Washington prestressed plant ranks on Knife River capex commitments

Sources: MDU Resources Group Inc., Bismarck, N.D.; CP staff Under parent MDU Resources’ five-year, $3 billion capital investment plan, Knife River Corp. has budgeted for construction of a Spokane, Wash. prestressed concrete plant and Albany, Ore. employee training center, plus development of the Honey Creek Quarry in Burnet County, Texas.

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FMCSA moves to ease path from CDL Class B to Class A

Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FMCSA indicates in a Federal Register notice its intention to amend entry-level driver training (ELDT) terms from a December 2016 final rule, “Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators,” by adopting a new Class A CDL theory instruction upgrade curriculum. “The agency believes this modest change for Class B CDL holders upgrading to a Class A CDL maintains the same level of safety established by the ELDT final rule,” FMCSA notes, adding that the “regulatory burden reduction will result in annual cost savings of $18 million.” 

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EP Henry’s Hardscaping Show back to pre-recession strengths

Source: EP Henry, Woodbury, N.J.

True to a “Keep Moving Forward” theme, this year’s Mid-Atlantic Hardscaping Trade Show (MAHTS) at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center saw sharply improved metrics against prior year figures: attendance and number of exhibitors up 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively, and many participants noting they are booked well into the season—a first for such an indicator since 2007.

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Technology, training reinforce 2011 Precast Show

Sources: National Precast Concrete Association, Indianapolis; CP staff

After three years of recession, the construction industry enters 2011 marked with signals of stability, followed by recovery and prospective robust conditions toward mid-decade. The industry poised to emerge will be leaner and greener than ever, contends NPCA, sponsor of the 2011 Precast Show, January 25–29 in Charlotte, N.C.

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