Nova Scotia Road Builders Association Past Presidents

The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E1 www.nsrba.ca NNOVAOVA SSCOTIACOTIA RROADOAD

BBUILDERSUILDERS AASSOCIATIONSSOCIATION FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING

Bonnie Bobryk Photopgraphy The NSRBA strategic plan will refocus the association’s direction to better serve its members, continue improving its relationship with government, promote the road building industry as a career option, and restructure the association’s committees. Undertaking ‘significant’ changes Association’s vision to be recognized, respected as definitive leader of infrastructure for Nova Scotia

By Ken Cashin The most important change, however, Special Features Writer has been the development of the group’s first ever formal strategic plan, a process it ike in the game of chess, in practi- began in late 2009. cally every undertaking in life, from The NSRBA strategic plan will refocus business to sports to politics, you the association’s direction to better serve Lhave to have a plan. You have to its members, continue improving its rela- know what your goals are and how you’re tionship with government, promote the going to achieve them. You’ve got to know road building industry as a career option, where you’re going. and restructure the association’s commit- Over the last few years the Nova Scotia tees. Road Builders Association (NSRBA) has “The vision of the Nova Scotia Road undertaken a number of significant chang- Builders Association is to be recognized es. It has relocated its office and hired an and respected as the definitive leader of administrative assistant and executive infrastructure for Nova Scotia,” says Bonnie Bobryk Photography director. NSRBA president Brad Scott. The NSRBA Board of Directors. Back Row, (from left to right): John Flemming, Yuri The organization has also revamped its “Our mission is to promote best prac- website and taken steps to raise its profile tices focused on improving infrastructure Power, Steve MacKenzie, Trevor Chisholm, Andrew Lake. Front Row (left to right): by promoting greater awareness of what in the province and our core purpose is to Donald Chisholm, Grant Feltmate - Executive Director; Ron Dunn - Vice President; the association does and highlighting the be the collective voice of the road building Brad Scott - President; Carol Ingraham - Administrative Assistant, Pat Gray, Rick significant role it plays in driving the Nova Bezanson. Missing from photo: Greg MacDonald and Ken Thomas - Immediate Scotia economy. See CHANGES /E5 Past President. NOVA SCOTIA ROAD BUILDERS ASSOCIATION PAST PRESIDENTS

Dr. H. W. Doane* H. H. Latimer* C. A. Maier* R.G. Steed Aubrey Martell Ron Legere D. F. MacIsaac* D. R. MacKay* R. K. Chappell* J. G. Flemming Tim McSorley Gary Rudolph W. P. Bickle* W. W. Spicer* L. D. Hopkins* S. W. Weeks* Gerry Holle* Barry Hunter G. C. Hault* L. H. Langley P. W. Ross* Dave McKenna Elmer Thomas John Flemming D. H. Norman* H. W. Doane Jr. J. T. Douglas* Vic Lunn* Fred Benere Wally Caldwell M. H. McManus* A. O. Parsons* F. A. Martell* John Chisholm Jack Eisener Carl Baillie P. S. Parsons* D. W. Latimer R. E. Bayard Dan Arbing* Greg Burke Don Maillet F. C. Hudson* J. S. Stevens* A. M. Dechman Eric Barker D. J. Campbell Paul White J. D. Harnett* J. A Domville* R. F. Titus* Haluk Alemdar Cecil Vance Ken Thomas *Deceased For NSRBA Membership and other information, please call 405-3497 www.nsrba.ca E10 Saturday, July 17, 2010 The Chronicle Herald Road builders take up the challenge Idea for hockey event was launched in 2003 during play at the annual golf tournament

By Ken Cashin Special Features Writer eam building is important in every organization. It helps bring individual members together and enables Tthem to work with a single focus, for everyone’s benefit. In a large, diverse group like the 150-member strong Nova Scotia Road Builders Association (NSRBA), which encompasses many sectors of the economy, from engineering firms and paving contractors to energy, insurance, and telecommunications companies, team building is absolutely essential. In addition to organizing annual events for its members like the curling bonspiel in January and golf tournament in July, the NSRBA hosts a yearly hockey tournament Contributed called the Challenge Cup. Challenge Cup: Paul White, left, of Nova Construction (a Past President of NSRBA) presents Pat Gray of Dexter Construc- It takes place every January at the an- tion, current NSRBA board member and captain of the South Atlantic Cats, with the Challenge Cup. nual general meeting. Now in its seventh year, the three-day tournament consists of four teams. Originally the event pitted NSRBA members from the north of the province against those from the south, but, as of this year, the Challenge Cup also includes a team from the N.S. Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Re- newal, as well as a mixed team. Sponsorship for the event comes from Atlantic Explosives Ltd., Atlantic Tractors and Equipment Ltd., Wallace Equipment Ltd., and Bluewave Energy. Organizer John Flemming, an NSRBA director, says the hockey activity is great for team building. “In our industry, as big as it is, with the many types of companies that do road building work, our individual members don’t often get to see and interact with one another as much as they’d like,” says Flem- ming. “The Challenge Cup gives people an opportunity to get together to network and socialize.” The heavy construction field is by its very nature competitive, says Flemming, and the hockey gives association members an opportunity to engage in friendly com- petition away from the real world of business. “It’s a good excuse,” he jokes, “to vent your frustrations on the ice instead of Contributed in the field.” Curling Champions: Premier Darrell Dexter, left, presents Steve Carruthers and Blair Landry, Ocean Contractors Limited, The idea for the hockey event was launched in 2003 during play at the annual curling bonspiel champions, with their trophy. The bonspiel is held in January. golf tournament. “It started as a friendly rivalry between the north and the south. Now it’s one of our most highly-anticipated annual events. People really look forward to it — it has even increased participation at our AGM.” Flemming says the Challenge Cup has also opened up event participation to more people, as not everyone plays golf or curls. “We’re very proud of our industry and the work we do,” he says. “Road building is highly competitive, but our members respect one another and play fair. We have a good group.”

“It started as a friendly rivalry between the north and the south. Now it’s one of our most highly-anticipated annual events.” John Flemming Contributed Golf Champions: (left to right) David Brien, Michelin; Roger Scott, Miller Tirecraft; Rob MacKinnon, Michelin and Dave An NSRBA director Johnson, Regional Tire Distributors, were winners of the 2010 Road Builders golf tournament. 2009 Volvo Trucks Dealer of the Year Aberdeen LT D. Paving Ltd.

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Bonnie Bobryk Photography Traffic flows through the Armdale Roundabout in HRM. Today, Canada has about 200 roundabouts. France has more than 20,000 and Britain has 30,000. Round, round we go

different cost, especially if other infra- All around the world roundabouts are being used as traffic structure gets tied into it. “Compared to signals, roundabouts have comparable price numbers,” says Boddy. control measures, Canada just coming online “The real savings are with bridges and other infrastructure around the round- By Melanie Furlong conflict points, or possibilities of vehicle- on Margeson Drive, are being installed in abouts. Because of the way they handle Special Features Writer to-vehicle or vehicle-to-pedestrian conflict. HRM. More roundabouts in Antigonish, traffic, we’re able to keep our bridges Slower operating speed in the roundabout New Glasgow, Stellarton, and Milford are narrower. There are less construction costs number of roundabouts planned combined with exposure to risk improves planned for the coming year, with Stellar- and less long-term maintenance costs.” for Nova Scotia in 2010 will make the overall safety of the intersection. ton expected to be operation soon. Roundabouts also mean less energy transportation safer for all road “At a set of signals, drivers will try to get “The program is in place now and is consumption on signals and reduced idling Ausers, says Keith Boddy, senior through a yellow light and may have a on-going. Budgets change, but we save a cuts down on greenhouse gases. highway design engineer for the Depart- collision. In a roundabout, you’ll hit the lot of money installing them and each and “On a very measurable study done at an ment of Transportation and Infrastructure. centre island or the grass instead of hitting every one of them has their own business HRM intersection, it shows we can reduce “The international evidence that round- someone in a head-on or t-bone collision.” case analysis. greenhouse gases by 300 tonnes a year.” abouts are safer is overwhelming,” he says. Today, Canada has about 200 round- “For example, in Milford we’re saving Nova Scotia has three roundabout lega- “It’s been proven time and again that abouts. France has more than 20,000 and millions of dollars of Nova Scotian tax- cy projects in Armdale, Port Hastings and roundabouts are safer for all road users, Britain has 30,000. Boddy says all around payers’ money because we don’t have to Pictou as well as three new modern round- including cyclists, pedestrians and drivers the world roundabouts are being used as install temporary infrastructure. We’re abouts in Avonport, Sydney and Windsor to varying degrees. All road infrastructure traffic control measures and Canada is just installing permanent infrastructure and which were built over the last four years. has its inherent risks, but roundabouts coming online. we’re removing what’s there now.” Various roundabouts are also planned by have less exposure to risk for all users.” In Nova Scotia, six new roundabouts, Costs for a roundabout can run from $1 municipalities in Debert, Bridgewater and Boddy says this is because there are less three on Larry Uteck Boulevard and three million to $1.5 million, but each job has a Halifax.

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Photos by Joseph Robichaud Photography Surface treatments are very thin, typically less than 20 mm compared to conventional hot mix asphalt, which is machine intensive and is placed in layers of up to 75 mm. Surface treatments are something the industry intends to offer long-term to municipalities and government. Affordable road improvement options By Melanie Furlong whereby layers of stone are evenly distrib- Special Features Writer uted or embedded in emulsion which is spread in advance on the road surface. s municipalities across the prov- “The chip-sealing operation essentially ince look for ways to deal with sprays the emulsion on the existing riding costly road improvements, Micro- surface at a prescribed spread rate, then ASurfacing and Chip Sealing are applies a constant feed of12 mm clear rising to the forefront of affordable op- stone on top. You carefully spread the tions. Gary Rudolph, director of Aggre- stone on the emulsion and quickly end up gates and Pavement Rehabilitation for with a riding surface of consistent texture Dexter Construction, says these options and ride once it is rolled.” have been around for a while, but are getting more and more important as mu- The entire operation is relatively quick nicipalities look for ways to extend the life and traffic is allowed to travel on the new of existing roads and infrastructure. surface within a short timeline. A proud member of the Nova Scotia and “These surface treatments do a couple of Surface treatments are very thin, typical- things,” says Rudolph. ly less than 20 mm compared to conven- New Brunswick Road Builders Association “They provide a new riding surface over tional hot mix asphalt, which is machine the existing pavement, they improve safety intensive and is placed in layers of up to 75 by filling in wheel ruts as well as improve mm. Rudolph says surface treatments are overall appearance and skid resistance. something the industry intends to offer Surface treatments also extend the life- long-term to municipalities and govern- SPECIALISTS IN COMMERCIAL, cycle of asphalt pavement from ment. approximately15 to 20 years before a total “They need to have affordable construc- CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACT BONDING, rebuild or a conventional asphalt overlay is tion techniques and materials which pro- required.” vide safer and longer lasting pavements.” With Micro-Surfacing, a very thin layer of As governments become more and more MANUFACTURING, SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, 5 mm minus aggregate is blended on site challenged with their capital programs and with emulsion or specially-designed tar the availability of capital money, says Ru- FLEETS AND PERSONAL INSURANCE and evenly spread on the road with special- dolph, they’re going to be looking for in- ized equipment. Rudolph says it improves novative ways to extend and spend the the profile of the road, corrects surface dollars they have, to do as much as they imperfections and protects the underlying possibly can on city streets and provincial pavement from oxidizing or becoming brittle. roads. 3845 Joseph Howe Drive, Suite 300 Halifax, NS B3L 4H9 “It’s a very thin layer of material,” says “The whole thing is to provide options to Rudolph, “utilizing emulsion and fine ag- the designers of pavements,” he says. 56 Baxter Street, Lower Coverdale, NB E1J 1B4 gregate versus conventional pavement “As an industry, we’re constantly looking designs using asphalt cement and a broad- for ways to be innovative, to provide new Ph: (902) 454-8641 Fax: (902) 455-2267 er range of aggregate sizes.” solutions and products . Chip-sealing also improves the ride on Through sound engineering practices, roads, protects the existing asphalt and carefully-selected surface treatments are a www.stanhopesimpson.com addresses surface deficiencies. Chip seal- great option for our infrastructure mainte- ing operations use specialized machines nance needs.”

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oceancontractors.ca The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E13 aphy aud Photogr Robich seph All photos by Jo

Contributed New technology eliminates human error in determining finish grade and reduces the number of surveyor checks and regrading of surfaces that may have been required under the conventional system.

created. “And basically the computer con- verts it to a language that the machine can read.” That information is transferred to the motor grader which has machine con- Building safer roads trol software. The software combined with the GPS receivers on the blades provides the grader operator the information as to where he is relative to the finish grade on Global position systems being employed to make road bed his screen, Dunn says. The technology eliminates human error preparation prior to paving far more efficient in determining finish grade and reduces the number of surveyor checks and regrading By Tom Peters and 150,000 tonnes of gravels. The job way construction. A new section of of surfaces that may have been required Special Features Writer employs about 50 of Weeks’ people and twinned highway between Mount Uniacke under the conventional system. about 50 people indirectly. and Windsor, which will also open this “It saves time in getting material to the ova Scotia’s road builders are The contract is scheduled for comple- summer, will also incorporate these safety desired grades. We go with the province’s building safer, more durable high- tion August 31 when traffic will be permit- features. surveyor and check and confirm that the ways and are doing it more effi- ted to use the new section. On the technology side, global position grades are proper. It has been fairly seam- Nciently with the aid of global posi- Dunn says the additional safety features systems are being employed to make road less.” tioning (GPS) technology, says Ron Dunn being added to the project are rumble bed preparation prior to paving far more Weeks is not the first company in the of S.W. Weeks Construction Ltd., of New strips on the edges of the pavement which efficient. In getting gravels graded to the province with this technology but Dunn Glasgow. The Weeks company is presently will warn motorists when they are getting required design surface, Dunn says Weeks says it is becoming more commonplace. working on an approximately $6.5 million to close to the edge and guardrails with Construction is using machine-control With regard to highway durability, Dunn provincial highway contract east of New energy absorbing ends. “If you run into technology that runs off a global posi- says a major component in the life of as- Glasgow, paving on a new 7.4 kilometre them they absorb the energy of the vehicle tioning system. “Our motor grader is phalt is the ability to achieve specified twinned section of highway. The work also (impact) without causing extensive dam- equipped with machine control and both compaction. With more modern equipment includes signs and guardrail installation. age to the guardrail or the vehicle,” he corners of the blade levelling the gravel being used in building highways “we are Dunn, project manager and estimator for says. These two features have been avail- have GPS receivers.” better equipped to achieve those compac- Weeks, says materials include approxi- able in the province for the past few years The province’s required design surface is tion levels which gives the asphalt more mately 37,000 tonnes of hot asphalt mix but are becoming more common in high- put into Weeks’ computer and a model life,” he says.

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Joseph Robichaud Photography Hydroseeding: Workers drive alongside the road with a man at the cannon on top of a truck. The truck has a pump of its own that allows it to spray up to 120 feet away. An even coat is put on the ground and the mulch used is designed to hold the seed in place until it germinates. Landscaping our roadways Hydroseeding is the mechanical means of seeding the area along the shoulder used instead of liming, fertilizing and sodding an area By Melanie Furlong gallons of water, fertilizer, mulch, lime and Special Features Writer seeds. Along Nova Scotian highways those seeds are usually the Nova Scotia Highway nce the bulldozers, graders and mix which consists of seven or eight pavers have done their work on brands of seeds including clover, tall fes- Nova Scotia’s roads and highways, cue or Kentucky bluegrass. Osomeone has to look after the “That’ll do approximately 5,000 square shoulders. yards,” says McDonell. Elmsdale Landscaping Limited, a com- “We drive alongside the road with a man mercial hydroseeding and mulching con- at the cannon on top of the truck. The tractor, is often responsible for the impor- truck has a pump of its own that allows us tant job of seeding the overturned soil. to spray up to 120 feet away. We put a nice Joseph Robichaud Photography Collin Logan, corporate controller for even coat on the ground and the mulch we Landscaping work underway in Bedford. Elmsdale Landscaping Ltd., says seeding use is designed to hold the seed in place the soil not only makes the landscape more until it germinates.” this case Dexter Construction, to do each hay to make it sticky so it doesn’t blow attractive, it protects the highway from Once they spray the seed in place, area as they finish with it,” he says. “Ninety away. It hangs on to the ground a lot bet- wash-outs and the environment from ero- they’re finished the job. Grass appears per cent of the time, we’re on closed roads ter.” The company has four Bowie hydro- sion. Hydroseeding is the mechanical anywhere from three to four weeks later. that are safe for us to travel on.” seeders that they use on different projects means of seeding the area along the shoul- McDonell says hydroseeding the shoul- Hydroseeding usually starts at the end of in the Maritime provinces. der used instead of liming, fertilizing and ders of highway 104 between New Glas- May and they can seed up until the end of They have on-going projects at the Hali- sodding an area. gow and Truro was one of their biggest October. fax Stanfield International Airport, ditching Paul McDonell, hydroseeder superin- recent highway projects and took about “In the fall, we put hay over the hydro- projects along new subdivisions and roads tendent for Elmsdale Landscaping Ltd., four months. seed to keep it from eroding. We have hay across Nova Scotia, Ski Martock, and vari- says their Bowie hydroseeders hold 3,000 “We work closely with the contractor, in blowers that will mix a tackifier with the ous others.

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“The excavation of materials and placement of fill is the most costly and time consuming process in roadroad constructions”constructions” Ron Dunn S. W. Weeks Construction Ltd Bonnie Bobryk Photography Road building step-by-step process Nova Scotia’s unique geography, geology present many challenges for construction By Ken Cashin Special Features Writer s members of the motoring public, most people are quite familiar with Nova Scotia’s highways and by- Aways. We use them every day for practically everything we do. What many people may not know, however, is how roads are built. Although it may look simple, road building is a com- plex, time consuming process. It requires many kinds of engineering expertise during Contributed the design and construction and usually involves the cooperation of various trades the desired grade,” explains Ron Dunn of “The excavation of materials and place- mental regulations. If blasting is required, people. S. W. Weeks Construction Ltd. “And, the ment of fill is the most costly and time permits must be obtained. During the design another challenge is to placement and compaction of materials or consuming process in road construction,” In addition to the challenges of tight obtain the necessary permits from various fill is required when land is lower than the he says. deadlines, other challenges involve Mother government agencies, which is also time desired grade. Fill consists of either the “There are some public misconceptions Nature. Nova Scotia has many lakes, rivers, consuming and exacting. And, Nova Sco- previously- excavated materials, or new about the road construction process. Peo- and streams, and other sensitive areas tia’s unique geography and geology also material brought in. ple sometimes think road building takes which road builders must take great care present many challenges for construction. “All disturbed material — either the fill much longer than it should to complete. to leave undisturbed. The province has in Road builders must take great care not to or the native material left behind after This may be due in large part to the slow place many strict environmental regu- disturb the province’s many bodies of excavation — must be compacted. Basical- phases of construction that occur early on Contributed lations that contractors must adhere to. water and other sensitive environmental ly, what this means is that the land that the in the process, like clearing and excava- areas. road will be built on must be strong tion. Many times people also question why New Technology enough to support the road and its traffic traffic needs to be re-directed when no Steps in the road building process without settling or shifting. After the road Dunn says one of the newest devel- actual construction is being done at that opments in road building is the use of There are many steps required in the has been sufficiently compacted, a gran- particular moment. There are often many construction of a road and each step is ular subbase is placed to add additional Global Positioning System (GPS) tech- reasons for this, including the safety of the nology. It allows road builders to model completed according to the design that strength to the road’s structure.” workers.” meets the needs of the planned route. The The last step is laying the finish material existing conditions and the finished prod- first step is the clearing and grubbing of of the road’s surface, which is what the uct on computer, which provides greater the area where the road will be built. This traffic will ultimately drive on. This layer Permits and Environmental Protection precision and control. entails removing all trees, shrubs, roots usually consists of asphalt; however de- All land that the road will pass through “With GPS we can take information and other organic material. pending on the needs of the road, it may be must be owned or purchased by the devel- about multiple surfaces and input that into After this process is complete, the land made of concrete or a combination of the oper. If any excavation is required there the excavators and other road building must be levelled to meet the design grade two products. must be verification of the utilities which machines. This allows us to be less reliant for each section of road. Dunn says the most difficult road build- may be found in that area. If the road pas- on surveying stakes, as the machines know “Removal of excess material or excava- ing process is probably excavation and ses over or near any body of water, precau- exactly where they are in relation to the tion is needed when the land is higher than placement of fill. tions must be taken to satisfy environ- desired design grade and finished surface.”

$780,000 to local trucking contractors; structure. Tourists cannot travel to attrac- Nova Scotian sub-contractors would get tions, goods can’t be moved, and busi- $150,000; rental equipment like trucks nesses can’t be developed.” By the numbers and dozers would be $400,000; room and Feltmate says Canada, and Nova Scotia board for employees, $160,000; fuel costs in particular, has a huge infrastructure By Melanie Furlong creates. That includes an estimated 5,000 would be $1,480,000; royalties to local deficit. Special Features Writer direct and 2,500 indirect jobs with a pay- landowners for aggregate, $160,000; and, “Insufficient spending has been com- roll estimated at $375 million. Feltmate construction material purchases of pipe, mitted to this vital area for several years. Road building has a widespread impact says the average wage and benefits are concrete, hay and Geotextiles, would add The recent infrastructure stimulus spend- on Nova Scotia’s economy, says Grant high. up to $630,000.” ing, to help move our economy out of the Feltmate, president of the Nova Scotia Spin-offs from the economic impact When road building construction of recession, has been a help, but it is no Road Builders Association. are less obvious. bridges, marine and sewer water mains, where near sufficient relative to the “Some effects of the industry are more For example,” he says, “if you had a or roads is complete, citizens are left with needs that have been accumulated over obvious than others,” he says. typical $8 million grading contract, $1.7 extremely valuable assets. many years. It is crucial that all levels of Most visible are the thousands of well- million of that would go out in wages, “An economy cannot be developed government increase their spending paying jobs the road building industry which equals 80,000 man-hours of labour; without proper road building infra- directed at infrastructure.”

Engineering and Environmental Design and Consul ng Services tel: (902) 421-7241 fax: (902) 423-3938 email: [email protected] web: www.cbcl.ca

EXPERIENCE VISION 55 COMMITMENT YEARS The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E7 Today’s machines ‘light years’ ahead of past road building equipment John Deere 764 High Speed Dozer billed as ‘the world’s first high speed dozer’

By Ken Cashin Special Features Writer oad building is perhaps one of man’s earliest forms of construction. Paths leading to water and Rfood sources have been traced back as far as 4,000 B.C. in the form of paved stones and later as logs and bricks. From the time of the first earth-moving machines of the modern era, like the Otis Shovel of the 19th century, and long before that with the use of horse-drawn plows, the road building process has involved planning, clearing, levelling, laying materials, and maintenance. While the theory of road building hasn’t changed much, the machinery to do it with certainly has. “The machines of today are light years ahead of where they were even a few dec- ades ago,” says Yuri Power of Wallace Equipment Ltd. “The construction industry’s earth-moving requirements have greatly evolved. We’re seeing an increased demand for faster and more productive equipment.” Power says newly-designed ADTs, crawler dozers, excavators and various other road building machines are more powerful, efficient, and versatile than ever. The new- er equipment, he points out, can save time and money and help to build better roads. One of the most state-of-the-art new machines is the John Deere 764 High Speed Dozer. Billed as “the world’s first high speed dozer,” the 764 HSD offers outstanding productivity and comfort while increasing uptime and reducing daily operating costs. The 764 HSD finishes grades and dozes Contributed up to twice as fast as a traditional crawler. Its articulated-frame steering and four- The 764 HSD finishes grades and dozes up to twice as fast as a traditional crawler. Its articulated-frame steering and four- track oscillating undercarriage make the track oscillating undercarriage make the 764 HSD highly manoeuvrable, reducing the need to transport it on trailer for short 764 HSD highly manoeuvrable, reducing distances. the need to transport it on trailer for short distances. Another key feature is its long-life rub- isolates the operator from powertrain ber tracks, which enable it to traverse hard noise and vibration — at just 72 dBa, it’s surfaces like concrete without damage. refreshingly quiet. Described as a one-of-a-kind machine, “The 764 HSD’s wide-open ground-level 2 access to dipsticks, see-through fluid reser- With over 40 years of experience and the 764 HSD can finish grade within ⁄10th of 25mm and grade at 8MPH with TopCon 3D voirs, and sight gauges make quick work of MC2. It boasts a top speed of 16 MPH, the daily routine,” says Braswell. “Coolers a large number of people, Municipal allowing quicker access to the next task. are housed in a unique box configuration The 764 HSD is standard equipped with that’s isolated from engine heat, for in- Group is the largest civil contractor medium-duty Category 4 drawbar and creased efficiency, durability, and easier flow-adjustable rear hydraulics, making it a core clean-out.” in Atlantic Canada. We maintain our highly versatile taskmaster that works well He says the high speed dozer performs with a wide variety of pull-type attach- in many different applications and envi- leadership position through our belief ments such as land levellers, disks, and ronments. compaction wheels. “The 764 HSD is being used throughout it’s not just about moving the most earth “The benefits of the 764 HSD are com- North America — from Ft. McMurray, pletely over the top,” says Doug Braswell, Alberta to New Mexico,” he says. “They’re or building the longest bridge. It’s about product consultant with John Deere. increasing productivity and saving money “There’s nothing like it.” for our customers.” Highly fuel-efficient, its Tier 3-certified building trust. Delivering quality work. John Deere PowerTech™ 6.8-L engine provides power without compromise in all “The construction Meeting commitments. And having the conditions, delivering up to 210 hp at a low 1,800 rpm. industry’s resources to be the best in our business. In addition to its performance, the 764 HSD offers greater comfort for the oper- earth-moving ator, improved operator and bystander safety, and easier maintenance. requirements have “Its wide expanse of front glass, large side and rear windows, and narrow, low- greatly evolved.” profile forward console allow virtually unrestricted all-around visibility,” says Yuri Power Braswell. The Cab-forward design, he points out, Wallace Equipment Ltd.

Dexter Construction Company Limited [email protected] (902) 895-1611 is proud to be a member 66 Atlantic Central Drive, PO Box 340, Truro N.S. B2N 5C5 and a supporter of The Nova Scotia Road MUNICIPAL READY-MIX LTD. Builders Association P.O. BOX 237, SYDNEY N.S.

Concrete – Asphalt – Gravel – Excavation Dexter Construction Company Limited Phone 564-4541 Fax 562-6057 PO Box 48100, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada B4A 3Z2 Tel: 902-835-3381 Fax: 902-835-7300 www.municipalgroup.ca Email: [email protected] Dexter Construction Company Limited Visit Our Web Site at: http://www.mrm.ca A Member of the Municipal Group of Companies. E8 Saturday, July 17, 2010 The Chronicle Herald More than just motor vehicles Due to growing demand, more and more tenders these days are calling for the provision of bicycle lanes By Ken Cashin Special Features writer hen you hear the term road building in Nova Scotia, the first thing you think about is Wusually cars and trucks, the main types of vehicles that utilize our roads. However, the highways, byways and streets in Nova Scotia are traveled by more than just motor vehicles. Due to growing demand, more and more tenders these days are calling for the provision of bicycle lanes. While the number of existing on- street bikeways may be few at present, the prospects for future development are encouraging. While the province is still in the early days of policy planning, HRM approved an Active Transportation Plan in 2006 that lays out an extensive network of connections including bike lanes. HRM’s David McCusker, manager, Re- gional Transportation, says whenever the municipality undertakes major street work on a road identified as part of the bike route network, it strives to include bike lanes in the street design. In some cases, he says, it’s simply not possible to add bike lanes, in which case other options are taken, such as widening curb lanes, signing a route, or other measures to improve biking. “There’s a consensus of opinion by health care professionals, urban planners and other professions that regions like HRM need an action plan to accommodate a more active lifestyle by a larger segment of the population in an environmentally- and financially-sustainable manner,” says McCusker. “Developing an Active Trans- portation Plan is one of the building blocks being undertaken by HRM to meet these needs,” he says. The purpose of the Active Transporta- tion Plan is to build upon the existing system of on and off road pedestrian, trail and cycling facilities, link them together in an integrated network that also supports transit use, and design existing programs to promote, educate and encourage more people of all ages to choose active transportation modes more often. “We’re striving to develop a region-wide, visible and connected network of on- and off-road facilities that are convenient, accommodate the needs of existing and future users, and promote an increase in non-motor vehicle travel, particularly for short distances,” he says. “This network will be supported by Bonnie Bobryk Photography various programs, policies, and strategies that will help and encourage active trans- While the number of existing on-street bikeways may be few at present, the prospects for future development are encour- portation year round and improve quality aging. The Halifax Regional Municipality approved an Active Transportation Plan in 2006 that lays out an extensive network of life for both residents and visitors to the of connections including bike lanes. region. It will help position HRM as one of the most desirable municipalities in which challenging,” says McCusker. “We’ve adopted a 25-year plan that will a recent study), the city is adding many to live, work and visit in North America.” “In very few cases, it’s possible to widen see an extensive network of bike routes off-road trails that accommodate biking for the street just enough to add bike lanes, develop. Rather than building that network The challenges transportation and not just recreation. The such as the case with Main Street in Dart- route by route, we find it much more eco- Chain of Lakes Trail being built this year is The Active Transportation Plan aims to mouth where widening of the existing nomically efficient to build it opportunis- a good example. have all new collector and arterial streets street was done. In some cases the existing tically, which means we will build sections The key issues for drivers and cyclists, constructed in HRM include a bike lane. street width is not fully utilized and a bike of a route at the same time as a street says McCusker, will be mutual respect for For new streets, the challenge will be lane can be added without interfering with rehabilitation project or an adjacent devel- and awareness of one another, as well as primarily the additional cost for the extra existing uses, as was the case with adding opment project.“ street width to accommodate the bike lane. bike lanes to South Park Street. In the short term, he says, the bike net- knowledge of the rules of the road. This will be particularly noticeable on In most cases, however, bike lanes can work may look disjointed, but, overtime, “A key safety message for cyclists is to overpasses and underpasses where extra only be added if an existing traffic lane or the pieces will begin to connect and a become a part of the traffic flow and stay width can be very expensive. parking lane is reallocated for bikes.” network will result. there,” says McCusker, who is a cyclist Redesigning an existing street can be While the Active Transportation Plan HRM currently has 70 km of bike lanes. himself. equally difficult. “No two streets are the looks promising and is perhaps long over- While it has less on-street bike lane kms “Switching from street to sidewalk and same, but adding a bike lane to an existing due, McCusker points out that change will per road way lane kms than several other back again just to get around traffic is not street in an urban area is normally very not come overnight. Canadian cities (it ranked 18th out of 23 in safe and not respectful.”

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97 Troop Ave Phone: (902) 468-6486 Dartmouth, NS B3B 2A7 Fax: (902) 468-4919 www.maritimetesting.ca [email protected] The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E9 Road building machines getting cleaner By Melanie Furlong Special Features Writer he latest technology and emission controls are making road building Tmachines so clean that air going into the engines will soon be dirtier than the exhaust. Gordon Munro, product support manager for Wallace Equip- ment, the John Deere Construc- tion and Forestry dealer for the Maritimes, says there have been huge changes to emission controls of diesel engines and how much nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, or soot, they put out. “All the technology is changing for every machine that’s going to be sold in North America within the next five years,” says Munro. “John Deere is a market leader in Off-Highway Emissions Solutions, and our company is investing heavily in training and tooling to support the new engines being introduced.” Environmental regulatory Contributed agencies like the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) loaders, came later, the pace of from five to 15 per cent more. and Environment Canada (EC) cleanup and rate of improvement That’s quite expensive to get this focus on four types of engine have been more aggressive for new technology. However, we NOVA SCOTIA ROAD emissions: carbon monoxide, non-road equipment than for have to do it to meet the new hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, on-road engines. standards.” and particulate matter. As more “I think we’ve all been behind Munro says these machines BUILDERS ASSOCIATION focus is placed on health and trucks that are blowing out huge will be costlier and require more environmental issues, govern- amounts of black smoke,” says maintenance, but that one engine Membership List 2010 mental agencies throughout the Munro. “That’s going to be a thing from 1995 puts out more pollu- 3091592 Nova Scotia Limited Leica Geosystems Ltd. world are enacting more stringent of the past. In four to five years, tion than 20 engines will in 2015. A. C. L. Construction Limited Liebherr Canada laws to reduce these emissions. you’re not going to see that any- “After 2015, the standards will Aberdeen Paving Limited Lockhart Truck Center Because so many diesel en- more.” change again and the amount of Aggregate Equipment (Atlantic) Ltd. Mac Williams Engineering Limited gines are used in trucks, the EPA The improved engines will have fuel used will be reduced,” he Alfred J. Bell & Grant Limited Maccaferri Canada Ltd. and its counterparts in Canada, exhaust filters that go through says. “Automobiles have done the Allnorth Consultants Ltd Mackays Truck & Trailer Ltd. Europe and Japan first focused cleaning cycles every 1,000 hours. same thing so we don’t get smog Allstar Rebar (Nova Scotia) Ltd. Maritime Fence Ltd. Allterrain Contracting Inc. Maritime Testing (1985) Ltd. on setting emissions regulations Those filters will have to be re- and dirt in the atmosphere and ALPA Equipment Company Ltd. Martin Marietta Materials Canada Ltd. for the on-road market. While the moved and replaced every 4,000 this technology will change our Alva Construction Limited McAsphalt Industries Ltd. worldwide regulation of non-road to 6,000 hours. lives. It will improve the air we AMEC Earth & Environmental Ltd. McLennan Sales Division of EMCO Ltd. diesel equipment, such as bull- “The cost of the machinery is breathe for our children and Archibald Drilling & Blasting (1986) Limited McNally Construction Inc. dozers, excavators, backhoes and probably going to be anywhere children’s children.” Atlantic Road Construction & Paving Ltd Miller Tire Services ARMTEC Limited Modern Enterprises Ltd. Arrow Construction Products Ltd. Municipal Ready-Mix Ltd. Atlantic Explosives Ltd. Norquip Supply Ltd Atlantic Industries Limited Northeast Equipment Ltd Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd. Northern Contracting Limited Axis Mobility Limited Nova Construction Company Ltd. Good corporate citizens B. Spicer Construction Ltd. Nova Enterprises Limited Barrett Enterprises Limited Nova International Ltd. By Tom Peters Basin Contracting Limited Ocean Contractors Ltd. Special Features Writer Bird-Stairs Ocean Paving Limited Black & McDonald Ltd. On-Grade Inc. Survey Protecting the province’s envi- Bluewave Energy & Machine Control Systems ronment is an ongoing concern Bourque Security Services NS Ormac Industrial Supply Inc. and priority for the Nova Scotia Brenntag Canada Inc. OSCO Concrete Britney Conveyor Ltd. P. Clarke & Co. Inc. Road Builders Association. Canadian Salt Company Ltd. Parts for Trucks The industry works with gov- Capital Cad Supplies Ltd. R. S. T. Industries Ltd. ernment and other industry stake- Casey Concrete Ltd. Reinforced Earth Company Ltd. holders, following policies and Castonguay Reliant Trafﬁ c Control procedures to ensure the safety CBCL Limited Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (Canada) Ltd. of natural habitat and other as- Chapman Bros. Construction Ltd. Roadtec Inc. Classic Freight Systems Ltd. Rockico Truck & Trailer Sales Ltd. pects of the environment , says Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Ltd. Roto-Mill Inc. Andrew Lake of Truro, an associ- Conrad Bros. Limited S. W. Weeks Construction Ltd. ation director. Consbec Inc. Sackville Trenching Ltd. Lake, project manager at Will- Costin Paving & Contracting Limited Safety First - SFC Ltd Kare Paving and Contracting Ltd. Craig Manufacturing Limited Sancton Equipment Inc. Creighton Rock Drill Ltd. Seaboard/Harmac Transportation Group and responsible for environ- Cubex Limited Shaw Group Limited mental issues for the association, Contributed Cumberland Paving & Contracting Ltd. SMS Equipment Inc. says there is less tolerance from a The road-building industry works with government and other indus- D. W. Matheson & Sons Contracting Ltd. Sojourn Signs very knowledgeable public on try stakeholders following policies and procedures to ensure the Dexter Construction Company Ltd Soleno Inc. Downeast Communications Source Atlantic matters relating to the environ- safety of natural habitat and other aspects of the environment. ment and therefore the industry Dyno Nobel Limited South Shore Ready-Mix Earthmover Atlantic Ltd. Stanhope Simpson Insurance Ltd. must be more vigilant. East Coast International Trucks Inc. Stantec Consulting Ltd. “You try to be good corporate development only if there was a the environment. Eastern Fence Erectors Steele Ford Lincoln citizens and put infrastructure in compensation package in place, Lake says the Departments of Elmsdale Landscaping Limited Strescon Ltd. place to try and manage the envi- Nunn says. Environment and Transportation, England Paving & Contracting Ltd. Strictly Sales & Service Inc. ronment,” he says. “If given permission to alter a through Dalhousie University Fairley and Stevens Ford Lincoln Strongco Equipment Limited One major concern of the in- wetland then they (industry) Center for Water Resources Stud- Fraser & Hoyt Insurance Ltd. The Cat Rental Store/Hewitt Rentals Gary Parker Excavating Ltd. Trans East Trailers Ltd. dustry, for example, is the protec- would have to compensate by ies, puts on sedimentation and Gateway Materials Ltd. Trout River Industries tion of wetlands which are often creating new wetland elsewhere erosion control classes annually GE Canada Equipment Financing GP Turf Masters Landscaping Ltd. home to birds and other wildlife or adding land to a wetland some- to educate people in the field on GEMTEC Limited United Rentals of Canada Inc. plus act in some cases, as natural where. It might even be a draft proper techniques to controls GEOCON Atlantic Ltd. Universal Truck & Trailer filtration systems. proposal for financial compensa- these two things. Further, the Gerald Battist Trucking Ltd. Urquhart-MacDonald & Associates tion to a wetland development department has a water course Gillis Truckways Inc. (Trailer Sales) V. J. Rice Concrete Ltd. The province has put forth a Grant Thornton Wade Atlantic proposal to create a new wet- group.” The government spokes- alteration program which certi- Graymont Eastern Canada WAJAX Industries Limited lands policy and the road builders man says the proposed policy is fies contractors on the proper Heritage Gas Limited Wallace Equipment Ltd. have been tracking that process. presently in the draft stage and methods of installing culverts or Hertz Equipment Rental Weightronic Canada Inc. “The government’s commit- road builders and contractors small structures on stream cross- Higgins Construction Wilcraft Concrete Services ment was to create a new wet- have been involved in the consul- ings. Holcim (Canada) Inc. Will-Kare Paving & Contracting Ltd. Howard E. Little Excavating Limited Wilson Equipment Ltd. lands policy and it is based on the tation process. Lake says it all goes back to HSBC Bank of Canada Wolseley Engineered Pipe Group concept of no net loss of wet- Lake says industry “always get awareness of wetlands and the Imperial Oil Ltd. Wolseley Waterworks lands,” said Bruce Nunn, spokes- painted with the brush of the environment in general whether Industrial Cold Milling man for the provincial depart- worst guy in the industry so there association members are doing Inspec-Sol Inc. ment of environment. It is a com- is a lot of pressure on companies work on highway projects or Irving Oil Commercial GP plex problem to develop a policy to keep up with the changes and private contracts. J. R. Eisener Contracting Ltd. K & M Inspection Consultants Ltd. whereby certain ecologically challenges” they face on a daily “The rules apply to everybody K&D Pratt Group Inc. sensitive wetlands would be off basis. In that light, the association so you have to be aware so you L. S. W. Wear Parts Limited limits to any change while other is proactive in distributing in- don’t get yourself into any diffi- Lafarge Canada Inc. wetlands could be affected by formation to members related to culty,” he says.

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Photos by Bonnie Bobryk Photography At any given time through peak construction months on Nova Scotia’s highways there are hundreds of workers involved in the building or upgrading of the province’s highway infrastructure. In 2008 the provincial government introduced a law that called for double speed fines in a temporary work zone. Slow down through construction zones pass certified government courses in order Workers’ safety and that of motoring public is paramount to work in those jobs. The requirements for these position are stringent, says Davis. They are adminis- By Tom Peters “Being aware of and reducing your Work’ signs and the ‘Construction Ends’ tered by the provincial department and are speed in a construction zone will increase signs. Between these signs a fine equiv- Special Features Writer standard requirements across the province. reaction time and create a safer environ- alent to double the regular applicable t any given time through peak ment for workers and motorists. It could penalties could be given. Davis says overall impact of the stronger construction months on Nova also be the difference between a near miss A new sign, ‘Speed Fines Double in Work direction toward worker safety has been a Scotia’s highways there are hun- and a fatality,” he says. Areas’ was created to warn motorists in major benefit. Adreds of workers involved in the In recent years both government and advance of the work area of the doubled There is a greater willingness on the part building or upgrading of the province’s industry have worked co-operatively to fines, Davis says. of the department to entertain speed zone highway infrastructure. increase safety for all. “These laws were passed to help protect reduction and there is a noticeable differ- Their safety and that of the motoring “In Nova Scotia the construction indus- the safety of the workers and the motoring ence in enforcement of these new regu- public is paramount. try is highly regulated and boasts some of public. Also, speed limits are often reduced lations by police agencies, he adds. “Conditions in a construction zone can the country’s most stringent regulations on Nova Scotia’s busiest and fastest high- In 2007 the Department of Transporta- and programs for safety and traffic con- ways to further increase the level of safety change in an instant. Work zones are con- tion released a new traffic manual and gested and distracting and a driver’s atten- trol,” says Davis. in the work area,” he adds. tion, speed and reaction time are key fac- In 2008 the provincial government in- In addition to the speed fine changes, Davis says there is co-operation between tors in safely manoeuvring a work site,” troduced a law that called for double speed the Department of Transportation and the province and industry to ensure this says Aaron Davis, general manager of fines in a temporary work zone. The tem- Infrastructure Renewal stipulates that manual meets the needs and requirements Eastern Traffic Services, a division of Mu- porary work area is designated as the workers carrying out jobs in the aspect of of those affected by it and changes to the nicipal Contracting, Bedford. portion of roadway between the ‘Road traffic safety control must undergo and manual are made when warranted.

Contributed John Flemming, centre, president of Ocean Contractors Ltd. of Halifax, was presented with the Canadian Construction Association’s Roadbuilders Award of Recognition for outstanding service and contribution to the road building and heavy construction sector. Flemming CAA winner

By Tom Peters senior estimator and project manager. Special Features Writer In 2008, he assumed the presidency of Ocean Contractors while retaining Receiving the Canadian Construction responsibility for the estimating and Association’s Roadbuilders Award of project management divisions. Recognition is not only a “great person- Within the industry, he has also been Contributed al achievement,” it is also recognition of a leader and extremely active member the company, says John Flemming, of the road building community at both F-shape barriers have three primary uses on provincial highways, including provid- president of Ocean Contractors Ltd. of the national and local levels. In 2004, he ing workplace protection by preventing errant vehicle entry into the worksite. Halifax. Flemming was presented with became president of the Nova Scotia the award in March. It is given for out- Road Builders Association; in 2005 he standing service and contribution to the joined the board of directors of the road building and heavy construction Canadian Construction Association and Setting the new standard for sector. Those nominated are judged on is the current chair of the association’s their contribution to business, support finance committee. In 2006, he joined of association activities and local com- the board of directors of the Construc- munity involvement. tion Association of Nova Scotia and NSTIR workplace control Flemming says the award also high- became a member of its executive com- Contributed between them, and must be securely fas- lights the fact, “we are running a suc- mittee in 2009. He is also a past director tened together in accordance with the cessful outfit here and success breeds of the Urban Design Institute of Nova Scotia. A safety barrier may seem like a pretty NCHRP 350 Test level 3 design provisions. success, so it means quite a bit.” Flemming’s enthusiasm, knowledge simple thing. That is until it’s all that stands F-shape barriers are new to Nova Scotia. Flemming has a Civil Engineering and willingness to give back to his com- between you and a vehicle travelling at 80 They didn’t exist anywhere within the degree from Dalhousie University and munity have made him a favourite with kilometres per hour. In 2009 the Minister of province before 2009. This “F-shape” is a after graduation in 1992, moved to the volunteer organizations. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal new generation of the safety shape that is Pacific coast to work as an estimator He currently serves on the board of ‘published’ the minimum standards for intended to further limit vehicle damage for two prominent construction firms: the Holiday on the Harbour Charity Ball traffic control at temporary workplaces on upon impact. The lower sloped face redi- JJM Construction and Concord Pacific. and the Nova Scotia Construction Curl- or near the roads within the province. rects vehicles under low-impact condi- He returned to Nova Scotia in 1998 ing Association. At that time it was determined that the tions. During moderate to severe impacts, and joined the family business as its acceptable standard for portable anti- some energy is dissipated when the vehicle intrusion barriers in Nova Scotia would be is lifted off the pavement. the Portland Cement Concrete F-shape The F-Shape reduces this lift, which barrier meeting NCHRP 350 Test Level 3 promotes better vehicle stability while standards (crash test certified). These maintaining vehicle redirection. In crash pre-approved F-shape barriers must be tests, the F-Shape has proven to be more constructed and installed copying a design successful in preventing rollover of smaller certified as meeting NCHRP 350 Test level vehicles. The F-Shape has been found to be 3, or be tested to that standard. more effective overall than the Jersey F-shape barriers have three primary uses Shape barrier. The barriers main purpose is • Twice the speed on our provincial highways, including to contain and redirect the vehicle, and not • Twice the accuracy providing workplace protection by pre- allow the vehicle to under-ride, nor over- venting errant vehicle entry into the work- ride (flip) the barrier installation. site; to provide protection to errant drivers These concrete F-shape barriers will Automated High Speed Dozer System by redirecting them from a hazard; as well protect construction workers by creating a as for separating two-way traffic. A proper Find out more about it. (902) 252-3390 See for yourself barrier installation mustn’t have any gaps See STANDARD /E5 The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E3 On the job The industry can expect it will need to replace one in five of its current workforce within five years

By Melanie Furlong Special Features Writer he labour outlook for the road building industry in Nova Scotia is both promising and challenging, Tsays Grant Feltmate, executive president of the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association. Due to the demographics associated with this industry there will be a significant number of quality job opportu- nities available soon,” says Feltmate. “The challenge exists with the same outlook that faces many Nova Scotian industries going forward. There is projected to be a substantial shortage of available labour relative to positions available.” A recent study completed in cooperation between the provincial Department of Labour and Workforce Development and the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association, entitled ‘Understanding the Workforce Development Needs of Nova Scotia’s Road Building Industry,’ produced a detailed examination of the challenges ahead. “We found that given the retirement outlook and the current rate of industry leavers, the industry can expect it will need to replace one in five of its current work- Bonnie Bobryk Photography force within five years,” says Feltmate. One of the objectives of the industry, in successfully competing for the available labour pool in the future, is to get the message out that working in the road- building industry is a career and not a job of last resort. Many of those working in our industry start at a young age and work their way up to very good positions over time,” he says. “Wages throughout the industry are attractive. The industry is unique and many people stay in it for a very long time.” Road building work tends to be labelled as seasonal. In fact, says Feltmate, this is quite misleading. Although there are a limited number of months in the year, due to weather, when road building can take place and, in particular, the paving component, the industry Bonnie Bobryk Photography takes advantage of all available hours during the “open” months to get their work year and thus have careers in road build- enable those completing the training, antic- “Road building careers have changed completed, says Feltmate. “The result is ing, not just a short-term job.” ipated to have a co-op nature to it, to have over the years with technology, similar to the long hours worked during these The labour study highlighted a few areas the competencies and experience neces- other fields. Modern, large equipment months easily equal a full-time job in more upon which the industry must concentrate sary to make them excellent candidates for operation often has a significant amount of typical employment circumstances. A large as it goes forward. One is the need for employment within the industry. Training computerization involved and this has percentage of employees return, year after training specific to the industry. This will courses are already in place. made it much more dynamic.” E4 Saturday, July 17, 2010 The Chronicle Herald Bonnie Bobryk Photography

What is the NSRBA? • Founded in 1947, NSRBA represents contractors working in Nova A look inside the NSRBA Scotia who are engaged in road, bridge, heavy civil, marine, sewer and water main construction. The Founded in 1947, the association and its members play an interests of suppliers to the industry are met through associate membership. integral part in building the province • NSRBA is the only organization representing the road-building sector By Ken Cashin in N.S. Special Features Writer • Our 150 member companies directly and indirectly employ ap- here’s no denying it, when it comes proximately 7,500 individuals annual- to infrastructure, you can’t get any ly. more basic than a community’s • Our work impacts significantly Troads and bridges. The very founda- on the service and supply industry. tion of our transportation system, they •We are distinct from the con- impact everything we do, from where we struction industry; we have unique go, to how we get food on the table — working conditions and needs. they’re absolutely essential. What people may not be as fully aware Industry realties of, however, is the significant impact road • Our sector is highly competitive. building has on our local economy. One of • The industry is seasonal. Early the province’s largest employers, repre- tender calls are critical to timely senting a wide cross section of professions tender completion. and trades, the sector employs more than • Safety is a top priority for the 7,500 people annually, with an estimated industry. payroll of $375 million. • Employees are highly valued. Represented by the Nova Scotia Road • They expect, wish and are often Builders Association (NSRBA), the indus- required to work long hours. try is made up of 150 member companies • They are often away from home engaged in road, bridge, heavy civil, ma- for extended periods. rine, and sewer and water main construc- • They originate from both rural tion. Founded in 1947, the association and and urban communities; from every its members play an integral part in build- county, town and village in the prov- ing the province, its roads, and its crucial ince. infrastructure components. • Their payroll and benefits sub- NSRBA membership encompasses many stantially exceed minimum stan- sectors of the economy, from engineering dards. firms and paving contractors to energy, insurance, and telecommunications com- Spin-offs of road building panies. People employed in road building • Approximately 7,500 persons, range from engineers and architects to Joseph Robichaud Photography directly and indirectly earning an surveyors, project managers, heavy equip- estimated $375 million in wages, are ment operators and safety managers, to Road building has a long and storied history in Nova Scotia, going back more than a century and today the industry remains strong and healthy and is one of prov- employed annually by the sector; name just a few. and these numbers will grow as “Our industry represents a significant ince’s most modern and progressive sectors. funding increases. economic driver,” says NSRBA president • Economic benefits accrue to Brad Scott. essary spending over each of the next 10 communities and families across “Spending on infrastructure generates a Industry Capacity, Needs and Challenges years is in excess of $400 million. Normal- N.S. huge amount of direct and indirect em- ized capital budgets are significantly less • Goods and services required by ployment. The investment provides long- The ongoing challenge facing the indus- than this level.” contractors are purchased locally term benefits to Nova Scotia by enhancing try, says Scott, is to secure from govern- The province has committed to establish wherever possible, assisting small the transportation of people and goods. It ment a sustainable, long-term funding a rolling five year capital plan this year, businesses province wide; a typical also enhances Nova Scotia’s ability to strategy for the province’s roads. which Scott says is also a step in the right paving job brings increased revenues attract tourists and corporate trading part- He points out that while present funding direction. to the local market. ners.” levels have increased in recent years, they “We’re supportive of this initiative and • Improves sustainability of Nova Road building has a long and storied remain insufficient to halt the deterioration hopeful that it will facilitate improved Scotia’s rural communities and busi- history in Nova Scotia, going back more of existing infrastructure and meet new capacity utilization in future years. Stable nesses. than a century and today the industry highway needs. and sufficient funding is essential.” remains strong and healthy and is one of For the construction season last year, province’s most modern and progressive the Nova Scotia Department of Trans- sectors. The NSRBA works with govern- portation and Infrastructure Renewal ment to standardize road building pro- (NSTIR) saw its largest ever capital pro- cesses and develop environmental and gram of $325 million. The road-building safety regulations. The association also industry produced one million tonnes of partners with other local industry associ- asphalt and replaced 17 bridges. The work ations and educational institutions to de- included paving 150 km of 100 series high- velop training programs. ways and 500 kms of trunks, routes and And, every June the NSRBA is part of a local roads. Proud supporter of the transportation department campaign ad- For 2010, NSTIR has projected a capital vising highway motorists to slow down budget of $310 million. This level of spend- NOVA SCOTIA ROAD BUILDERS ASSOCIATION near construction. “One of our overarching ing is higher than in past years due to fed- objectives is to ensure that our industry eral infrastructure funding. Scott says that takes a highly professional approach that while this level of funding is encouraging, SERVICES PRODUCTS results in the best quality highways pos- it still falls short of what’s needed even to • Superior Customer Service • Shell Branded Lubricants sible for Nova Scotians,” says Scott. repair our roads and bridges, let alone to • Extensive Delivery Network • Diesel “The association also provides a single upgrade them for future needs. • Cardlock • Gasoline forum for members to discuss important “Nova Scotia has an accumulating infra- • Marine Gas Oil industry issues and communicate their structure deficit. The province has 14,000 • Petroleum Delivery Specialists positions on these issues to key stakehold- km of paved roads which last an average of • Account Management • Heating Oil ers.” Scott says road building has an excit- 20 years. We would have to repave 700 km • Flexibility and Customization 1-888-690-2244 ing future in Nova Scotia, with a projected each year just to maintain the existing road increase in employment and more work system. expected in the public sector resulting from “Our province also has 4,100 bridges, infrastructure renewal programs announced many of which are above the national Delivering More. For You. www.BluewaveEnergy.ca by federal and provincial governments. average in age. NSTIR estimates that nec- The Chronicle Herald Saturday, July 17, 2010 E5 Standard Road builders giving back continued from / E2 high level of containment, and by restraining stray vehicles from entering a Building a work zone. F-shape concrete barriers allow con- strong struction sites to operate safely in close proximity to busy roadways. Precast community concrete barriers are useful for redirecting vehicles into means more new traffic patterns during different phases of construction. Whether it’s a than just temporary or permanent barrier installation, F Shape construction traffic barriers reduce the risk of head-on collisions from out-of-control vehicles By Tom Peters crossing over the median. Special Features Writer The weight of barriers and the interlocking design uilding a strong communi- provide sufficient inertia to ty means more than just redirect an impacting vehi- construction for the Nova cle without requiring at- BScotia Road Builders tachment to the highway. Association. It also means helping F-shape barriers also re- people. duce the risk of erratic The association membership vehicles deflecting back works to support local charities Bonnie Bobryk Photography into the traffic stream after and two in particular are the Cheque presentation: Guy Kendziora (left) of McAsphalt Industries Ltd. in Dartmouth; Brad Scott, a barrier collision. Sackville Bedford Developmental president of the NSRBA; Anna Weagle, program director for the Sackville-Bedford Developmental Shaw Precast Solutions Centre and the Turkey Club Centre and B.J. Harvey, with Atlantic Cat/Cat Rentals, Dartmouth, present a cheque to the Centre offers an F-shape barrier Society. on behalf of their members. with a JJ hook that meets Guy Kendziora, with McAsphalt or exceeds all NSTIR re- Industries Ltd. in Dartmouth and quirements. Advantages of B.J. Harvey with Atlantic Cat/Cat address some debt and pull us up. a JJ Hook barrier include Rentals, Dartmouth, co-chaired There is also part of it that goes the fastest setting times of both silent and live auctions at for children’s toys and equip- any system available, small- the association’s annual meeting ment,” Weagle says. “This is so er installation crews re- in Halifax and raised $15,370 for timely. They will never know how quired for placement, im- the Sackville-based develop- timely this is.” proved worker safety be- mental centre. Harvey says items for the auc- cause no hands are ever In the previous two years tion were donated by the associ- required between the bar- Kendziora and Harvey spearhead- ation’s membership. riers, and the ability to ed events that raised $80,000 for And why does the association provide the tightest radius the Children’s Wish Foundation do it? of any other connection and $5,930 for the STAR program “We just want to give back to hardware, allowing reduced in Truro that provides recre- the community,” Kendziora says. traffic congestion ational games, activities and The Turkey Club Society of the The JJ Hook barrier also sports for children with special Halifax Regional Municipality offers advantages in that needs. received $5,000 last year from the there are no pins, bolts, or Anna Weagle, program director road builders which was a signif- Contributed loose hardware required. for the Sackville Bedford Devel- icant contribution to the $60,000 Turkey Club: Ron Legere (left), tournament chair with Jack This ensures a proper in- opmental Centre, located in the the society raised. Cruickshank, Head Turkey, and Ken Thomas, 2009 NSRBA presi- stallation every time, and lower level of the Sackville Kins- Jack Cruickshank, chair of the dent. The Turkey Club Society of the Halifax Regional Municipal- there is no worry about men Centre on First Lake Drive, society that is made up of volun- vandals or scavengers says the donation is very much teers, says the $5,000 raised ity received $5,000 last year from the road builders. potentially removing hard- appreciated. through a road builders’ golf ware before a project is “It is absolutely awesome. It is tournament chaired by Ron Leg- Cruickshank said one of the The society also supports boys complete. The barriers are the biggest fundraiser we have ere of Industrial Cold Milling, biggest benefactors of the society, and girls clubs, Hope Cottage and self-aligning, automatically had in many years.” Dartmouth, is “a real boost for us which supports organizations that other organizations. ‘hooking’ into place. JJ And the timing couldn’t have because the total we raise for help needy families, is the Parker Hooks are also the only The society would not have system with identical ends been better. The centre, which is Christmas is $60,000. We have Street Food and Furniture Bank reached its $60,000 goal if it licensed for 30 children per day very little expenses and I think in Halifax. which means crews are and historically offers programs that is one of the reasons the road “We give them a cheque for wasn’t for the road builders. never required to rotate the for children with additional builders support us. We keep $25,000 when they are packing “They are the largest contributor barriers during the installa- needs, has been struggling fi- expenses below five per cent and Christmas boxes for families. to the Turkey Club and we are tion process. nancially so the “fundraiser came let them know where we spend They decide where the money is more than tickled with it,” Cruick- at a time when we were able to the money.” spent.” shank says. aphy aud Photogr Robich Joseph Changes Continued from / E1 ciation structure will be when the structure supports the industry in Nova Scotia.” association’s core purpose and Early discussions in the mission, appropriate commit- development of the plan cen- tees are in place, the executive tered on the key areas the director has sufficient param- association must focus on in eters to operate with reason- order to be successful as it able independence, and when moves forward. Those dis- there are ample candidates, cussions led to the devel- from the members, to serve. opment of five key focus The action plan for restructur- areas: association structure, ing the association will be the industry liaison, public profile, introduction of a structured labour and workforce devel- meeting schedule with annual opment, and member services. dates. Scott says that, overall, Scott points out that for specific projects being under- each focus area the plan estab- taken this year include by-law lished strategic directives, amendments, committee res- success indicators, and action tructuring, membership re- plans. In the focus area of view, formalization and in- association structure, for creased NSTIR/government example, the strategic direc- meetings, and the completion tion will be to revise the proto- of a workforce development cols for board membership, needs study. realign committees to meet “The NSRBA is on target current association needs, and with this plan,” says Scott. give the executive director “It will function as a guide guidelines within which to for 2010 operations and give operate. us direction and focus for the Success indicators of asso- foreseeable future.”