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City of Cincinnati Invites Contractors to Learn about Western Hills Viaduct Project
The City of Cincinnati invites you to learn about their upcoming bridge construction project that will replace the existing Western Hills Viaduct.
Please visit the following web page to see a video and other background information about the project: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/western-hills-viaduct/cmar/. You may download and print the one-page highlights and executive summary.
The City intends to publish a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) later in the second quarter. They encourage you to schedule a one-on-one virtual meeting with their project team to learn more prior to the release of the RFQ. Contact information is on the web page.
Please contact Ursula Miller if you have any technical issues accessing the web page or the links.
New Ohio Contractor Magazine Online
Click Here
Governor DeWine Announced $51 Million for Traffic Safety Projects
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks announced today that ODOT will invest $51 million into new traffic safety improvement projects to specifically address an increase in pedestrian-involved traffic crashes and fatal roadway departures on state and local roads.
» According to ODOT, fatal crashes involving pedestrians and roadway departures both hit their highest levels in 2021 when compared to the previous decade.
The $51 million in funding will go toward 44 roadway safety projects in 32 counties.
» Nearly $30 million, or 58 percent, will be awarded to local governments in municipalities, townships, and counties for projects under their jurisdictions.
»The remaining funds will be used for projects on ODOT-maintained roads and highways.
Of the total funds, ODOT will invest $25.6 million into roadway-departure prevention projects such as widening roadway shoulders, installing center and edge-line rumble strips, and modifying ditches and culverts.
» Incidents of drivers leaving the travel lane and sideswiping another vehicle, hitting an oncoming vehicle, or colliding with an object on the side of the road typically cause more than half of all traffic deaths and nearly half of all serious traffic injuries in Ohio each year.
» In 2021, 703 people were killed and 3,390 people were seriously hurt in roadway departure crashes.
National Work Zone Awareness Survey
A fitting effort during this week of construction safety awareness (National Construction Safety Week – May 2-6, 2022) would be sharing your experiences about highway work zones in our national affiliate, AGC’s survey. Please click on the following link to participate in the national survey. AGC and OCA will share the final results with our members. Thank you. Click here for national work zone safety survey
Details of OCA's New Labor Agreements
In April, OCA’s Labor Relations Division successfully negotiated successor labor contracts with the Carpenters, Cement Masons, Laborers and Teamsters. Details of the new agreements were forwarded to all members of OCA’s Labor Relations Division for review and ratification. Approval of all agreements was unanimous.
For those OCA members who work with union labor, but are not members of our Labor Relations Division, we are attaching copies of the tentative agreements with the above listed unions. The tentative agreements include any changes made in negotiations that will be included in the new agreements, once printed. Please click links below to review the agreements.
Carpenters
Cement Masons
Laborers
Teamsters
If you have any questions about the changes, please contact Mark Potnick in the OCA office.
Employment of Young Workers -Solving the Labor Shortage
LEGALLY SPEAKING
by Bob Dunlevy
Taft/Law
With summer often comes employment of young workers. But, the current heightened demand for workers makes the employment of young workers even more attractive. It is anticipated that this summer, teen unemployment will be at the lowest level since 1953 and the number of teens in the workforce will be the highest since 2008. So that you may hire effectively, this article answers many of the common questions about restrictions imposed by state and federal wage-hour laws. In general, the type of work that a minor may perform is related to the minor’s age, the nature of the work and schooling status. State and federal laws vary somewhat so pay attention to your state’s regulations. Here is a basic summary:
ODOT Releases 2021-2022 Inflation Factors
According to C&MS 109.05.B Negotiated Prices, ODOT’s Office of Construction Administration will publish factors to adjust prices for projects awarded in previous years.
FACTOR FOR 2021 to 2022: 12.1%
The following factor may be used to adjust agreed unit prices obtained from the Summary of Contracts Awarded and average unit prices awarded on three different projects with similar work and quantity. Unit prices in 2022 should not be higher than this adjustment factor unless supported with reasonable documentation of cost from the contractor.
There are several reasons the inflation factor is higher this year:
• Higher diesel costs over the last year impacted nearly every item of work either directly on the job site or through the transport of materials in the supply chain.
• Higher liquid asphalt costs had a big impact on ODOT’s composite index since Asphalt pay items make up between 25%-30% of our Program.
• Sharply higher steel product costs; and numerous material delivery delays.
The factor may not be used to adjust prices computed by the Office of Estimating or cost analysis of labor, equipment and material.
The inflation factor is calculated by the Office of Estimating. It is the Chained Fisher Construction Cost Index for the last four quarters of bids received by ODOT.
Click here for a spreadsheet of all inflation factors calculated since 2013.
Please contact Chris Engle if you have any questions.
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