March 9
“The
Big Crowds Attend Annual Oregon Logging Conference
The 87th Annual Oregon Logging Conference (OLC), which highlighted the role of the timber industry and its sustainability with the theme “Timber Builds Dreams,” took place from Feb. 20-22, 2025, at the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene, Ore.
Chris Evans, president of Portland-based Timberlab, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the significance of timber in modern construction.
Education remained a focus, with a packed schedule of seminars and workshops. Attendees had the opportunity to earn certifications, including forest practices, fire school certification and a first aid/CPR certification.
The event showcased hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors, featuring the latest in logging, construction and trucking equipment.
Additionally, the Future Forestry Workers Career Day attracted high school students, offering hands-on experiences and insights into forestry careers. Chainsaw carving demonstrations and the “Desserts for Dreams” luncheon fundraiser further enriched the conference experience. The log loading competition remained a crowd favorite.
The OLC continued to serve as a premier platform for forestry industry professionals to network, learn and celebrate advancements in the field.
The 2025 show was the largest and most attended show to date. Outside exhibits were the largest ever as well, while the indoor exhibits remained constant. There were requests to move outdoors, as the older buildings at the fairgrounds can’t accommodate large equipment through the doorways.
According to Rikki Wellman, conference manager, future planned building updates will allow for more indoor exhibits. An overhead view of the
Conference. see LOGGING page 8
87th Oregon Logging
Boise State Begins Construction of New ESI Building
Boise State University and Engineered Structures Inc. (ESI) broke ground on Jan. 24, 2025, on the $4 million ESI Construction Management Building, a new space that will allow Boise State to educate more students to fill critical jobs in Idaho’s thriving construction industry.
“When we talk about construction management, what we’re talking about is building. That’s what Boise State does. It builds stronger, more creative, more resilient and smarter people. It builds a stronger, more resilient and more creative Idaho,” Boise State President Marlene Tromp said. “As we look forward to the future of this great state, we have so much to owe to all of you who have had a hand in taking the character of this program and using it to advance this state, to grow the impact of Boise State University, and to change our future for the better.”
Student enrollment in the construction management program has increased by 80 percent over the past six years. Students serve between two and three internships with local contractors during their time at Boise State, and the program has a 100 percent job placement rate after graduation.
Construction management is the oldest program in the College of Engineering. It was founded in 1978 and had its first graduates in 1980. Since then, it has produced over 1,200 graduates, including, as of December 2024, 100 women graduates.
The building’s 12-person design team consists of all women. It will be the first building on campus to solely use mass timber, an engineered wood product donated by Boise Cascade.
“This is a special culture around construction management that has never lost its vibe. I couldn’t be more proud of my CM degree, the program and its relationship with the uni-
Boise State University photo (L-R) are Former Dean of the College of Engineering JoAnn S. Lighty; Boise State Foundation Interim CEO Argia Beristain; Boise State Foundation Board Chair Jim Martin; Boise State University Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Alicia Estey; Lt. Gov. of Idaho Scott Bedke; Boise State President Marlene Tromp; Idaho State Board of Education President Linda Clark; Boise State Provost John Buckwalter; ESI President Neil Nelson; College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer; and William H. McMurren Department Chair of Construction Management Anthony Perrenoud.
versity,” said Neil Nelson, ESI president, a 1995 construction management grad and a 2016 Boise State University Distinguished Alum.
The facility will provide classrooms, offices, meeting and laboratory space and is being constructed with considerable support from the construction industry. It is made possible through a collaboration with industry partners, Boise State University, and the Boise State University Foundation. The Department of Construction Management has an industry advisory board of more than 40 companies and more than 90 companies actively recruit Boise State construction management graduates.
Grant Gustafson is president of the Construction Management Association stu-
dent club, which has existed for nearly 40 years.
“Through this program, I’ve built some of the best connections that I can build, really. Not just with my peers, but also with my professors. They’ve not only pushed me, but they’ve guided me to become a person that I’m really proud of and set me on a path that I am ready to follow. And I think that’s what makes today’s groundbreaking so significant. This building truly represents the heart of what makes this program so special. It’s a place where students can grow, connect and prepare to make a difference in this industry.”
The building will provide a dedicated home for construction management students, feature the latest in construction technology and will include a large student collaboration area, a 40-seat computer lab, dedicated classrooms, several conference/competition team rooms, a 3,300 sq.-ft. high bay with an overhead crane, and a large outside learning area.
Portland Postpones $2B Water Filtration Plant Construction
The Portland Water Bureau said on Feb. 14, 2025, that it will stop construction on its $2 billion Bull Run water filtration facility because Oregon land use officials agree with project critics, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).
City officials said they aren’t sure when crews will resume working.
In January, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) returned a land use decision to Multnomah County planning official. It ruled that the filtration plant’s potential impact on natural resources east of Gresham wasn’t “sufficiently eval-
uated,” OPB reported.
“While we respect the land use process and will fully comply with the remand, every day of delay drives up construction costs and increases the risk of missing our public health compliance deadline — challenges that directly impact our communities, businesses, and ratepayers,” wrote Priya Dhanapal, deputy city administrator of public works, in a statement.
City officials said that Multnomah County planning officials must define “natural resources,” then prove the project meets LUBA standards, OPB reported.
Construction began last summer after the Portland Water Bureau received approval for a conditional use permit to build both the drinking water filtration facility and a communications tower. Some residents and farmers opposed the decision, saying they were worried about impacts on farmland and wanted a cheaper option.
The water filtration plant permits were later appealed to LUBA by a coalition of agricultural and community groups. They argued that the city’s case for needing to build on land zoned for agricultural use wasn’t clear enough, OPB reported.
Multnomah County now has 120 days to respond, barring a request for an extension.
“There are many unknowns at this time — including the duration of the pause — but we’ll be working with the county and LUBA to better understand the timeline and project impacts in coming days and weeks,” water bureau spokesperson, Felicia Heaton, told OPB in an email.
The ruling puts the city at odds with an order from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The order requires the facility to be operational by Sept. 30, 2027.
Project delays would likely result in added costs, OPB reported. Cost estimates at the time the project was approved in 2017 came in at approximately $500 million. If the 2027 deadline is missed, it would result in federal fines. And even if the work can happen before then, new Trump administration tariffs might increase the costs for building materials like steel, OPB reported. OPB noted that Oregonian/ OregonLive reported that Portland supports a legislative bill allowing the project to sidestep the state’s land-use appeals process.
Lombard-Conrad Architects photo
A rendering of the new ESI building
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Oregon 42 Paving, Safety Improvement Project Begins
The Oregon 42 Lookingglass Creek to Interstate 5 project will repair five bridges in the work zone, including the two bridges seen in this photo that span the South Umpqua River between Green and Winston.
Work began on a two-year project that will pave a 5-mi. section of Oregon 42 through Winston and the Green District, install a traffic signal at Rolling Hills Road, and add several safety features and pedestrian improvements, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The first few months of construction will focus on upgrading sidewalk curb ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Prime contractor Rocky Mountain Construction LLC of Klamath Falls, Ore., will oversee replacing curb ramps at 14 highway intersections. The company plans to begin work at the Cheetah Statue, where Oregon 42 meets Old Highway 99, and work its way east to Grant Smith Road.
Other work planned for this spring and summer includes repairing five bridges, building foundations and installing electrical conduit for the new traffic signal, and constructing right-turn lanes from Oregon 42 onto Landers Avenue and
Rolling Hills Road.
Oregon 42 in Winston was last paved in 2006 and the road surface is cracked and damaged. The Oregon 42 Lookingglass Creek to Interstate 5 project will resurface more than 4 mi. of highway, add traffic safety features and replace sidewalk curb ramps at 14 intersections.
Rocky Mountain Construction is moving forward with an ambitious schedule to pave Oregon 42 through the Green District and turn on the new signal this summer.
The contractor will then install a median barrier and channelizing islands along the center of the highway between Carnes Road and Rolling Hills Road. These safety features will help reduce crashes by limiting left-turn movements and lane departures.
The final segment of paving, which includes Oregon 42 through Winston to Lookingglass Creek, is planned for next year. All work is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30, 2026.
Rocky Mountain Construction was awarded the contract for the Oregon 42 Lookingglass Creek to I-5 project after a successful bid of $11.97 million.
Following an open house in November 2022, ODOT made several design changes to the project based on public com-
ments. The right-turn lanes at Landers and Rolling Hills Road were added to the project. In response to another request, ODOT installed new streetlights at Landers Avenue and Jackie Avenue in October 2023.
The 3-mile area of Oregon 42 between the South Umpqua River and Interstate 5 has seen several serious crashes in recent years, some involving fatalities. Many of these crashes involve turning movements or vehicles departing their lane of travel.
The 4-mile area of Oregon 42 between Lookingglass Creek and Grant Smith Road was last paved nearly 20 years ago. The pavement shows extensive surface wear and cracking, and the travel lanes are rutted in several areas. Most of the bridges along this stretch of highway need maintenance and resurfacing.
(All photos courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation.)
Oregon Contractors File Suit to Block Governor’s Labor Order
A group of construction contractors filed a lawsuit on Feb. 21, 2025, that challenges Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s executive order requiring project labor agreements on most state projects, djcoregon.com reported.
Filed in Marion County Circuit Court, the lawsuit came about after Kotek’s order drew heavy complaints from the state’s construction industry. The contractors contend in the complaint that Kotek “does not have the power” under the state constitution to require project labor agreements on state projects, the website reported.
“We believe that the governor exceeded her executive powers and created an anticompetitive environment, disregarding the advice of one of her own agencies regarding the added cost to Oregon taxpayers,” said Mike Salsgiver, CEO of the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia chapter, in a Feb. 21 news release.
Both organized labor and Kotek’s office contend that PLAs will provide labor peace and certainty for large projects.
Kotek’s order from Dec. 18 order requires that project labor agreements be used for state-funded projects when onsite labor costs amount to 15 percent of project costs. That would comprise most of the state’s large-scale projects. DJCoregon.com noted that Oregon is about to begin several significant infrastructure projects. Those include the Interstate 5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and the Interstate Bridge replacement project.
“The last thing Oregonians can afford right now are the higher costs and cost overruns that come with union-only PLAs,” said Laurie Kendall, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pacific Northwest chapter, according to djcoregon.com.
“The issue is ripe for adjudication because the governor has directed all state agencies to comply with the requirements of her executive order immediately,” the complaint states.
Plaintiffs include: Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia chapter;
Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pacific Northwest chapter; the Utility Contractors Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington; the National Federation of Independent Business; HP Civil Inc.; Hamilton Construction; K&E Excavating Inc.; Interlaken Inc.; Moore Excavation Inc.; Iron Horse; Hatch Western Co. Inc.; HydroTemp Mechanical Inc.; North Santiam Paving Co.; Berrien Concrete; American Concrete Co.; Kerr Contractors Oregon; and Emery & Sons Construction Group, according to the website.
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt P.C. of Portland represents the contractors. Kotek is listed as the defendant.
Industry Equipment On Display Highlights 2025 OLC
The SENNEBOGEN team connected with loggers and showed the advantages of its cutting-edge equipment in the logging industry. (L-R) are Stephen Davidson, Kyle Barton, Kylee Callaham and Hailey Jordan.
Wilson Equipment showcased the DEVELON DA30 articulated dump truck, perfect for transporting heavy logs and forestry materials. (L-R) are Larry McMurren, Mike Varnell and Brandon Weaver.
Powerscreen of Washington and the Yates Roadbuilding team displayed the 1300 MAXTRAK cone crusher that was bought at the Oregon Logging Conference in 2024. (L-R) are Chris Renard of Yates Roadbuilders; Dan Bianchin of Powerscreen of Washington; and Wyatt Yates and Ryan Ferren, both of Yates Roadbuilders.
LOGGING from page 1
This year’s event marked Wellman’s 53rd conference and her 52nd year with OLC.
Although the forestry industry hasn’t changed all that much in her time with OLC, she said the biggest changes she has seen are about “consolidation, seen mainly with landowners being bought by large companies, the closing of mills, as well as equipment manufacturer and dealer consolidations.”
Planning has begun for the 88th OLC, which is slated for Feb. 19-22, 2026.
For details, visit oregonlogging-conference.com. CEG
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2025 Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.)
Columbia Western, a dealer of KATO, discussed the precision and maneuverability that KATO can provide to loggers. Pictured are Scott Cunningham (L), operations manager of Columbia Western, and Charles Baldwin, national sales representative of KATO.
Heavy hauling experts Peters & Keatts Equipment Inc. displayed a variety of trailers to
Triad Machinery, a dealer of Link-Belt and TigerCat, had a busy and exciting three days connecting with customers about the latest equipment solutions for the logging industry.
Sonsray Machinery displayed a lineup of powerful equipment from Case, a Fyrebx attachment designed for skid steers and the newest addition to its lineup –Hitachi excavators. Shown here are Kyle Caldwell (L) and Jeremy Benz of Sonsray Machinery.
a dealer of Volvo and Ponsse, PacWest Machinery brought its expertise in
and dis-
the latest innovations and solutions for the
and
As
logging equipment
cussed
industry. (L-R) are Steve Baker, Josh Van Gelder, Scott Kellogg, Jan Kauhanen, Samuel Vidgren, Jouni Viitkka, Tim Gafner, Cameron Preston, Garrin Raleigh, Charlie Walsh, Jolene Logue
Austin Gatchet.
Modern Machinery’s team was on hand to discuss the Komatsu D71EX dozer. (L-R) are Breaymen Oster, Anthony Wusstig, Andy Menne and Quinten Daily.
handle equipment needs. (L-R) are Austin Medlock, Mike Peterson, Dan Damon and Larry Keatts.
Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment Acquires Transport Equipment
Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment announced its expansion into Idaho and Montana, as well as deeper into Washington state, through the acquisition of Transport Equipment Inc. (TEI).
For more than 40 years, TEI has been a trusted name in the trucking industry, operating from three locations in Lewiston, Idaho; Missoula, Mont.; and Spokane, Wash.
“We are pleased to expand our presence in the Pacific Northwest and continue the legacy built by the Bidlake family,” said Brian Bruckner, Bruckner’s president. “As a second-generation dealership, they have established a reputation for exceptional customer service and a ‘do what it takes’ attitude. We are committed to upholding that standard with the existing team.”
Steve and Betty Bidlake founded Transport Equipment in 1983 after selling their trucking company, which grew from a single logging truck to nearly 100 units hauling a variety of goods. Starting as a Timpte Trailer dealership, TEI expanded to selling new trucks by 1985. Over the years, the family has remained at the heart of the success, with multiple generations contributing to the company’s growth.
“Watching Bruckner’s growth and success has been inspiring,” said Brian Bidlake, Transport Equipment operations manager.
“Their commitment to family values and customer service mirrors our own. We are confident that Bruckner’s will serve our employees, customers and communities well, and we feel good about passing the business on to them.”
As part of Bruckner’s dealership network, TEI customers will benefit from expanded access to Mack and Volvo trucks, trailers, a larger parts inventory and enhanced service.
“Since 1932, Bruckner’s has prioritized investing in people to deliver top-tier service.,” said Chris Bruckner, vice president.
“TEI has built a strong foundation by equipping their team and facilities with the best tools and training. We are excited to build upon their success and continue delivering best-in-class trucks, trailers, parts and service to our new customers in Idaho, Montana and Washington.”
Bruckner’s operates 41 locations across 10 states, serving customers throughout the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. For a list of locations, visit www.brucknertruck.com.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced in January a $79.7 million construction grant award to King County Metro to support a bus rapid transit line that will provide fast, frequent and reliable service between the cities of Renton, Auburn, and Kent, located south of Seattle.
The grant for the new RapidRide I Line, which will feature rebranded “green” hybrid electric buses, was funded by then-President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Americans depend on fast, affordable and safe transportation options to get to work, pursue their education and access groceries and medical services, and so much more,”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at the time. “Bus rapid transit is the fastest-growing transit mode for a good reason, and the … $79.7 million investment will build out King County’s RapidRide I Line to provide faster, more efficient service that benefits the entire region.”
King County’s RapidRide I Line will improve travel times and the rider experience over a heavily traveled King County Metro bus line by providing nearly two miles of
FTA Announces $79.7M Grant for New Washington Bus Line
exclusive bus-only lanes and transit signal priority to speed riders on their way. The BRT also will include off-board fare payment, all-door boarding, and weekday service every 10 to 15 minutes during the day.
The 17-mi. route will have 41 new stations with shelters, lighting and real-time arrival information. The RapidRide I Line also will improve rider connections in the regional system, including the RapidRide F Line, Sound Transit buses, and Sounder commuter rail. The I Line will be the tenth to open as part of the RapidRide network, adding to a robust regional BRT system with daily ridership of approximately 63,000 trips.
“King County has grown by nearly 20 percent since 2010, increasing the need for high-capacity transit. The RapidRide I Line will provide a cleaner, faster ride for thousands of riders in Southern King County, including in areas of the county with some of the highest proportions of low-income and minority residents,” FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said at the time. ”
The project would serve an estimated 50,000 jobs.
