February 2010 Vol. 65 No. 2

The SIMCO 255 PTC pavement coring drill rig is a compact, hydraulic unit designed for drilling key holes up to 18-inches in diameter.

Utilicor Technologies’ new MD-200 with patented core-zone extension system allows the core drill to extend up to 65 inches from the back of the truck.

The 302.5C Mini Hydraulic Excavator gets a net 24.9 hp and operating weight is 6,283 pounds when equipped with a cab and 6,052 pounds with a canopy.

The Kubota L45 TLB tractor-loader-backhoe features an HST Plus Transmission and the versatility of three machines in one, combining a strong, integrated loader and quick attach backhoe with a Category I 3-point hitch.

Footage Tools’ compact Butt Fusion System is ideal for most fusion operations.

The RAM 414 M is a hydraulic 4-wheeled fusion machine with a manual control system used to fuse pipe sizes from 4-inch IPS to 14-inch IPS.

The Connectra 1442 EP is the premier large diameter machine in GF Central Plastics’ complete line of fusion equipment.

The DynaMc 28 HP (Hand Pump) Two-Jaw machine provides the power and pressure required to butt fuse pipes sized 2-inch IPS to 8-inch DIPS with a hand-powered pump.

The C200 Remote PE pipe squeeze off tool is designed to squeeze off ½- to 2-inch PE pipe.

The 27SR ACERA zero tail swing compact excavator delivers easy maneuverability in tight spaces without sacrificing stability when working.

The new ZX50U-3 meets EPA Interim Tier-4 emissions requirements.

New Holland Construction offers a full line of zero-tail-swing compact excavators for maneuvering in tight job sites.

The XT1600 excavator-tool carrier is designed to perform the work of three machines: a backhoe loader, mini excavator, and compact track loader.

The Case CX B Series compact excavator line features proportional auxiliary hydraulic control, swing tower foot pedal control and a 4-way dozer blade.

The new M-Series excavators are re-engineered to deliver increased performance in a lighter machine.

Deere's largest compact excavator, the new 60D, excels in close quarters and is easy to trailer.

The Volvo center-mount backhoe loaders are fitted with Volvo’s D5D Tier 3 fuel-efficient, high-performance engines with high torque and powerful breakout capabilities.

The front loader end on the Terex TX860B Elite is designed with proven mechanical controls, giving operators the maneuverability and efficiency of working with a wheel loader.

The Bradco 485 Backhoe increases utilization of skid-steer loaders and tractors.

The B Series line of loader backhoes includes the B90B, B95B, B95B TC, B95B LR, B110B and B115B.

The 450E Backhoe Loader is in the 17-foot dig depth class, has 124 net hp and a backhoe digging depth of 17 feet 3 inches when equipped with a standard stick.

The Ditch Witch XT1600 excavator-tool carrier is designed to perform the work of three machines: a backhoe loader, mini excavator and compact track loader.

The M Series 3 line of loader/backhoes from Case Construction Equipment includes the 580M, 580 Super M, 580 Super M+, 590 Super M and 590 Super M+.

Total Machine Control (TMC) provides more intuitive controls and enables automation of functions that operators previously had to do manually.

<strong>Miller Pipeline</strong> Miller Pipeline Corp., one of the nation’s premier natural gas distribution, transmission pipeline and utility contractors and a wholly owned subsidiary of Vectren Corp., acquired Elcon Pipeline Inc. This transaction marks Miller Pipeline’s fifth acquisition within four years and expands the company’s geographic footprint to include 23 states and 19 facilities.

Advertisers from the February 2010 print edition of <em>Underground Construction</em>.

Pat Kelly, technical sales engineer for Wyo-Ben Inc., has retired after 19 years of service with the company.

John Hughes has joined Godwin Pumps’ Environmental Safety & Health (ESH) team as a safety specialist at the company’s Bridgeport, NJ, world headquarters.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the Jordan Cove Pacific Connector LNG/pipeline project with Chairman Jon Wellinghoff once again casting a lonely dissent.

The biggest issue for the underground construction industry in 2010 is not whether Congress and the Obama administration will unveil a second round of infrastructure spending, but whether that second helping of funds for sewers and drinking water systems will find its way into financial bloodstreams faster than the first injection did.

During 2009, members of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) dealt with the effects of a continuing economic recession as well as making a transition in leadership with the retirement of longtime Executive Vice President Dennis Kennedy and hiring as his replacement Robert (Rob) Darden.

Members of the American Pipe Line Contractors Association (APCA) experienced a relatively "good" 2009, despite the worldwide recession that has negatively affected many construction markets.

The latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicate that close to 70 million customers rely on the nation’s natural gas distribution network to deliver fuel to their home or business. Natural gas is delivered to customers through a 2.3-million mile underground pipeline system.

Manholes are critical assets of the nation's underground wastewater infrastructure. Recently updated manhole inspection and rehabilitation guidelines are aimed at improving manhole structural integrity by identifying issues and the appropriate methods of repairing and rehabilitation so that timely maintenance prevents major problems.

Over the past decade, as utilities and their underground contractors look for more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly ways to make repairs to underground utilities and install buried infrastructure, they are beginning to realize many benefits associated with keyhole technology.

<em>Trepidation: [n.] a feeling of alarm or dread.</em> As we approached 2009 with an economy in free fall and zero confidence in any kind of positive funding trend, public works officials approached the coming year with extreme trepidation.<strong></strong>

On Dec. 7, 2009, a new milestone was reached for auger boring machines (ABMs) using disc cutterheads. Contractor Gonzales Boring & Tunneling bored a landmark crossing length of 600 feet using a 42-inch diameter small boring unit (SBU-A).

Contractors and other operators of off road, diesel powered equipment are encountering a growing number of public construction projects that require retrofits of diesel engines powering older equipment.

Nearly 90 attendees heard the city of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department Director Michael Marcotte address the Dec. 9, 2009 luncheon of the Underground Construction Technology Association held in Houston.

<a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-rehab-news-interplastic-sewer-sciences-and-insituform#inter">Interplastic Receives Governor’s Safety & Health Award</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-rehab-news-interplastic-sewer-sciences-and-insituform#root">Root Control Products from Sewer Sciences</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-rehab-news-interplastic-sewer-sciences-and-insituform?page=2#new">New Appointment, New Contracts at Insituform</a>

Project Engineering Consultants (PEC), Phoenix, AZ, won an Engineering Excellence Award for the city of Phoenix Water Services Department 2005 Relief Sewer Project, constructed at 35th Avenue and Peoria Avenue.

The C-100PA high-intensity ultraviolet lamp has a lamp head measuring only 7 by 9.5 inches.

The PipeView BandGen is a powerful extension that gives operators practical tools for creating, configuring, manipulating and generating bands for custom alignment sheets.

TERRA joins the vertical drilling market with the development of its TERRA-DRILL for geothermal power.

A new laser-based AccuGrade grading system for Cat C-Series loaders is capable of extreme accuracy.

Thompson Pumps 4JSCG Enviroprime Pump is a high head 4-inch automatic priming centrifugal pump that provides flows of up to 1,300 gallons per minute and heads up to 330 feet.

Use the 980 Fault System to locate faults in direct-buried, unshielded power and communications cables.

CertainTeed meets industry demand for larger diameter well with new 24-inch outside diameter Certa-Lok PVC Well Casing.

Universal Pipe Cutters (UPC) are now available for steel and PE pipe.

John Deere Power Systems has a new naming convention and ratings for its Interim Tier 4/Stage III B engines.

This issue marks our “lucky” 13th Annual Municipal Infrastructure Survey. It allows us to connect more closely with municipalities of all sizes and from all corners of the country.Tiny towns have just as many seemingly insurmountable issues as do the large metropolises. Yet, many of the concerns and issues are identical.

<a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-newsline-epa-msd-water-talks-continue-white-house-jobs-summit-pushes-water-division-project?page=2#epa">EPA, MSD continue talks over water violations</a>; <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-newsline-epa-msd-water-talks-continue-white-house-jobs-summit-pushes-water-division-project?page=2#white">White House Jobs Summit inspires new push for water diversion project</a>; <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-newsline-epa-msd-water-talks-continue-white-house-jobs-summit-pushes-water-division-project?page=3#storm">EPA releases guidance to better manage stormwater</a>; <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-newsline-epa-msd-water-talks-continue-white-house-jobs-summit-pushes-water-division-project?page=4#qwest">Qwest, Level 3 telecoms spends less</a>; <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/february-newsline-epa-msd-water-talks-continue-white-house-jobs-summit-pushes-water-division-project?page=5#report">Report says wireless,telecom in transition</a> and more