Around the Globe: November 2018

United States

• Congratulations to Mary E. Peters, who is the 2019 recipient of the Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation. Peters is former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, and Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. She is currently principal of Mary Peters Consulting Group LLC. Source: Transportation Research Board
• H.R. 6367, introduced by Representatives Al Lawson (D-FL) and Trent Kelly (R-MS), which seeks to give subcontractors a proper channel to file a formal notification to the federal government when there is a lack of prompt payment, has now passed the House by unanimous voice vote and has moved to the Senate. Source: National Electrical Contractors Association

Florida

Make a note of this year’s Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida 42nd annual Asphalt Conference and Trade Show, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort Nov. 27-28. The registration deadline is Nov. 9 here.

Hawaii

The Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening from Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Airport Road from two to four lanes was accomplished as a design-build project. In addition to the widening of the road, the effort resulted in six new signalized intersections, as well as 4.5 miles of new water lines. The project also included a new sewer system to move wastewater from regional developments to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant and an R-1 line to bring back treated water. The project has a long history dating back to July 2008 when bids were first opened. The project faced several obstacles, such as bid protests, a protracted Section 106 consultation process and delays during construction.

The Section 106 review process is an integral component of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. After several protests and rebids, the design-build project was finally awarded to Goodfellow Bros. Inc (GBI). July 2010, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) gave GBI a notice to proceed with design, with a goal of starting construction in early 2011. Enter the discovery of previously unknown historic sites to delay construction again. The protracted Section 106 process and consultations delayed the start of construction until September 2015. During the construction, there were two major issues (mostly design) that cropped up resulting in the overall completion date to slip about 5 months.

For the paving, Grace Pacific used a grade control system that is used on the earthwork, utilities and grading portions of a construction project, but not typically used in paving operations. The grade control system was used on some of the milling and paving portions of work on the existing highway. Use of this system resulted in a smooth riding pavement.
Aug. 9, 2018, the community celebrated the opening of the widened highway. Officials participating in the ceremonial untying of the maile lei included Governor David Ige, Kahu Daniel Akaka Jr., Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe, Senator Lorraine Inouye, Representative Nicole Lowen, and Representative Cindy Evans. Source: Hawaii Asphalt Paving Industry

Illinois

Make plans to attend the Illinois Bituminous Paving Conference Dec. 11-12 at the iHotel and Conference Center, Champaign. Get more info here.

Indiana

Gear up for the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana (APAI) Winter Conference and Trade Show Dec. 19-21 at the Marriott East in Indianapolis. Visit here.

Maryland

Audrey Copeland, Ph.D., P.E., has been named the next president and CEO of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). She will assume the new role at the NAPA 2019 annual meeting in January. Copeland succeeds Mike Acott, who has served as NAPA’s president since 1992. Over the coming months, Acott and Copeland will work together to ensure an orderly transition of the leadership of NAPA. During the transition period, Copeland will serve as NAPA’s chief operating officer.

Missouri

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New York

Peckham Industries Inc., headquartered in White Plains, New York, announced Sept. 19 it had completed the acquisition of Palmer Paving Corp., Palmer, Massachusetts. Palmer’s operations, business management team, including President Jan Callahan, and more than 150 talented employees will remain intact and will provide Peckham with expanding business opportunities in the region.

Washington, D.C.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater issued a statement Oct. 1 about the announced United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a step in the right direction. Trade agreements provide better access to customers across the globe and help us add to the 1.3 million jobs our industry supports in the United States. We urge this administration to continue working closely with the Canadian and Mexican governments to enact policies that promote continued economic growth for our industry.” Nearly 30 percent of all equipment produced in the United States is intended for export; Canada and Mexico are the first and second-largest export markets for both U.S. construction and agricultural equipment.