ForConstructionPros.com

Buechner underscored the industry’s ability to immediately address transportation needs and create jobs. “With a properly structured program … thousands of transportation construction projects across the nation are ready to go. This includes work like milling, resurfacing and overlays, safety striping, guardrail and sound wall installations, signage repair and replacement, and investments in new lighting and safety appurtenances,” he says. “Bridge investments could also play a large role in an economic recovery and jobs program. Bridge deck repairs, sealing, resurfacing and preservation work can be put into motion quickly — so could accelerated bridge inspection, scraping and painting programs.

“Economic recovery legislation can create needed jobs in 2009,” he adds. “But without increasing the revenue stream to the Highway Trust Fund after FY 2009, we are facing a disastrous 45 percent year-on-year cut in federal highway program funding in FY 2010 that would threaten as many as 700,000 American jobs.

“While it’s important to enact economic recovery and job creation legislation right now, I cannot stress strongly enough how it is also critically important that the Congress enact long-term legislation reauthorizing the federal surface transportation and aviation programs as soon as possible next year,” the ARTBA economist concluded.

Deere & Co. acquires Regen
Company specializes in remanufacturing

Deere & Company said it has acquired full ownership of ReGen Technologies Inc., a remanufacturing company located in Springfield, MO. Deere had already owned 50 percent of the business.

John Deere said the operations will be more fully integrated with remanufacturing operations in Edmonton, AB, Canada and the overall name of the business will be John Deere Reman — an organization focused on growing Deere’s remanufacturing business globally.