiled in this company's 96-page catalog. The literature includes color photos, illustrations, and parts diagrams to help customers easily identify equipment, parts, and components required for their...

AmerEquip Corp.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The RockyRoo posthole diggers have been upgraded to be safer more reliable and more productive than previous models. The frame's patented curved tail is formed of high-tensile steel, said to enable the compact structure to apply enough...

Netzsch Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Nemor line of custom-configured pumps come in a wide range of sizes, from small metering units to high-volume pumps. Each of the products can be assembled using a modular assembly, and users can choose from different materials of...

Tennant Co.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Sentinel street sweeper is a year-round model with one-button sweeping, exceptional debris removal, minimal dust, and maximum safety. The adjustable Vario sweeping brush option enables operators to sweep around obstacles on top-of curb...

Plastic Safety Systems.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Temporary traffic control products are profiled in a new catalog. The four-page brochure includes the company's latest product innovations, including Quick-Gard high-performance guardrail delineators, Quik-Mark object markers, and BAM highway...

Peterson Pacific Corp.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The BT 60 blower truck-with a capacity of 60 cubic yards-is geared toward operators who travel long distances with low-density organic materials. The live floor unloads materials rapidly without bridging. The Power Sweep Assist feature enables...

Heil Environmental Industries.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The CP Python continuous-pack side loader combines an automated body with a technologically advanced automated arm. The body is constructed of high-tensile steel to resist the effects of wear and tear. It has a nine-foot reach and can lift up...

Videx.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... By replacing the mechanical cylinder of a standard padlock with the company's CyberLock electronic cylinder, operators can convert the padlock to a full-functioning access control system. This system consists of the cylinder, CyberKeys that...

Garon Products.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Tigerskin, a water-based epoxy coating, provides a tough, abrasion-resistant finish to concrete, wood, and masonry surfaces. It cures to a satin finish for a durable, easy-to-clean surface that protects against graffiti and wear on floors,...

TAPCO.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The V-Loc in-ground anchoring system is a permanent posthole that can be used for round, square, and U-channel posts for signs, mailboxes and other applications, resisting movement from wind vibration. The socket can be installed in concrete,...

Finlay Hydrascreens.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The 883 Reclaimer is engineered for fast setup, high mobility, and long life in high-volume sand/gravel, topsoil, coal, crushed stone, compost and recycling applications. The system has a heavy-duty screen with 16x5-foot top deck and 12x5-foot...

Dimas North America.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Dimas announces a line of self-propelled pavement groovers and grinders, all with a 12 inch blade capacity and a 3/4-inch maximum cutting depth. The PG 6522 is an economic but powerful model. Equipped with a 65-hp Wisconsin engine and 21-inch...

Coleman Cable.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... An industrial cord reel joins its family of Luma-Site reel products. The heavy-duty reel features a durable 50-foot 12/3 (SJTW) extension cord and 15-amp circuit breaker with push-button reset for operator safety. It has a clear-molded...

Diamond Products.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Wet and Dry Diamond Blade Catalog offers a wide range of this company's Core Cut blades and tools. The literature provides informational tools to help users select the appropriate blade for a particular application, as well as a list of...

Bostik Findley.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Chem-Falk Syl-a-Pocket pitch-pocket filler is engineered for superior weathering characteristics and flow properties. The product is designed to fill pockets or repair existing ones in typical pitch-pocket configurations in roof...

Loegering.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... This line of breakers is designed to be more powerful and lighter than other similar class breakers. The models range in weight from 430 to 1100 pounds. The smallest unit has a tool energy rating of about 70 foot-pounds per blow; the largest...

Ware systems.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Pumpware concrete-business management software has been upgraded for reliable performance with any Windows program. It consists of five Win Series modules--WinQuote, WinDispatch, WinInvoice, WinMaintenance, and WinPrelim--which can work...

Manlift.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The T40 telescopic straight boom aerial work platform extends to a 40-foot platform height or 46-foot working height. Standard features include four-wheel drive, 60-hp dual-fuel or diesel power. The horizontal reach is 34 feet, providing 766...

Ridewell suspensions.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Mono-Lift 225 auxiliary axle suspension has a capacity of 25,000 pounds, making it suitable for use on block haulers, cement mixers, refuse vehicles, construction vehicles, and other vocational-truck applications. The single-pivot design...

Bosch power tools.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... Control dust with the 1773AK 5-inch concrete surfacing grinder with a comprehensive dust-removal system. It offers a specially designed head, as well as a built-in dust chute that connects to a vacuum hose for efficient debris removal. Other...

OmniQuip Textron.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... A 3-foot truss boom with a maximum lift capacity of 4000 pounds was designed for use on this company's Lull and Sky Trak telehandlers. The attachment mounts directly to the telehandlers' quick attach system. The winch is controlled by an...

Urelift Specialties.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The Biobarrier root control system uses tiny time-release capsules of trifluralin (attached to easy-to-install drainage fabric) to deflect roots. The product prevents root growth only at the tip, leaving the rest of the tree's root system to...

Crysteel Manufacturing Inc.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... "The Deuce" two-way dump body doubles work-truck efficiency by combining rear dumping and side dumping in one body. The innovative design enables operators to dump to the rear for typical applications, or to dump to the side in hard-to-reach...

TrynEx International.(Equipment & services: featuring: trench shoring & shielding)
September 1, 2003... The SweepEx MegaPlus line of broom attachments offers a variety of options and packages to cater to multiple service vehicles in cleaning up wet or dry materials. The skidsteer sweeper comes standard with a hydraulic-angle mechanism and...