Ohio 23, November 9, 2024 by Construction Equipment Guide

Columbus Equipment Company Now Carries Avant Line

Columbus Equipment Company (CEC) announced it is now an authorized dealer of the Avant Techno line of small articulated loaders at its branches in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cadiz, Dayton, Massillon and Piketon, Ohio.

Avant Techno is a proven leader in this equipment category,” said Jeff Badner, general sales manager, CEC. “Columbus Equipment Company is excited to

partner with Avant to provide excellent support to existing owners as well as introduce the products to customers that will benefit from their versatility and productivity.”

Small articulated loaders are an increasingly popular alternative to more traditionally used compact track loaders and skid steers. Avant loaders provide

CEG photo

Columbus Equipment Company showcases its newly added Avant line at the Paul Bunyan Show. (L-R) are Cindy Ellis, Eric Lewis, Cory Van Houten, Todd Hornak and Mike Haney.

Columbus Equipment Company photo CEC compact sales representative Josh Kemmerer demonstrates the Avant 860i with timber grab to a large municipality’s parks and rec division.

Columbus Equipment Company photo

Columbus Equipment Company (CEC) announced it is now

dealer of the Avant Techno line of small articulated loaders at its branches in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cadiz, Dayton, Massillon and Piketon, Ohio.

Officials Break Ground On Global Peak Performance Center

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic and Bedrock Real Estate celebrated the groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center on Oct. 14. This facility spans more than 210,000 sq. ft. and will soon become one of the largest and most advanced training and performance complexes in the world. The Populous-designed complex also is the first vertical development in Bedrock Real Estate’s ambitious $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront master plan.

The groundbreaking event also represented a historic moment for the Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic as the organizations announced a 25-year extension of their long-standing partnership that began in 1993. This will create one of the longest continuous relationships between a professional sports organization and a medical provider.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is one of the first steps in transforming and revitalizing the Cuyahoga riverfront,” said Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers chairman and Bedrock Real

Estate founder and chairman. “Combining our practice facility with the sports medicine experts from the Cleveland Clinic means that not only will our players have access to the best possible care, but so will the residents of Cleveland and the surrounding areas — creating a multiplier effect that will benefit both the city and the Cavaliers.”

Cavaliers players will soon have a facility designed to optimize athletic performance and overall well-being. The center will feature advanced technology and equipment; best-in-class biomechanical testing systems; high-tech training equipment with integrated data analytics; virtual reality and simulation technology for skill development; and wearable sensors for real-time performance monitoring.

“The groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center marks an exciting moment in our collaboration with our partners, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bedrock Real Estate,” said Tom Mihaljevic, CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic. “Together, we are building a facility that will redefine the standards of performance and wellness. This center will serve not only elite athletes but also individuals from all walks of life, reflecting our shared commitment to health, innovation and community development. Our partnership strengthens Cleveland’s position as a leader in both healthcare and sports excellence.”

The center will offer comprehensive care for the public, including athletes of all sports and levels. The care will be personalized to the individual and informed by data inputs from one of the largest sports health data hubs. The interdisciplinary center will provide access to high-tech testing and training equipment and expert professionals from specialties, including sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, exercise physiology, neurology, nutrition, psychology and genetics.

“We have established a championship-level culture in Cleveland, and this is another example of the commitment and overall investment we have made towards the long-term health and well-being of our players and the organization,” said Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations. “We are extremely fortunate to partner with the Cleveland Clinic, which shares our vision of making this facility a global destination and a sustainable hub of resources and innovation. The community engagement and location along the Cuyahoga riverfront downtown takes this project to extraordinary heights, and we couldn’t be more excited about the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

The facility is expected to open in 2027.

For more information and to follow the progress of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, visit nba.com/cavaliers/performancecenter. 

Cleveland Cavaliers photo

The Populous-designed complex is the first vertical development in Bedrock Real Estate’s ambitious $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront master plan.

This facility spans more than 210,000 sq. ft. and will soon become one of the largest and most advanced training and performance complexes in the world.

Cleveland Cavaliers photo

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic and Bedrock Real Estate celebrated the groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center on Oct. 14.

Cleveland Cavaliers photo

Cleveland Clinic rendering

Women & Children’s Hospital Coming to Southeast Ohio

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined healthcare and community leaders from southeast Ohio Oct. 8 for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new women and children’s hospital at Memorial Health System’s Belpre Medical Campus.

The facility will be southeast Ohio’s only women and children’s hospital.

“This is a welcome and needed addition for thousands of women, mothers, babies and children across our Appalachian region,” said DeWine. “Expectant mothers with high-risk pregnancies, babies born prematurely or others in need of specialized healthcare supports will no longer be forced to travel an hour or more to get medical care in an unfamiliar place. This new hospital will bring these lifesaving supports closer to home.”

The state provided $30 million in support of the project through the FY2024-2025 State Operating Budget, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by DeWine last year. The funding was provided to Memorial Health System through the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

“The Ohio Department of Health is pleased to be able to provide this funding,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff.

The 66,000-sq.-ft., $125 million women and children’s hospital will provide residents of southeast Ohio access to a wide range of specialized prenatal services, a NICU and more.

“There is no doubt that this hospital will make a very real difference in the lives of many mothers and their children in this region.”

The 66,000-sq.-ft., $125 million women and children’s hospital will provide residents of southeast Ohio access to a wide range of specialized prenatal services, a NICU and more. Currently, mothers and babies in the

region in need of specialized OBGYN or pediatric services may have to travel as much as 50 to 100 mi. to receive adequate care. As a result, in 2023 alone, more than 200 expectant mothers facing high-risk pregnancies and the vast majority of infants requiring NICU care went outside of the service area to receive services, according to Memorial Health System.

The new facility will support a region where high-risk pregnancies are especially common. In 2022, the infant mortality rate in Ohio’s Appalachian region was more than 30 percent higher than the national rate. Once fully operational, the hospital system hopes to have 1,600 births at the new facility each year, doubling the annual

Gov. DeWine Breaks Ground On New Hospital in Belpre

Ohio Go. Mike DeWine joined healthcare and community leaders from southeast Ohio Oct. 8 for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new women and children’s hospital at Memorial Health System’s Belpre Medical Campus.

HOSPITAL from page 5

number of births done by their obstetrics unit in recent years. The hospital also will offer expanded mental health services to support mothers who experience postpartum depression.

The hospital will be operated by Memorial Health System, with additional support from and in partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital. The facility is currently scheduled to open in fall 2026.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) also helped make this groundbreaking possible. The location for the new hospital has a 65-year industrial history, including aluminum lamination operations and plastics manufacturing. Ohio EPA worked closely with Memorial Health System and Sunday Creek Horizons to confirm that all hazardous materials in the soil had been removed, clearing the property for construction.

“The Ohio EPA appreciates the vision of Memorial Health System in seeing the potential in this previously unusable industrial location,” said Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel. “My teams worked closely with Memorial Health System to oversee removal of 116 tons of soil, paving the way for this

investment in the health of women and children throughout the region.”

Many supporters of the new hospital were on-hand for the groundbreaking ceremony, which included performances by the Belpre High School marching band, the Red Wing Drill Team of Parkersburg High School and the Marietta High School Vocal Point acapella ensemble.

The new hospital is just the latest example of the state’s investment in Appalachia under the leadership of Gov. DeWine.

Earlier this year, Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced the new Appalachian Children's Health Initiative, an investment of more than $64 million to the Appalachian Children Coalition to support the creation or expansion of community- and school-based health clinics, the launch of healthcare-focused workforce development programs and more.

The Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative is part of the larger $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program, which is funding downtown revitalizations, providing new opportunities for public education, offering access to community health services and spurring economic development within Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. 

Office of Gov. DeWine photo

Avant Techno Line Features Small, Articulated Loaders

comparable operating capacities with less operating weight and far less damage to the work surface.

“Avant is the leader in the mini-articulating loader market, offering the most versatile machine with over 220 different attachments,” said Adam Daher, Avant Midwest regional manager. “We are very excited to be partnering with a dealer of CEC’s caliber in Ohio. Together Avant and CEC will offer a premium product along with premium dealer support.”

Avant Techno provided hands-on training to CEC’s sales staff on the equipment and its various attachments. Product support staff also has been trained and will have an in-depth service training scheduled for later this fall.

“Avant is solely focused on building small articulated loaders,” said Badner. “Its dedication, quality and innovation will help us provide solutions for various market segments such as tree care, municipalities, agriculture and property maintenance.”

For more information, visit columbusequipment.com. 

University of Cincinnati Receives $5.1M for Construction Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Oct. 28 that the University of Cincinnati will receive approximately $5.1 million to promote the adoption of digital platforms that speed up and improve the delivery of transit construction projects while reducing costs. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program will test digital systems that manage the entire construction life cycle of transit infrastructure projects, leading to increased efficiency and improved project outcomes.

The infrastructure law, which is the largest investment in public transit in the nation’s history, highlighted the potential of advanced digital construction management systems to improve how transit agencies deliver capital projects by providing a platform that tracks all phases of construction.

“Our goal is to help transit agencies deliver projects on time, on task and on budget,” said Veronica Vanterpool, FTA deputy administrator. “Today's selection will help us do that by improving efficiency and providing tools that

reduce construction delays and costs and enable workers to perform tasks faster, more safely, smarter and more accurately.”

The Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS) Program will allow transit agencies to test digital construction technologies and capabilities in real-world construction project settings, determine their feasibility, understand the impacts and determine the usefulness of the results.

The use of digital systems to manage transportation infrastructure projects supports the Biden-Harris Administration and USDOT efforts to improve infrastructure project delivery nationwide. Having delivered historic levels of federal funding for expanding and modernizing transit systems, the Administration is now focused on accelerating and strengthening the project delivery process.

Many transit agencies have implemented elements of construction management, such as program management systems; online document management systems; and asset

management systems, but few have adopted a solution that integrates all functions and processes for an infrastructure program. These advanced digital construction management systems use technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data integration, modeling and simulation and real-time data processing to streamline and coordinate work processes across an organization throughout the project.

The University of Cincinnati, which was selected through a competitive process, has an extensive background in research; access to university labs; and technical expertise. The team includes faculty who will conduct the study and demonstrations, as well as staff from the Southwest Ohio Regional Transportation Authority, the Butler County Regional Transit Authority and Akron Metro.

The results of the demonstrations will be used to produce a guide for other transit agencies with best practices in planning and deploying advanced digital construction management solutions. 

AVANT from page 1

Columbus Equipment Company photo

Avant’s small articulated loaders are an alternative to a CTL, skid steer or stand on that does similar work.

Columbus Equipment Company photo

Avant Techno product specialist Josh Terrell provided hands-on training to CEC’s sales staff on the equipment and its various attachments.

Gov. DeWine Announces Millions for Local Bridge Improvements

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced Oct. 24 more than $12 million is being invested to aid communities with fixing or replacing aging bridges on local roads.

ODOT’s Municipal Bridge Program, an annual grant for local municipalities to apply for to pay for projects on bridges under their jurisdiction, is awarding $12.4 million to eight projects in seven communities. The projects include full replacements of four bridges and repairs on four others.

“Bridges are a vital part of our transportation infrastructure, but the cost of maintenance and repair is often more than local jurisdictions can afford. This program provides the funding assistance our local communities need to keep their bridges safe and in good condition,” said DeWine.

There are nearly 1,500 eligible bridges in the state of Ohio that are owned by a municipality and meet the federal definition of a bridge.

To be eligible for the program, bridges must:

• Be owned by a city, village, metro park or regional transit authority;

• Be open to vehicular traffic (unless the bridge was closed due to safety concerns within the last five years);

• Be defined as “poor” to qualify for replacement or demolition; and

• Be defined as “fair” to qualify for rehabilitation projects.

Applications for funding were accepted starting July 1 and ending Aug. 15. These funding requests were reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee with a background in funding and program management and bridge analysis. In addition to the written application, each applicant was invited to present their application before the selection committee.

The program may cover up to 95 percent of eligible project costs.

“Bridges owned by local communities make up the majority of the bridges in our state. The people of Ohio do not

care who owns and maintains these bridges, they just want to know that they are safe to cross. This program helps ensure they are,” Boratyn said.

Overall, Ohio has the third largest bridge inventory in the nation, trailing only Texas and Illinois. 

ODOT Beginning to Prepare for Winter

While you may be thinking about pumpkin spice lattes, trick-or-treat or fall festivals, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is preparing for snow and ice.

Across the state, ODOT is conducting safety checks on snowplows and equipment; hiring drivers and mechanics; and topping off salt supplies to ensure it is ready to go when the first hints of winter arrive. The average first day of measurable snow in Ohio ranges from early November in the northern portion of the state to late November for southern Ohio.

“Ohio’s transportation network is critical to keeping our state moving, especially during unpredictable winter storms,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “Safe and passable roads ensure that businesses can continue operating, emergency services can reach those in need, and residents can travel to work and school without disruption.”

The agency utilizes nearly 3,000 drivers who often work 12-hour shifts during snow and ice events. While most are full-time drivers, about 500 drivers are hired seasonally. This team maintains more than 43,000 lane mi. of state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates in Ohio, except the Ohio Turnpike.

In southwest Ohio, mechanics are checking more than 340 vehicles to make sure everything is ready to go as soon as the first snowflake falls. Our 16-county region has approximately 470 drivers who will take part in snow and ice seminars to refresh their winter driving skills and get the latest equipment updates. With roughly 8,800 lane mi. to plow in this area, crews will work around the clock to keep roads safe and passable for Ohio motorists.

In addition to full-time and seasonal drivers, ODOT also uses auxiliary drivers. These auxiliary drivers are full-time ODOT employees who normally do other tasks and only plow snow when needed.

“These safety checks are important to ensure crews are well trained, equipment is road-ready, and deicing materials are stocked,” said Pamela Boratyn, ODOT director. “ODOT plow drivers take great pride and responsibility in keeping roads safe and communities connected during the winter months. Motorists can also help by driving for the conditions and giving crews room to do their job.”

ODOT’s goal is to have primary routes back up to speed within two hours and secondary routes within four hours of the end of a snow event. Last winter, crews hit that goal 98.3 percent of the time.

While the department continues efforts to recruit plow drivers and mechanics, approximately 250 mechanics are busy doing 150-point checks from the plow blade to the salt spinner of each of the nearly 1,700 trucks in the fleet. These checks are done now so that any repairs can be made before the snow starts flying and the trucks hit the road.

In addition to trucks and personnel, ODOT is ready for this winter with more than 800,000 tons of salt on hand.

Last winter, crews drove 4.8 million mi. using nearly 371,785 tons of salt and 10.3 million gal. of liquid deicers.

A total of 22 plow trucks were struck last winter, down from 26 the previous winter. When these crashes occur, it takes important snow-fighting equipment off the road, forcing other plows in the area to extend their routes. It is very important that drivers give crews plenty of room to work. 

INFRA Grant Moves N. Coast Connector Project Steps Closer

On Oct. 16, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the city of Cleveland has been awarded nearly $60 million in Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program funding for the North Coast Connector. This funding will support the transformation of key sections of State Route 2 into a pedestrian-friendly boulevard.

The North Coast Connector project is part of Mayor Justin Bibb’s Shore-to-Core-to-Shore vision to provide safe and equitable connectivity between downtown Cleveland and the waterfront for all users and modes of transportation and enable economic redevelopment and revitalization along the Lakefront.

“We are thrilled to receive this significant investment from the INFRA program for the North Coast Connector project,” said Bibb. “This grant will allow us to reimagine our waterfront access, transform outdated infrastructure and build a safer, more vibrant connection between our residents, the lakefront and the Port of Cleveland. This is a crucial step forward in making Cleveland a more connected and accessible city.”

The funding will support the first phase of the city’s ambitious North Coast Connector project. The project will enhance mobility and improve safety for residents and visitors along Cleveland’s lakefront.

“I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated congressional delegation, particularly U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Shontel Brown, for their unwavering support and advocacy in securing this grant for our city,” said Bibb. “Their commitment to improving our roads, bridges and public facilities is a testament to their leadership.”

The first phase of the project includes demolition of the Main Avenue bridge span between W. 9th Street and Erieside Avenue; the construction of a widened pedestrian and bikefriendly W. 3rd Bridge with a new intersection; and pre-construction and construction of the new Shoreway Boulevard segment from W. 3rd Street to the E. 9th Street ramps. The project is estimated to break ground in 2027.

The grant award is part of a broader strategy to modernize Cleveland’s infrastructure, create pedestrian- and bikefriendly spaces, and improve the city’s connection to its waterfront, supporting long-term goals of enhancing safety, mobility and economic opportunities.

For more information, visit clevelandnorthcoast.com and clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/office-mayor/mayors-initiatives/shore-core-shore. 