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ITD plays host for annual WASHTO
construction, materials conference

Transportation officials from throughout the western U.S. will meet in Boise March 27-30 for the annual WASHTO (Western Association of State Highway Transportation Officials) conference, hosted by the Idaho Transportation Department.

The four-day conference will be at the Grove Hotel and features presentations on highway construction methods and materials. Registration begins at 2 p.m. the first day, and the ambitious agenda, including breakout sessions and roundtable discussions, follow from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 the following two days.

Among the topics tentatively scheduled for the first full day are:

• The Roads that Built America, by Dan McNichol of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association

• Rising Costs of Construction Materials, Ken Simonsen, chief economist for Associated General Contractors, Washington, D.C.

• Final Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility, Chris Newman, Federal Highway Administration

• Results from Four Years of Pavement Noise Testing, Tim Aschenbrener, Colorado

• Owner Controlled Insurance Program, Darrell Giannonatti, Utah

A dinner excursion is planned on the Thunder Mountain (railroad) Line.

Breakout sessions are tailored for attendees interested in construction or materials topics on Wednesday, March 29.

The final day, March 30, will include a preview of the 2007 conference in California and site selection for the 2008 conference as well as construction and materials breakout reports and closing remarks.

The tentative schedule and registration information is available at the conference Web site: http://www.itd.idaho.gov/highways/Construction/washto/index.htm