Asphalt Contractor Magazine

The House Markup day the BUILD America 250 Act is today! This bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization is meant to replace the IIJA when current authorization expires September 30.

There's already been some great coverage by the National Asphalt Pavement Associationn, Eno Center for Transportation, and here are a few items contractors should know:

→ The bill authorized roughly $60B per year in core Federal-aid highway funding by FY2031.

→ $474.4B came through Highway Trust Fund contract authority. The remaining ~$106B is subject to annual appropriations, with no General Fund advance appropriations to backstop it.

→ The bridge program grew from roughly $40B under IIJA to $56B under BA250, the largest formula-driven federal bridge investment in U.S. history.

→ Section 1129 imposed a $130 annual federal registration fee on EVs and $35 on plug-in hybrids, the first new HTF revenue stream since the 1993 gas tax increase.

→ The Carbon Reduction Program and the PROTECT formula program both ended. The Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant Program replaced the Rural program at $2.4B per year.

Full comparative analysis here: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/asphalt/application/policy-matters/article/22967226/build-america-250-vs-iija-how-the-two-bills-measure-up

BUILD America 250 vs. IIJA: How the Two Bills Measure Up The BUILD America 250 Act authorized $580B over five years. Here's how it compared to the IIJA on bridges, HTF revenue, and the federal funding pipeline.

Three acquisitions in 18 months. A new $13.7M parts hub in South Carolina. Roughly 30% of the U.S. asphalt paver market now under one roof. The Fayat Group's North American footprint has changed significantly over the last few years.

We sat down with the head of one of the world's largest road-building manufacturers to talk about what's driving the moves: where digitization actually changes contractor economics, how global trade pressure is reshaping equipment sourcing, and where he sees the next decade of paving headed.

FAYAT Group + BOMAG worldwide + Dynapac North America + LeeBoy + Mecalac + ADM - Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc.

Jean-Claude Fayat On Digitization, Trade, And The Future Of Road Building Jean-Claude Fayat breaks down FAYAT's North American strategy, why equipment prices won't normalize, and what separates a good business decision from a great one.

We’re proud to have our equipment featured as the cover story in the February/March print edition of Asphalt Contractor Magazine.

This story highlights how Black Gold Transport, Inc made the decision to invest in their first asphalt plant—choosing a high-capacity ALmix system to take control of quality, scale production, and position themselves for larger opportunities.

It’s a great example of what happens when a contractor becomes a partner, not just a customer, in the plant specification process. At ALmix, we’re not focused on building the cheapest plant—we’re focused on building and scaling your business with the right equipment. Our sales consultants and team of experts prioritize what you will need now, and in the years and decades to come, while our service team supports our partners every step of the way through their growth.

Take a look at the full feature story below:
https://www.asphalt.com/production/plants/article/22958759/almix-how-black-gold-built-its-first-asphalt-plant-to-control-quality-scale-production-and-win-bigger-work

No Edge Lines returns with our BEST EPISODE EVER! We took a trip to Ellensburg, WA, to visit Central Paving, LLC to learn a little bit about paving on a live, active roadway. Our editor-in-chief got the chance to drive the paver, but not before he experienced the joys of Goat Yoga (has to be seen to be believed) as well as homemade Ellensburg chicken teriyaki. 👇 VIDEO LINK IN COMMENTS! Thanks to Dynapac North America for making this video possible.