Published Nationally ®
Southeast Edition
September 8 2010
$3.00
Vol. XXIII • No.18
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Gilchrist Erects Spans Amid Marshy Terrain By Brenda Ruggiero CEG CORRESPONDENT
Linder Introduces New Management Team…8
Lane Eyes Checkered Flag at Daytona …28
Alex Lyon Holds Sale in Kissimmee…68
Table of Contents ........4 Paving Section ......33-45 Off-Road Trucks Section ..............................49-59 Parts Section ........60-61 Auction Section ....77-89 Business Calendar......87 Advertisers Index ......90
A crane uses a floating mat road for pile driving. Creating access for cranes and materials in a tidal marsh environment was among the project’s challenges.
Crews are working in Iberia Parish, La., to replace two bridges at Weeks Island. The first, Stumpy Bayou Bridge, is a fixed span, while Bayou Patout Bridge is moveable. The contract of $16.1 million was awarded to Gilchrist Construction Company by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). Work began on June 21, 2010, and completion is expected approximately in March 2012. The contract calls for replacement of the two bridges along La. Highway 83 in southeast Iberia Parish between Lydia and Weeks Island. According to Bill Fontenot, DOTD district engineer administrator, work was 10 percent complete as of Aug. 19. A total of 7 percent of the time had elapsed for the project. One of the challenges with the project involved its location. see WEEKS page 26
DeWitt Clinton Thompson Construction Job III Passes Away at Age 92 Gains Widespread; DeWitt Clinton Thompson died the morning of Aug. 23, 2010, in his sleep at his home. Born Sept. 18, 1917, to Mary Gibson Thompson and DeWitt C. Thompson Jr., he also was preceded by his sister, Sue Thompson Fort. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife of 68 years, Diana Roberts Thompson; his brother, Hall W. Thompson (Lucille) and his sister, Betty Thompson Hobbs. He also is survived by his DeWitt Clinton Thompson III (C) celebrated daughter, Mary Becca Cherry Thompson Tractor Company’s 60th anniversary and her children, Diana in 2004 with his son DeWitt Clinton Thompson IV Finlayson (Reid), Bill Cherry (R) and grandson DeWitt Clinton Thompson V. (Kelli), and Elizabeth Barrett (Charles); his son, DeWitt Thompson IV Wilker (Marvin) and her children, Scott (Jackie) and his children, DeWitt Thompson Alden, Katharine Mosher (Bryan), Niel V (Jamee), Mary Britton Cummings (Jody), Alden and Laura Rebecca Alden; and his John Thompson (Margaret) and Jacqueline daughter, Carolyn Beckner (Jim) and her Towery (McClain); his daughter, Diana see THOMPSON page 27
Losses Less Severe
Construction job gains were more widespread across the country and job losses were generally less severe in July than in June, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released by the Labor Department. Twenty-six states added construction jobs in July, compared to 19 in June, while six states added construction jobs over the past year and most others are losing far fewer jobs than previously, association officials noted. “Encouraging as it is to see some modest signs of progress, it is increasingly unlikely we’ll keep seeing these kinds of gains over the next few months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “There is little to indicate that construction will be adding workers to a significant extent any time soon.” Simonson noted that the largest year-over-year see JOBS page 20