After saying for several years that underground the installation of high-voltage, long distance electrical transmission lines was too expensive, Pacific Gas & Electric has changed course. On July 22, the utility giant announced plans to bury as much as 10,000 miles of its electrical transmission lines underground in fire-prone areas of California. Cost is estimated to be $20 billion over the course of a decade or more. The move was prompted by the catastrophic damages, lawsuits and bankruptcy PG&E suffered after wildfires caused by sparking electrical lines swept through Northern California in 2017 and 2018. The move is not only good news for contractors and residents of California but highlights an apparent change in thinking about the need to harden critical infrastructure. The timing of the announcement came just a week before the U.S. Senate agreed to authorize a massive $1-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, of which $73 billion is earmarked to modernize the nation’s electrical grid and $50 billion is allocated to protecting infrastructure against climate change and cyber-attacks. “Our goal is 10,000 additional miles of overhead lines converted to underground,”

Getting out of the cab to change an attachment on an excavator is a drag on productivity. And let’s not forget that every time you step out of the cab, you increase the risk of a slip or fall, the number one type of accident on a construction site or the risk of getting hit by another machine. Automatic couplers are an increasingly popular solution, and Sandvik just announced that it will start offering Steelwrist SQ-type tiltrotator adaptor plates for its Rammer brand of hydraulic hammers directly from the factory during the third quarter of 2021. Rammer hydraulic hammers are suitable for carriers in the 0.6-to-120-ton operating weight class. With a fully automatic adaptor plate, the operator can release one attachment and lock onto and pick up another in seconds using nothing but the hydraulic controls in the cab. Not only is safety enhanced, but productivity increases, especially when you have just one operator in one machine performing multiple jobs. The Sandvik and Steelwrist SQ Auto Connection System will be compliant with the global Open-S standard for tiltrotators. Adopted in

If you’ve got a job to do five stories up, on a slope or up close to a building, JLG has a solution – two, in fact. JLG’s 4069 and 4769 rough terrain and electric rough-terrain scissor lifts reach to 40 and 47 feet, respectively, and carry up to 800 pounds. The rough terrain (RT) versions are available in two- and four-wheel drive and come in diesel/dual fuel engine models with hydrostatic drive. The battery-powered AC electric rough terrain versions (ERT) are two-wheel drive and feature regenerative braking, which recharges the batteries during use. A zero-platform offset minimizes the distance you have to reach to work on a building or structure. And the units can be driven at full height along the length of a building, which translates into fewer trips up and down during the day. JLG’s LiftSense technology shows the maximum height you can achieve before you elevate, based on side-to-side and front-to-back tilt and weight in the platform. All versions comply with the latest ANSI standards and feature a load-sensing system that can be calibrated without weight.

Closed since May 11, the eastbound lanes of the Hernando de Soto Bridge between Memphis and Arkansas over the Mississippi River reopened July 31.   The westbound lanes are expected to reopen August 6. The major crossing for drivers on Interstate 40 was closed May 11 after a crack was found on a steel beam during a routine inspection. Inspectors immediately called 911 to close the bridge between Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas. Load testing on the newly reopened section was completed July 29. The closure has led to traffic delays, as about 50,000 motorists use the bridge each day and were being rerouted to the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River. The Arkansas Trucking Association estimated the closure was costing the trucking industry $2.4 million a day and has been leading to further shipment delays of goods and materials. During the course of the repairs, it was determined that additional areas on the bridge needed reinforcement, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Seventeen steel plates were fabricated and installed after analysis of a weld inspection report indicated

A 107-year-old bridge – called one of New York state’s most unusual bridges – has been reopened after a two-year closure for renovations. The lift bridge in Fairport over the Erie Canal closed in September 2019. The New York State Department of Transportation undertook a $16.8 million project to replace the bridge deck and upgrade the bridge’s lift mechanisms and control tower. The funding also included the nearby Spenceport canal bridge, which has also reopened. The bridge on Fairport’s Main Street was named “one of the most unusual bridges in New York State” in a 1976 study by the Landmark Society of Western New York. The bridge was completed in 1914 at a cost of $75,000. The 139-foot bowstring truss bridge was designed with an irregular 10-sided design with no square corners on its deck. No two angles on the bridge are the same. Because of restraints engineers had to deal with, one side of the bridge is steeper than the other. The deck has a 4% slope. It also crosses the canal at a 32-degree angle. The west truss, instead

For the past 10 years, Ram has continued to refine its 1500 Limited pickup, combining strong, utilitarian features with the finer points of luxury that were typically reserved for a sedan. To help celebrate that 10-year run, Ram announced recently its new 2022 Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition. “The new 2022 Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition celebrates 10 years of luxury pickup truck leadership, featuring the ultimate combination of capability, luxury and refinement,” said Mike Koval Jr., Ram Brand CEO at parent company Stellantis. “Ram 1500 Limited buyers have enjoyed the highest quality materials for a decade now and the Limited 10th Anniversary Edition is the latest example of how Ram delivers the most luxurious pickups in the industry.” [Related: 2021 Ram TRX is a smooth, versatile slayer on- and off-road] Layered in premium materials, the 2022 Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition features unique technology, materials and storage solutions. Real wood, metal and leather elements converge to deliver a level of luxury that’s elevated the brand over the past decade. RamRam 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary models are distinguished by an available

Trail King’s new live-bottom trailer is flashy on the outside, rugged on the inside with lots of features that make maintenance easier to boot. Inside the eye-catching aluminum or stainless-steel trailer sides and front wall are hopper walls with long-lasting 4-millimeter thick AR450 wear plate in the rear half, with full length wear plates available as an option. A heavy-duty, 4-inch pitch roller chain and frictionless drive system make quick work of discharge, unloading the full trailer in one revolution or less. Round cross members attach to cast steel mounts on the side walls to reduce material build up. The simplified rear tailgate offers corrosion-resistant aluminum lift cylinders and an auto flip-up option. The air and electrical lines are mounted on the exterior with aluminum or stainless-steel covers for simplified maintenance. The exterior front bearing assembly is easy to get to, and the chain oiler and brushes are located at the front idler for better oil distribution and accessibility. Likewise, the bolt-on upper coupler/kingpin and front fenders make maintenance faster and easier. The new Trail King live-bottom trailers are also

EquipmentShare says its new $230 million funding will help it launch its core T3 construction operating system and expand its suite of technology solutions. “We are eager to leverage this milestone round to launch several initiatives, with the continued goal of empowering contractors and accelerating productivity in construction,” says Willy Schlacks, EquipmentShare president and co-founder. The company says it will soon launch T3, a solution that digitizes and connects assets, people and materials. T3 will “give contractors real-time visibility into parts of the jobsite that are historically difficult to track and manage,” it says. In addition, Columbia, Missouri-based EquipmentShare says it plans to significantly increase its footprint in the U.S. in 2021 and grow its total presence to more than 100 locations, including rental, retail and service. It now says it’s hiring 100 new employees a month.  The funding round was led by Tiger Global Management, The Spruce House Partnership and RedBird Capital Partners. Addition participation came from Tru Arrow Partners and EquipmentShare’s existing investorsRomulus, Insight Partners and Anchorage Capital Group.  tlas Copco adds Caisson ConsultantAtlas Copco Caisson Consultant has

The new line of Bio-Guard lubricants from JAX do what all lubricants do — protect equipment from friction and wear — but also protect the environment. The complete line of Bio-Guard products meets the technical requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency for biodegradability, toxicity and bioaccumulation. In addition to states that have blanket rules on lubricants and the environment (like California), increasing numbers of industries, such as commercial marine, forestry, agriculture, hydroelectric power, construction and mining, are imposing their own rules. JAX’s chemists and product development team focused on four key applications – wire rope, gearboxes, bearings and hydraulic systems. The products include: JAX Bio-Guard Wire Rope Lube 00. Designed for rust and corrosion protection on steel wire rope and cables.JAX Bio-Guard Gear Oils. ISO 150 to 680. Designed for gearboxes used in outdoor environments.JAX Bio-Guard Hydraulic Fluids. ISO 32, 46, and 68. Synthetic, readily biodegradable lubricants designed to maximize hydraulic performance. JAX Bio-Guard Grease. NLGI 2 grease designed for areas where water resistance and load carrying properties are primary concerns.   Did you miss our previous article… https://www.neiloganconstruction.com/?p=73

Construction loans are one of the most important tools any new business owner can use to get their business off the ground and running. A construction loan is used to pay for all the expenses that occur before you start building anything. For example, you will need to acquire the land on which your building will be built. Once you have that all set, you can then look for a loan company that will lend you the money you need. How does a construction loan work? It starts by you getting a quote from a company that offers you a construction loan. In order to qualify for the loan, you must show them that you have a good amount of credit and that you will be able to repay the amount you are given. You must also prove that you have the means to repay the construction loan as agreed upon. There are two types of construction loans that you can use for your new business. One is a construction loan that is provided by a bank or other major