Sources: American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
The “ARTBA Highway Dashboard: A 50-State Guide to the Benefits of Federal Investment” is a first of its kind, interactive tool providing the public and elected officials a clear look at how and where each state invests transportation project-designated tax dollars.
Read MoreSources: Associated Builders and Contractors, AFL-CIO, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed an AFL-CIO petition seeking an order compelling the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) for infectious disease and Covid-19 workplace exposure. “The agency is authorized to issue an ETS if it determines that ’employees are exposed to grave danger’ from a new hazard in the workplace, and an ETS is ‘necessary’ to protect them from that danger,” a three-judge panel concludes. “The OSHA’s decision not to issue an ETS is entitled to considerable deference.”
Read MoreSources: Office of Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.); CP staff
U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Pete DeFazio has scheduled a June 17 markup of “Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America” (INVEST) Act, which authorizes $319 billion in highway outlays and $500 billion overall for fiscal years 2021-2025. A successor to the federal highway funding program expiring September 30, it enables completion of critical projects through long-term, sustainable funding, and contains strong Buy America provisions and labor protections.
Read MoreSources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff
Due to safety and travel restrictions, the National Concrete Masonry Association is postponing its Midyear Meeting in Milwaukee until August 2021, but will leverage a user-friendly online conference platform for the new 2020 Midyear Event: Going Virtual!, August 4-6. Participants can customize their experience around general sessions, forums plus learning and networking opportunities—all offering insight on the association, industry conditions, and evolving business climate.
Read MoreSource: American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich.
ACI plans to host a customary gathering of engineers, students, contractors, educators, manufacturers, and material representatives during the Concrete Convention, October 25-29 at the Raleigh (N.C.) Convention Center, Raleigh Marriott and Raleigh Sheraton venues. Attendees will collaborate on concrete codes, specifications, and practices during 300-plus committee meetings, and have access to more than 40 technical and educational sessions.
Read Moreby Pierre G. Villere
The headlights are pointed uphill. After weeks and months of an economic shutdown, artificially imposed by the necessity to quarantine and therefore close virtually all business activity, the U.S. and global economies are slowly re-awakening. Countries all over the world are taking phased approaches to re-opening, with constant monitoring of Covid-19 outbreaks to avoid spikes or recurrences. And as I have written previously, my view today is very different than it was in early to mid-April; I think the damage has been far greater, and runs much deeper, than I expected back then. The impact of this multi-month shutdown will take a far longer period of time to recover from, although the construction industry recovery may outpace other sectors of the economy.
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Technology Trends’ Craig Yeack breaks down cement savings and carbon dioxide emissions reduction math in a report on ready mixed production and the CarbonCure Technologies process. Outside of fly ash, admixtures and blended binders, CarbonCure’s dosing and injection technology is among the most widely adopted tools for lowering embodied carbon in finished concrete.
Read MoreSources: GCP Applied Technologies, Cambridge, Mass.; CP staff
A new Texas Department of Transportation Special Provision Specification notes that mixer trucks deploying sensor-enabled slump adjustment equipment like GCP Applied Technologies’ Verifi automated water and chemical admixture dosing system meet ASTM C94, Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete requirements.
Read MoreSources: CR Minerals Co., Fort Worth, Texas; CP staff
The largest processor of raw natural pozzolans for performance mixes and Class F fly ash substitution will invest more than $10 million over a three-year period to increase capacity at a Pueblo, Colo. operation dedicated to concrete and oil & gas grades. CR Minerals aims to more than triple production capabilities of its Tephra NP, OG and (remediated fly ash) RFA pumiceous materials.
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