| News for and about concrete professionals |  |
| Industry News |  |
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- Cement manufacturers: To sell or swap assets?
Lafarge plans to dispense with assets worth $1.25 billion; Cemex expects to sell about $500 million worth. Holcim says it could potentially sell some assets as well, but CEO Bernard Fontana says "swapping cement production facilities is more likely than outright purchases or sale of individual units." Bloomberg
(6/12)     
- Work officially starts on Seattle's $2B-plus SR 99 tunnel
Ground has broken for Seattle's State Route 99 tunnel that will replace the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct. "This project will not only provide immediate benefits by creating jobs, but it will support economic growth for decades to come," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, who attended the groundbreaking. The tunnel, designed to withstand a major earthquake and estimated to cost more than $2 billion, aims to reduce traffic congestion in the area and provide easier access to the waterfront. RoadsBridges.com
(6/11)
| Technology & Trends | |
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- Nanotechnology advances creation of stronger "green" cements
The use of nanotechnology to help develop stronger and more versatile building materials -- especially cement -- is a focus of scientists and cement makers. This piece discusses the work of a research team's use of "inorganic oxide nanotubes as natural means of reinforcements of cement pastes" and says their ability to "calculate the stability of cementitious nanotubes ... is an important step in developing suitable synthesis processes for these nanotubes." Nanowerk
(6/12)
| Sustainability & Green Building | |
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- Bond issue OK'd for first phase of Mo.'s $4.7B sewer system upgrade
Voters in St. Louis last week approved a $945 million bond issue that will fund the first phase of a $4.7 billion upgrade to the area's storm water and wastewater systems. An estimated 17,000 construction jobs will be created in the first four years of the project, and the local economy will see a $3.5 billion benefit, according to Jack Strauss, director of the Simon Center for Regional Economics at St. Louis University. "It's not the ultimate answer [to providing more construction jobs], but it's certainly going to help," said Len Toenjes, president of the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(6/10)
| Leadership & HR | |
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- 3 things that will make your company a better place to work
Great companies are the ones that build, retain and develop their team members, writes Nancy Mobley. Each stage is like a gear that moves employees and the organization forward. "In an organization where attention is paid at each gear, all employees are valued for what is special to them and will help make the organization stronger," Mobley writes. Inc. online
(6/11)
| Policy Watch | |
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- Reid: Long-term transportation measure is "an important bill"
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he is not ready to quit on passing a long-term transportation funding bill, adding that the measure is "really an important bill for stabilizing our economy." House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has suggested a possible six-month extension if current negotiations fail to yield progress by June 30. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said they're "still hoping to get the highway bill conference to come up with a recommendation." The Hill/Transportation blog
(6/12)
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| ACI News | |
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- The Leading Edge of Pervious Concrete CD-ROM (SP-282)
This CD-ROM contains seven papers that were presented at sessions sponsored by ACI Committee 522 at the ACI Fall 2009 Convention in New Orleans, LA. The aim of this SP is to present some of the latest research findings on pervious concrete and to provide state-of-the-art examples on the use of pervious concrete. The papers in this SP present the latest research results from both experimental and numerical studies on various aspects of pervious concrete. Order your copy today.
- Attention students: Free e-membership from ACI
In an effort to provide students worldwide with the connections, resources, and opportunities to be successful in their studies and -- ultimately -- in their careers, the American Concrete Institute has made membership free and easily accessible ... electronically. Please take a few moments to learn more and apply for free membership today.
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