“The ARRA project was the difference between working an extra three weeks instead of
being laid off.”
– Pamp Maiers, President of Central Washington Asphalt
NCR Seal 2009 Stage 2
August 4, 2009
issue of the WSDOT Express Lane.
Three stimulus projects were substantially completed in late July, on time and on budget. Under a $2.98 million contract, Central Washington Asphalt crews resurfaced a total of 68 miles of three state highways in central Washington–16 miles of SR 155 east of Omak, all 28 miles of SR 243 from Vantage to Vernita, and all 24 miles of SR 262 past Potholes State Park. Work began May 26 and was complete August 3.
“I’ve got 350 to 400 employees and none of us make any money if we’re not working.” Those are the words of Pamp Maiers, President of Central Washington Asphalt of Moses Lake.
Maiers said the impact of three additional chip seal projects on his crews, “was the difference between working an extra three weeks instead of being laid off.” At the same time, he said, “These were good projects that turned out well, that preserve and improved three highways in Grant and Okanogan counties that
sorely needed it.Maiers said, “Financially, it worked out well for both the state and for me. I already had the region’s regular chip seal contract, so I already had my crushing operation, asphalt plant and chip sealing crews.
“I was able to beat the other bids by combining the work (9.5 percent under the engineering estimate). For example, the SR 155 ARRA project continued the resurfacing in the region from Disautel Pass down to Omak, so the crews, equipment and materials were already in place and we treated it like a single project.
“Most of that highway is on Colville Tribal lands and tribal members made up 70 percent of our crew. The ARRA project kept them working an extra three weeks.
“I don’t like the reporting requirements,” said Maiers, “I had to add clerical staff to deliver the required documentation, but I guess that created
new jobs, too.”
Maiers is also vice president of the Washington Asphalt Pavers Association and takes a broader view of the stimulus projects than he might from strictly the perspective of a contractor. “WSDOT’s paving tonnage in ’08 was 1.235 million and for ’09 it was only going to be 990,000. The ARRA projects boosted that to 1.535 million.”
He pointed out the residential and commercial business is down 70 to 90 percent. Coupled with the 30 percent reduction in state paving contracts, prior to the stimulus, “Contractors were looking at a grim year.”
“It’s a band-aid,” he said, “But it made a big difference this summer.” For the long term, he said, “We need to see an increase in the federal gas tax which hasn’t been raised since ’92. We can’t do the projects that are necessary just by continuing to raise the state gas tax.”
