Increased construction spending is reflected in ready-mixed concrete demand in New Jersey’s infrastructure building industry.
According to a recent report by MasterBuilders/F.W. Dodge, ready-mixed concrete demand for non-building — including highways, roads and bridges — jumped almost 20 percent over 1999 at 2 million cu. yds. and is projecting a less, but still, significant increase in demand for 2001. Infrastructure concrete growth is sustained in the report’s projection, with annual demand breaking 2 million cu. yds. now through 2004.
Concrete production for the state of New Jersey reached 6.7 million cu. yds. last year, or 1.7 percent of the total U.S. market, down 6.6 percent from the total market in 1998, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. While New Jersey has not maintained the growth rates of Washington, D.C., California and Texas, New Jersey municipalities, counties and the state government have increased funds earmarked for infrastructure projects throughout the state — each requiring a substantial amount of concrete.
In November, the New Jersey Alliance For Action reported that public and private construction will total $20.4 billion over the next two years — the highest numbers recorded in 16 years. The estimates of $10.8 billion for 2001 and $9.6 billion for 2002 represented a jump of 24 percent over the previous record construction estimates totaling $16.7 billion made last year.
Major increases were projected in school construction, transportation, office and industrial parks, utilities, corporate and pharmaceutical facilities. Projected school construction of $3.1 billion over the two-year period was the biggest single total that was reported.
“New Jersey’s concrete industry is strong and vibrant,” said William F. Layton, executive director of the New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate Association (NJCAA). “But promotion of our product has been the key to our success. For example, at this year’s Mid-Atlantic Concrete, Construction and Aggregate Forum in Atlantic City, the NJCAA featured industry seminars and exhibits structured for all types of concrete suppliers and producers.
NJCAA and the New Jersey Concrete Promotion Council, a service of the NJCAA, is a non-profit trade group that promotes the use of ready-mixed concrete and sound aggregates, and represents the $3 billion concrete and aggregate industry.
For more information, call 609/771-0099 or visit www.njconcrete.com.
