Bulletins

Legislative

Lowboy Trailers, Barge Identifications, Funding and TRIP Reports

LOWBOY TRAILERS:  Legislature passes major success for heavy construction industry Legislation that would no longer require lowboy trailers to get over length permits has overwhelmingly passed the full House and Senate and now awaits Governor Rick Snyder’s signature.  Senate Bill 582, sponsored by Senator Tom Casperson, would extend the allowable
Labor

Teamsters Health & Welfare Fringe Adjustment

MEMORANDUM TO: MITA Union Contractors FROM: Michael A. Nystrom Re: Teamsters Health & Welfare Fringe Adjustment _______________________________________________________________________   Health and Welfare for Road Construction Please be advised that effective April 1, 2012, the Health and Welfare contribution rate will be $346.20. Contact Mike Nystrom at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com, or call him at
Labor

April 1, 2012 Wage Rate Update – Utility Distribution – Laborers

Memorandum TO:         Utility Distribution Contractors FROM:   Michael A. Nystrom, Executive Vice President RE:         April 1, 2012 Wage Rate Update – Utility Distribution – Laborers Please be advised that in accordance with the current Agreement between the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association and the Michigan Laborers District Council the following wage
Engineering

Fraudulent USDOT Faxes Resurface

As we have advised you in the past to beware, recently several MITA members have received what appears to be official letters from the USDOT requesting specific bank account information. Although the fax letters are very official looking on USDOT Procurement Office letterhead, we have confirmed with the USDOT’s Office
Legislative

Legislative Update

Lowboy Legislation Close to Final Approval Legislation that MITA has worked on for several months only has one more hurdle to cross before it is signed into law.  Senate Bill 582 introduced by Senator Tom Casperson would allow for lowboy trailers to operate legally regardless of transporting equipment.  Currently lowboy
Engineering

Reminder – QC is Contractor’s Responsibility

As the 2012 construction season ramps up, MITA wants to remind contractors that the contractor (or subcontractor) responsible for the placement of the concrete is ultimately responsible for concrete quality control. A concrete quality control plan may rely on the testing and procedures that are in place from a ready
Legislative

Congress Making Progress As Continuation Deadline Approaches

A long awaited debate on passing a federal transportation reauthorization budget is occurring in both chambers of Congress.  This week the U.S. Senate reached an agreement to consider 30 amendments in an effort to pass S. 1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21stCentury Act.  In addition, U.S. House
Engineering

MDOT Contract Modification Process – GREATLY IMPROVED!

With their February 24, 2012, formal issuance of Bureau of Highway Instructional Memorandum (BOHIM) 2012-03 Processing Contract Modifications, MDOT has put into place internal procedures that will significantly expedite the processing and approval of contract modifications on all MDOT let construction projects. The development and implementation of these procedures was the
Engineering

MDOT Suspends “At Bid” DBE Information Submittals

As a result of widespread confusion related to DBE information at time of bid submittal in the February lettings, MDOT has suspended the following DBE initiatives for the March 2nd and March 16th lettings.   Capacity Targeted Projects The requirement that bidders submit DBE information at the time of bid has been
Legislative

2012 Transportation Funding FAQs

MITA members have been busy discussing the issue of infrastructure funding with their elected officials, family and friends.  With the recent introduction of 30 bills between both the House and the Senate, it is expected that more and more questions will come up during these meetings.  To help navigate through
Legislative

Help Support Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for the Industry

The House Congressional Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, February 3, 2012, where discussions are anticipated to be held on whether to exempt water projects from state bond caps. The benefit of exempting water projects from the state bond cap would be to help cash-strapped communities
Engineering

MDOT Revises Crushed Concrete Use Restriction

MITA has been informed that MDOT will be revising their restriction on the use of crushed concrete for projects in the March 2nd letting.  MDOT plans to issue an addendum for the impacted projects that will revise the current prohibition (use of crushed concrete is prohibited within 500’ of any watercourse)