摘要: |
Construction of the nation's transportation facilities necessitates a substantial investment in construction equipment. Earth moving requires machinery to loosen, load, haul, spread, and compact soil. Portland cement concrete and asphalt cement concrete for pavement construction are produced in plants, hauled in trucks, and shaped by pavers. Bridge construction requires heavy lifting equipment, such as cranes, while large tunnels require tunnel-boring machines, some of which are custom built for a particular project. In addition to the above equipment, a myriad of additional specialized pieces of equipment, including rail and marine equipment, is required to complete transportation construction projects. Contractors, not transportation agencies, own the majority of transportation construction equipment. Equipment manufacturers and contractors will be responsible for most innovations in construction equipment at the beginning of the new millennium. By providing construction funding and specifications, however, transportation agencies will have a considerable influence on the amount and type of innovation that takes place. |