TEXAS STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
February 7 2015 Vol. I • No. 3
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Texas Connection • Dale Agnew, Carrollton, TX • 1-877-877-4997
Austin’s SH 71 Road Project Should Reduce Traffic Jams McCarthy Building Companies photo
The new bridges being built are concrete girder bridges, with the main structure being 3,000 ft. (914.4 m) long and the second longest 450 ft. (137.7 m), while a number of existing 200 ft. (61 m) long bridges are being widened.
McCarthy Building Companies photo
Crews from McCarthy Building Companies Inc. began work on a $149 million Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) SH 71 Express project in January 2015.
By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
Crews from McCarthy Building Companies Inc. began work on a $149 million Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) SH 71 Express project in January 2015. The toll lanes are scheduled to open to travelers in the Austin area in October 2016. This is a key road for area traffic and in addition to day shifts, work is being done at night and weekends to minimize the impact on traffic. “The project is dedicated to improving long-term mobility in Austin,” said Emily Riggs, public information coordinator for the SH 71 Express project. “State Highway
71 is one of Austin’s most important roadways connecting drivers to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), the city of Bastrop, and other central Texas communities. The purpose of the project is to enhance safety and reduce congestion and travel time along this corridor. “Mobility improvements to SH 71 have been studied by TxDOT, in cooperation with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority,” she added. “In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, TxDOT conducted an environmental study for the project. The final environmental assessment was completed in May 2014 and the project received a finding of no significant impact.” The bulk of the work is a 3.9-mi. (6.28 km) limitedaccess toll road — one lane in each direction — beginning
at Presidential Boulevard, near the airport and extending east, ending at SH 130 near Onion Creek. The project will include two new toll lanes, new bridges over FM 973 and SH 130, and ramps between toll lanes and the main lanes of SH 71 and SH 130. In addition, Presidential Boulevard and FM 973 will be widened. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, an independent government agency created in 2002 to improve the transportation system in Williamson and Travis counties, is responsible for the toll road. The expanded highway, a project funded by the federal and state government, is needed as traffic in the project area has increased by 158 percent since 1990. The project see AUSTIN page 14
TXDOT Unveils Initial $1.3 Billion to Address Congestion On average, Texas drivers in five of the state’s largest metropolitan areas each are losing about 52 hours and $1,200 annually due to traffic congestion, according to the Texas Transportation Institute 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard. Upon approval by the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas
Department of Transportation plans to improve drive times and reduce costs to Texas drivers through a $1.3 billion effort focused on delivering projects at an accelerated pace that addresses gridlock in some of the state’s most congested areas. “The major metro areas of Texas — Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San
Antonio — represent more than two-thirds of the state’s population and 97 percent of the state’s most congested roads,” said J. Bruce Bugg Jr., Texas transportation commissioner who was appointed by the commission to lead this statewide effort. “These areas see some of the worst congestion in the nation. We’ve just completed a
listening tour in these major areas and have gathered valuable local input from transportation leaders regarding their priorities and where we can quickly address some needs. This is the initial phase of a new statewide plan to address congestion.” If adopted by the commission, these see TXDOT page 20
Page 2 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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Page 4 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Good Samaritans Come to Aid of Swindled WWII Vet
Carol Broussard with the Chance crew.
By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT
Carol Broussard had watched the re-topping of local asphalt roads in around his house for days. So when a truck pulled up in the driveway and the driver asked Broussard if he’d like an asphalt drive, the 91-year-old WWII veteran said, “Sure.” That was the first mistake. There would be several more. But as it turns out, the story that began with a con and the loss of man’s savings did not end nearly so badly as it might have. Rather, it became the real life story of the kindness of strangers.
The story unfolded in early October. After Carol agreed to the work, the man returned moments later with a large truck and dumped the asphalt, packed it down and oiled it. But Carol had already made a second mistake. “He didn’t ask the price,” said son George Broussard. “When the work was finished, my dad let the guy come in the house, and that’s another no no. They sat down at the kitchen table and my dad asked how much he owed him and the guy said $25,000. My dad was incredulous. ‘I don’t have that kind of money,’ he told him. The guy said, ‘What do you have?’
“My dad told him he could write a check to him for $11,000. The guy said, ‘That’s all you have? You don’t have any cash.’ So my dad said, ‘Let me check.’” Carol went back to the room where he keeps a stash of cash and came back to the kitchen with a stack of bills and put it on the kitchen table. Then he told the man he had to use the restroom and would be right back. “He left the guy sitting in the kitchen with his check and his money and when he came back out they were gone,” George said. And Carol was left with scrap asphalt that wouldn’t hold up two weeks. George called the police, filed a report and hoped for the best. And that’s when things
The folks at Chance Contracting, founded by Isaac Chance and now owned by his sons Brett and Shaun Chance, just wanted to help.
took a turn. A reporter with KPRC 2 in Houston saw the police report and asked the father and son pair if they would do an interview on TV. They agreed. When it aired that night, Glenn Harris, owner of Harris Construction in Houston was watching. “When I saw the 91-year-old vet and the look on his face…” Harris said. “This was something I thought I could take his problem away. We’re down here in the South and we’re pretty friendly. We don’t mind helping anyone who is in trouble.” But Harris works in concrete, and when he got to the Broussards’, he saw it definitely called for an asphalt contractor. So he see VET page 8
The finished driveway, thanks to Chance Contracting.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 5
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Chance Contracting Makes Bad Situation Right for Vet VET from page 4
turned to Chance Contracting, a family-owned paving company he often does business with. “When I called Chance, and told them what had happened, I said, ‘I am not calling you to do anything,” Harris said. “I told them, you send me a bill when you do the work, I just want to help this guy.” But the folks at Chance Contracting, founded by Isaac Chance and now owned by his sons Brett and Shaun Chance, just wanted to help as well. “That’s the kind of people they are,” Harris said. Two weeks had passed since the con artist struck. “It looked terrible,” said Brett Chance. “It was bad. They had taken the road millings and told them it was new asphalt. They had taken that and spread it really thin over a lot of grass. By the time we got to it two weeks later, a ton of vegetation had grown up through it.” And for that Carol had handed over $14,000, more than double what an honest job would have cost him. “The amount they put down cost them $700,” Chance said. “We felt absolutely terrible. The man is a good guy. He fought for our country. It just makes you mad. We did what we could. We helped him out. We’re fortunate we have a lot of customers like Glenn. We can help people like him. If we can give back while we’re here, it makes me sleep better at night. God will show us blessings later in life.” The good deeds have not gone unnoticed. “When I first saw the video news clip on what Chance Contracting did for this veteran … I said this is the type of story that should go nationally,” said Bryce Davis, general sales manager of LeeBoy. “We at LeeBoy are very proud to be associated with contractors like Chance … for giving back to their local communities and charities. I recently had the opportunity to meet both Shaun and Brett Chance and thank them for what they did. After meeting them, you can tell instantly why they did this, both are very impressive individuals who seem to let their actions speak for them.” George is grateful for the generosity shown his dad, but still hopeful the police will find the men who essentially robbed him. “The name on the check that my daddy wrote was Willie Ruth,” George said. “This is the name that the man sitting at my dad’s kitchen table told my dad to make the check out to after making a phone call and asking who the check should be made out to. So I really don’t know how many people were involved. Possibly only two, or more likely four or five. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG
Brett (L) and Shaun Chance, owners of Chance Contracting.
(L-R) are Brian Hall, territory manager of LeeBoy and Shaun Chance, Chance Contracting.
George Broussard is grateful for the generosity shown his dad, but still hopeful the police will find the men who essentially robbed him.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 9
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Page 10 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Feds OK Corpus Christi Bridge Plan
Construction charity organization AGC Charities Inc. is partnering with local construction firms to help build “Morgan’s Inspiration Island,” a new handicap-accessible water park.
World’s First Ever Handicap-Accessible Water Park Being Built in San Antonio Construction charity organization AGC Charities Inc. is partnering with local construction firms to help build “Morgan’s Inspiration Island,” a new handicap-accessible water park addition to non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland. As part of the charitable organization’s annual Operation Opening Doors effort, many construction firms will be donating time, expertise and money to build a firstever handicap accessible water park in San Antonio, Texas. “We want to help build a special place where every child is free to splash around and have fun,” said Scott Williams, president of Springfield, Ore.-based Hamilton Construction Company and the chairman of AGC Charities. “It isn’t every day we get to use our skills to build a world of limitless fun for all children, which is what makes this project so important.” Morgan’s Wonderland is the world’s first theme park designed with specialneeds individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment. The new expansion to Morgan’s Wonderland — Morgan’s Inspiration Island — will serve as the world’s first ever fullyaccessible water park when it opens in spring 2017. The park addition will include five new water play areas and a riverboat ride. “We are deeply grateful for AGC Charities’ enthusiastic commitment to
help build another world-class place of inclusion,” said philanthropist Gordon Hartman, who spearheaded creation of unique and colorful Morgan’s Wonderland in 2010. “Just like Morgan’s Wonderland, Morgan’s Inspiration Island guests with and without special needs will be able to come together for fun and a better understanding of each other.” AGC Charities and the local contractors, who are calling themselves, Inspiration Island Working Group, will help build five new pump houses, a new main building and the signature light house feature for Morgan’s Inspiration Island, Williams noted. The volunteer contractors, who are being organized by Linbeck Group and the AGC of San Antonio, plan to conduct most of the construction work during a two-day blitz on March 9 and 10 right before the start of the Associated General Contractors of America’s national convention, which is taking place in San Antonio. “This is a great opportunity for our industry to help a local group that supports children from across the world,” said Patrick Byrnes, a senior cost analyst with Linbeck who is serving as the project manager of the operation. “We are treating this project like an extreme makeover where we will bring a lot of workers in to make a big difference in just a few days.”
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) Federal officials have given their final approval to plans to replace Corpus Christi’s Harbor Bridge. Corpus Christi port officials announced Jan. 8 that the Federal Highway Administration has issued a record of decision for the $1.15 billion project, the final step in the environmental impact statement process. The present steel arch span opened in 1959, replacing a drawbridge that had previously carried U.S. 181 over the harbor. However, Corpus Christi port officials wanted a bridge with more clearance for larger ships than the present 138 ft. (42 m). Plans now call for construction of a higher cable-stayed suspension bridge with a vertical clearance of more than 200 ft. (61 m) to be completed by 2020 about 1,000 ft. (305 m) west of the present bridge. The new span would be funded by the port of Corpus Christi, the city of Corpus Christi and Nueces and San Patricio counties. Transportation officials have identified the preferred path for the southern approach as cutting through Hillcrest, a predominantly black neighborhood. A voluntary relocation and buyout agreement has been brokered with attorneys for affected residents and $20 million has been allocated for voluntary buyouts for residents in the path. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment
A number of San Antonio-based Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) firms participate in the Morgan’s Inspiration Island Working Group to help with the project, Byrnes noted. In addition to Linbeck Group, other firms involved include: Joeris General Contractors; Guido Construction; F.A. Nunnelly Company; Cude Engineers; 8A Electric Inc.; and D Ash Construction Management. Williams said the AGC Charities group is currently fundraising to support costs associated with constructing the water park addition. He noted that the charitable group was established eight years ago to channel and support the charitable efforts of the construction community. He added that the group held previous national Operation Opening Doors projects in Washington, D.C., Honolulu, Orlando, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and San Juan. Encompassing 25 acres in an abandoned quarry in Northeast San Antonio, Morgan’s Wonderland features more than 25 elements including wheelchair-accessible rides, playscapes, gardens and other family attractions. For more information, visit agccharities.org and www.MorgansWonderland.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 11
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Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 13
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Page 14 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Austin’s Express Project One of Several Planned Upgrades
McCarthy Building Companies photo
McCarthy Building Companies photo
When completed McCarthy will have brought in approximately 40,000 cu. yds. (30,582 cu m) of concrete (cast-in-place) and approximately 95,000 tons (86,183 t) of permanent asphalt.
The bulk of the work is a 3.9-mi. (6.28 km) limited-access toll road — one lane in each direction — beginning at Presidential Boulevard, near the airport and extending east, ending at SH 130 near Onion Creek.
AUSTIN from page 1
is expected to reduce travel time by 16 percent in 2016 and 54 percent by 2026. When completed, the road will be able to accommodate 105,000 vehicles per-day (west of FM 973). The express project is one of several improvements intended to complete a highway upgrade to SH 71. A workable traffic plan was needed to minimize the impact on traffic and to protect the construction crews. To this end, TxDOT’s Public Information Team keeps the public informed via a Web site, a hotline, various announcements, E-Newsletters and press releases. “It is our project team’s goal to keep to public up to date with all construction activities,” said Riggs. “In an effort to minimize traffic impacts we get lane closure notifications and upcoming construction activities out to the public prior to any work being done.” The team developed an extensive traffic control plan to minimize impacts to motorists and pedestrians. This includes working night shifts to set traffic controls and barriers for the following work day and to drill the deep foundations for the bridges, and employing smaller pieces of equipment, such as low overhead clearance soil nail drilling equipment, to work in tight spaces and minimize the need for lane closures. McCarthy has been working closely with its design partner Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam
Inc. (LAN) to develop the most cost-effective design solution for the project and has completed numerous similar reconstruction projects under heavy traffic conditions in Texas. There were two major design challenges that had to be overcome according to LAN. Building the toll lanes in a busy corridor required navigating several issues and foremost among them was minimizing utility relocations and service interruptions. To discover potential conflicts, the project team generated a 3-D geometric model, developed by DTM-Solutions using Microstation software, and visualized the design. Native soil condition was another. Expansive clay soils, prevalent in the east Austin area also created challenges. The soils in the project zone have plasticity indices (PI) ranging from 29 to more than 50, well above the design team’s target for the subsurface conditions under the toll lanes. High plasticity soils have substantial shrink-swell potential with changes in moisture content and samples were taken 8 ft. (2.44 m) below the travel lane and required a PI of a weighted average of 25 or lower. When PI was too high, McCarthy overexcavated and replaced with a select fill of low PI materials. By the end of 2015, McCarthy completed the SH 130 overpass structure, eastbound Onion Creek Bridge widening, FM 973 realignment and intermediate switches, segments of shared use path, and
temporary shoring walls at Presidential and Spirit of Texas. In 2016, the primary focus will be on the following: new SH 71 EB Frontage Road opening, new FM 973 overpass and new managed toll lanes, Presidential widening, Presidential intersection site work and hardscape, westbound Onion Creek reconstruction, completion of shared use path and sidewalk, completion of Spirit of Texas retaining walls, completion of FM 973 realignment, and startup of tolling/ITS systems. “Every day there is some kind of challenge,” said Jeff Billow, McCarthy’s project director. “The first year has been about relocating utilities. There are 13 different franchised utilities that had existing infrastructure, and part of our design is accommodating them. The last of utilities is out of the way and that is pretty significant milestone for us because on a lot of these jobs, utility delays are a cause of time extensions.” McCarthy crews relocated many of the utilities, with their cooperation and approval, with Texas Gas being the exception, which hired its own preferred contractor. Billows, via solid pre-planning and planning, had been able to anticipate nearly all of the challenges and develop solutions for them. “We’ve been reasonably successful in managing the big risk items and we haven’t had too much come up that we haven’t had
to maneuver around,” he said. “Our coordination up-front is paying dividends. We meet with our counterparts at TxDOT daily. It’s essential to have good lines of communications at all levels on a project like this and the same applies to all of the stakeholders and utilities.” The year-round work has an average of 150 workers on site daily. Weekly meetings are held with the subcontractors to coordinate work, which is bolstered by daily interaction. Working at night is not easy, but Billows is doing his best to minimize the impact on the crews. “Working at night is certainly riskier and less productive,” he said. “Lighting is an issue on a heavily traveled corridor like this. With good traffic control and trailer-mounted light plants on 15 to 20 foot tall masts, the conditions are good. We also use crash attenuators and barricades. Sometimes we have road closures to bring in concrete and police officers help us to initiate the closures. Placing beacons on our trucks helps to increase the awareness of the operation to the public.” Safety, be it at night or day, is a priority and individual crews have daily safety briefings prior to the start of the shift. A monthly jobwide safety meeting is held and occasional weekly meetings are scheduled depending upon the work. The new bridges being built are concrete girder bridges, with the
main structure being 3,000 ft. (914.4 m) long and the second longest 450 ft. (137.7 m), while a number of existing 200 ft. (61 m) long bridges are being widened. “Our design is a standard TxDOT design — basically columns of three or four feet in diameter and three to four wide and standard girders and decking,” said Billows. “It’s replicable and pretty easy to produce. All the girder manufacturers are using TxDOT standards, and the speed and efficiency of the design are the reasons that led this to be the design of choice.” In addition to netting to prevent debris from falling onto the highway, much of the bridgework is done at night, which allows for road closures beneath areas where the work is ongoing. This makes the cutting of deck panels and placement of overhangs much easier. Billows and his crews take nothing for granted when building bridges and are employing practices learned on previous bridge projects. It is the same for roadwork, which has some of the toll lanes and general purpose lanes based on standard asphalt pavement designs and concrete paving for the roads between the bridges and elevated structures. “The roadwork is a pretty involved process,” said Billows. “The paving goes fast, but for the work on the base, we do it right as quickly as we can and efficiently.” see AUSTIN page 16
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 15
Page 16 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Toll Lanes, Bridges Part of Austin’s SH 71 Upgrade Plan
McCarthy Building Companies photo
McCarthy Building Companies photo
The project will include two new toll lanes, new bridges over FM 973 and SH 130, and ramps between toll lanes and the main lanes of SH 71 and SH 130. In addition, Presidential Boulevard and FM 973 will be widened.
The express project is one of several improvements intended to complete a highway upgrade to SH 71.
AUSTIN from page 14
Because space is tight, materials are delivered on a just-in-time basis. “With girders,” said Billows, “we typically take them right off the truck and put them in place. It’s the same with the deck panels. For the less sizable materials like concrete sewer and drainage pipes, fittings and joints, we have a little yard where we stockpile them. As far as embankment material, we have a few sources within a fivemile radius of the project and they deliver as we need it. There is a good community of suppliers in the Austin area.” When completed, McCarthy will have removed 6,000 cu. yds. (4,587 cu m) of concrete and 1,000 cu. yds. (764.5 cu m) of asphalt.
“We recycle whatever we can,” said Billows. “Meeting the specifications of TxDOT is a challenge as it has rigorous controls on the materials and sometimes recycled materials don’t meet them. We’re planning to use recycled concrete roadway base. Brick, blocks and concrete are sent to various places to be crushed. Suppliers in the area process and stockpile it and test it, and then we use on the job as roadway fill.” When completed McCarthy will have brought in approximately 40,000 cu. yds. (30,582 cu m) of concrete (cast-in-place) and approximately 95,000 tons (86,183 t) of permanent asphalt. In terms of equipment on site, McCarthy has a backhoe; an excavator and mini-excavator; a blade
motorgrader; a cement stabilization mixer; compactors (padfoot, smooth drum, and pneumatic); cranes (mobile rubber tire and mobile crawler); dozers (D3 and D6); a loader; a forklift; a street sweeper; trucks (water, fuel and crash attenuator); and a welding machine. Billows noted that the equipment is a mixture of previously owned equipment, newly purchased equipment, and rented equipment. The firm’s closest shop is in Houston, a fair distance from the project. “We have an onsite mechanic with a truck that serves as a roving shop and he can do minor repairs,” said Billows. “We work with Niece Equipment LP for some of the
equipment. Down time is a big deal for us, so we take a proactive approach and do a lot of preventative maintenance — oil and filter changes. We try to minimize the effect of repairs on our progress.” A machine or vehicle after 500 hours of use undergoes more serious preventative maintenance. Equipment dealerships also are part of the maintenance plan, especially for equipment that is under warranty. A lot of McCarthy’s newer equipment, especially the Cat pieces, have the electronic monitoring systems and they also are equipped with GPS systems. “Machine control helps us do the work right and efficiently” said Billows, “and that reduces the number of hours that the equip-
ment is used and thus keeps your equipment costs down.” Billows, with 15 years of construction industry experience, appreciates the evolution of equipment and on this job, has benefitted from the sharing of crews and equipment from other McCarthy projects in Houston and Dallas. “It’s critical. People as much as equipment, probably more so,” he said. “We want to keep our people busy so that they can stay with us. We spend a fair amount of time every week talking about transfers of people and equipment between the projects.” (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 17
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Completing U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Would Be Daunting By Seth Robbins ASSOCIATED PRESS
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) Close to the southern tip of Texas a border wall suddenly ends. Its final post sits in a dry cornfield half a mile from the nearest bend in the Rio Grande river, the actual border with Mexico. It would be easy to walk around it. Tires left by the border patrol rest nearby. Agents drag them behind trucks to smooth the cracked earth and check for footprints. Unlike other famous barriers in history such as the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China, the U.S. version is not much of a wall. What stands in Texas is a fragmented series of fencing, composed of enormous steel bars embedded in concrete close together. The rust-colored thick bars that must reach a height of 18 ft. loom over the landscape, forming teeth-like slats that split farmland, slice through backyards, and sever parks and nature preserves. There are miles of gaps between segments and openings in the fence itself. As a result of the Secure Fence Act passed in 2006, the government built some 650 mi. of wall along the 1,954-mi. U.S.-Mexico boundary. While 1,254 mi. of that border is in Texas, the state has only some 100 mi. of wall. Republican presidential candidates insist they’ll finish it. But completing the Texas part of the wall would be a daunting task due to the border’s sheer length, the fact that it
sits in the center of the snaking Rio Grande, and because treaties with Mexico prevent either country from constructing within the river’s flood plains. And unlike in other southwestern states, most border land in Texas is privately owned. Finishing the some 1,300 mi. of border fencing also would be costly. According to a 2009 Government accountability report, pedestrian fencing, meant to keep out smugglers and migrants crossing on foot, has run anywhere from $400,000 to $15.1 million per mile, averaging $3.9 million. More recent construction has been even more expensive, with segments constructed in 2008 costing $6.5 million per mile. If kept at this rate, the wall would cost nearly $10 billion to complete just for materials, and challenging geography could bring it much higher. “With every twist and turn of the Rio Grande and every steep terrain in Arizona, it would cost easily that much,’’ said Adam Isacson, a border expert of the Washington Office on Latin America. Officials overseeing the wall’s construction faced a legal and logistical nightmare from the start, according to emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and litigation by Denise Gilman, a law professor at the University of Texas. The hundreds of emails, which Gilman shared with The Associated Press, show that from the planning phase some 65 mi. of the proposed route sat a half mile to a mile from the bor-
der, making it not a true border wall. Officials struggled to find places where construction could start fast to meet Congress’ deadline of building 255 mi. by December 2008. They sought contingency fencing that did not require “significant real estate acquisitions’’ or cut through sensitive wilderness, the emails show. Wealthy landowners demanded more compensation or refused to allow construction. Hundreds of property owners were sued just to build the existing chunks of wall. Some 400 relinquished properties ranging in size from a driveway to commercial lots and farms, costing the government at least $15 million, according to an AP review of land cases in 2012. Among them was Eloisa Tamez, who refused to cede her three acres in San Benito, land that had been in her family for generations. A federal judge ruled in the government’s favor, and Tamez was compensated $56,000, with which she funded a scholarship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where she works as a professor. “It might be just a little piece of land,’’ she said. “But to me it meant my life.’’ The Rio Grande Valley is home to 54 mi. of wall, and the official name of the border barrier there is Pedestrian Fence 255. The area is the major crossing point for tens of thousands of families and unaccompanied children, many fleeing gang violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The surge that began last year resumed in recent
months, and Gov. Greg Abbott extended the Texas National Guard border patrol deployment in response to more than 10,000 unaccompanied children crossing into the United States in October and November. Some residents have found themselves cut off by the wall. Pamela Taylor, who lives near Brownsville, originally fought the wall’s construction. Now her Texas home sits behind the wall on the side facing Mexico. She still leaves coolers of water for thirsty migrants, though she wishes more of them would come to the United States legally, the way she emigrated from England. The wall “doesn’t do any good. It’s a waste of money,’’ she said. But she’s gotten used to it. Some locals say it’s better than nothing. Othal E. Brand Jr., the president of the Hidalgo County Water District 3, which supplies water to the McAllen area, pointed out where the fence separated a 20-acre reservoir from two pumping stations, which sit behind it along a bend in the Rio Grande. Brand said this land, adjacent to a wilderness reserve, was for years overrun by nighttime crossers and that smugglers threatened and even shot at his employees. “The wall is only part of the solution,’’ he said, “but it’s an important part.’’ (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Curry Supply Expands With New Facility in Houston, Texas Curry Supply Company, a leading manufacturer and dealer of commercial service vehicles, has announced the opening of a new facility in Houston, Texas to better serve customers in the southwestern United States. The 32,000 sq. ft. (2,972 sq m) facility has sales representatives available to provide quotes, technical support and financing. An extensive parts inventory of the most commonly requested parts and components will be housed there for immediate shipping. Heavy duty overhead cranes are installed throughout the facility to easily move product during the manufacturing and assembly process. In addition, a state-of-the-art paint and curing booth allows for onsite painting to ensure that quality is maintained to Curry Supply standards. A full inventory of products will
The 32,000 sq. ft. (2,972 sq m) facility has sales representatives available to provide quotes, technical support and financing.
be prepped and ready to ship from the new Houston facility, including On- and Off-Road Water Trucks, Mechanics Trucks, Service Trucks, On- and Off-Road Fuel/Lube Trucks, Vacuum Trucks, Winch
Trucks, Dump Trucks, Crash Attenuator Trucks, Ship Out Tank Kits, and Lube Trailers. “Having a facility in Houston permits us to better serve the construction, equipment rental, oil and gas,
and mining industries in the southwest,” said Jason Ritchey, president. “We have always been able to ship our products worldwide, but having sales, parts and inventory in one of our largest growing markets is a
convenience for our customers located in that region.” Martinsburg, Pa., continues to be the Curry Supply’s worldwide headquarters. Its new facility is located at 1113 Howard Ave., Deer Park, Texas. Curry Supply Company is a family-owned business that was established in 1932. Over the past 80 years, Curry Supply has grown into one of America’s largest manufacturers and dealers of commercial service vehicles. Sales and service is provided throughout the United States with financing and international delivery available. For more information, call 800/345-2829 or visit www.currysupply.com. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 19
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TXDOT Plans to Spend $1.3B to Ease Crowded Roadways TXDOT from page 1
metro area projects will begin construction to enhance existing efforts and address gridlock on the state highway system. The projects, which add up to more than 42 mi. (67.6 km), include interchanges, flyovers and congestion relief efforts at some of the state’s worst chokepoints. They will be funded using $1.3 billion made available through ending the use of diversions of highway money by other agencies. “I recently directed TxDOT to work with transportation planners and local communities across the state to reduce congestion, and [this] proposal is a significant first step in
are committed to delivering projects many Texans need and deserve to reduce the amount of time they spend in traffic.” The announcement is the result of a several month effort led by Bugg to gain valuable insights from transportation leaders and elected officials in the state’s five major metropolitan areas. That listening tour and collaborative efforts with Metropolitan Planning Organizations and TxDOT districts shaped this initiative and projects being unveiled. The listening tour was just the beginning, and the conversation will continue as TxDOT focuses on this important challenge for Texas.
“For years we’ve been committed to addressing congestion, and this year we’re getting a jump start on that part of our core mission. As the severity of congestion in the Lone Star State continues to grow, we are committed to delivering projects many Texans need and deserve to reduce the amount of time they spend in traffic.” James Bass TxDot
doing just that,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “Texans are tired of sitting in traffic and have voted to make a historic investment in our state’s transportation infrastructure. I want to thank the Texas Transportation Commission for rapidly responding with a thoughtful approach that identifies and addresses some of the state’s most congested chokepoints.” “I am grateful to Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Joe Straus and the Texas Legislature for making the diversion funds available for highway projects,” said Bugg. “TxDOT is focusing on using this funding to provide Texas drivers relief in an expedited manner. By making these improvements on an accelerated schedule, TxDOT will save $457 million versus building those roads in future years.” “For years we’ve been committed to addressing congestion, and this year we’re getting a jump start on that part of our core mission,” said James Bass, TxDOT executive director. “As the severity of congestion in the Lone Star State continues to grow, we
The Texas Transportation Commission also will consider another $800 million in additional funding for connectivity and safety, maintenance, repairs to the energy sector and border infrastructure funding. The commission is expected to vote on all these projects when it considers the quarterly Unified Transportation Plan at February’s commission meeting. The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 mi. (128,748 km) of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its 12,000 employees are committed to working with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas by maintaining a safe system, addressing congestion, connecting Texas communities, and being a Best in Class state agency. For more information, call 512/463-8700 or visit TxDOT.gov. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 21
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Page 22 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
ADVERTISER INDEX To read articles about these CEG advertisers, visit www.constructionequipmentguide.com
BANE MACHINERY ..............................................................24
KIRBY-SMITH MACHINERY INC ..........................................19
BAYONET-RECS ..................................................................23
KLEIN PRODUCTS OF TEXAS ............................................12
BLUELINE CONST EQUIP & SERVICES ..............................6
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CISCO LOGISTICS ..............................................................17 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE TEXAS STATE PROMO ................................................22 DITCH WITCH WEST ..........................................................13 EAGER BEAVER TRAILERS ................................................15
MIDCO SLING AND CABLE ................................................20 RAYCO MFG ........................................................................21 ROMCO EQUIPMENT CO ......................................................2 TROPHY TRACTOR ................................................................7
FECON ..................................................................................21
US SHORING & EQUIPMENT CO ........................................9
FOUR SEASONS EQUIPMENT INC ......................................3
VERMEER OF TEXAS-LOUISIANA ......................................5
INTERSTATE TRAILERS ......................................................11
WAUKESHA-PEARCE INDUSTRIES INC ..........................19
The Advertisers Index is printed as a free editorial service to our advertisers and readership. Construction Equipment Guide is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 7, 2016 • Page 23
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Page 24 • February 7, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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