WHAT'S NEW & WHO'S NEWS
Thalle Industries Launches Dakota Concrete
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY—In a strategic expansion move, Thalle Industries announced on June 1 it had launched Dakota Concrete in Montrose, N.Y., expanding its services to concrete products for customers in the Lower Hudson Valley while strengthening Thalle’s competitive position in this key market.
“Dakota Concrete fits with what we do, and the operation is a natural extension of our business,” said Thalle Industries’ CEO Glenn Pacchiana. “The concrete plant has a team of young people who we want to help grow into valued members of the Thalle family.”
Thalle Industries is an environmentally responsible supplier of high-quality virgin and recycled aggregate, asphalt products and brownfield fill for the construction industry. The company operates a quarry and asphalt plant in Fishkill, N.Y., and a Virtual Quarry recycling center in Elmsford, N.Y.
The launch of Dakota Concrete allows Thalle Industries to open a new Virtual Quarry recycling center in Montrose, which will give customers from Putnam and southern Dutchess counties a new recycling option, company officials stated.
“We are confident that this launch provides the opportunity to expand the concrete plant’s existing customer base, while providing new opportunities to employees for their growth and careers. We are committed to working with our customers to ensure that we are providing the best quality products and services at competitive prices,” said Mr. Pacchiana.
The Dakota Concrete launch is the latest improvement designed to enhance the customer experience, company officials said.
A 350-tons-per-hour asphalt plant opened on April 1 at the Fishkill site, and over the winter it was upgraded with the latest burner and silo technologies. During the height of the paving season, the plant can load pavement trailers and trucks within three minutes, according to the company.
Effective immediately, Thalle Industries is handling orders and deliveries at 2099 Albany Post Road in Montrose. Concrete orders can be placed at (914) 737-7891.
Gashi Named Chairperson Of Westchester Board of Legislators
WHITE PLAINS—On May 15, the Westchester County Board of Legislators elected Vedat Gashi as the new Chairperson of the Westchester County Legislature. Mr. Gashi, who represents District 4, was elected to the position by his fellow legislators in a vote of 17-0.
Mr. Gashi brings a wealth of experience to the position. Born in Kosovo, at the age of four he and his family fled the oppressive, socialist regime to settle in the United States. Since then, he has been a resident of Westchester County. He earned a B.A. from Connecticut College, where he was invited to serve on the Board of Trustees as a Young Alumni Trustee. Next, he earned his J.D. from Seton Hall University. During his studies, Mr. Gashi interned for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was then at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and Congressman Lee Hamilton on the House International Relations Committee.
Mr. Gashi takes over as Chair following the resignation of Catherine Borgia, who had served as Chairperson from January 2022 until late April 2023, and the interim leadership of Vice Chair Nancy Barr immediately thereafter. His election makes him the first person of Albanian-American descent and the first person of the Muslim faith to become Chair of the Board of Legislators in its 300-year history.
In accepting the position, Mr. Gashi expressed his gratitude to his colleagues on the Board for their support. “I am honored to have been chosen to lead this distinguished body,” he said. “I look forward to working with my fellow legislators to address the challenges facing our county, and to ensure that Westchester remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Peckham Industries Acquires E. Tetz & Sons, Inc.
MIDDLETOWN, NY—Peckham Industries, Inc. announced on June 5 the company had acquired E. Tetz & Sons, Inc. of Middletown, NY and its subsidiary, Tetz Asphalt LLC, which are located in Orange County, NY.
Collectively known as “Tetz,” the company is a leading aggregate, ready-mix concrete and hot-mix asphalt producer, serving customers in the Hudson Valley region with more than 130 employees.
The acquisition will expand Brewster, NY-based Peckham’s opportunities to serve customers in this fast-growing market. Northern Edge Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to the Tetz Family for this transaction. No financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.
“This acquisition allows us to further integrate and grow our presence in the lower Hudson Valley region of New York, one of the most rapidly growing parts of the state,” said Damian Murphy, President of Peckham Industries, Inc. “We recognize the prominent history of Tetz and the significant contribution the business has made to the region. Peckham believes that our ‘family by choice’ culture delivers value as the trusted supplier of construction materials, products, and services in the communities that we serve.”
Gary Tetz Sr., president of E. Tetz & Sons, Inc., said, “We are extremely excited for Tetz to join Peckham Industries. Our shared values as family-owned companies will ensure a seamless transition for our customers and employees as we work through the integration process. We are looking forward to being a part of the growth of Peckham Industries in the surrounding region.”
As a privately held, family-operated company now entering its 100th anniversary, Peckham Industries, Inc., employs nearly 1,200 people at more than 30 facilities located in five states (New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont). The enterprise provides road construction materials and road construction services, including hot asphalt, liquid asphalt, asphalt emulsion, stone and aggregates, ready-mix concrete and liquid calcium chloride. It also provides precast structural concrete components for large-scale construction projects throughout the Northeast.
Gateway Issues RFQs for Hudson Tunnel Project
NEW YORK—The Gateway Development Commission announced on May 31 that it had issued a Request for Qualifications for two major components of the Hudson Tunnel Project: Package EA1, the Hudson River Ground Stabilization (HRGS) project, and Package 1A, the Palisades Tunnel project.
For the HRGS project, the RFQ invites Statements of Qualifications from entities interested in designing and constructing the HRGS via a Design-Build delivery model. Responses will be due July 12, 2023. The project is expected to commence in early 2024, ahead of the full tunnel construction.
For the Palisades Tunnel project, the RFQ invites Statements of Qualifications from entities interested in constructing the Palisades Tunnel via a Design-Bid-Build delivery model. Responses will be due Sept. 13, 2023. The Palisades Tunnel is the first project in the full construction of the new Hudson Tunnel and is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2024.
After evaluating the Statements of Qualifications, GDC plans to short list entities and issue Requests for Proposals.
The RFQs are the first procurement documents issued by GDC, demonstrating continued progress in GDC’s work to build its organizational capacity.
“GDC is continuing to advance the Hudson Tunnel Project from planning to doing,” said Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission. “Today’s launch of the procurement process for these two vital components of the tunnel are another big sign that we’re going to seize this moment and bring 21st century rail to the busiest link in the Northeast Corridor.”
The HRGS will fortify and stabilize the river bottom on the New York side of the Hudson River over a 1,200-foot portion leading to the Manhattan Bulkhead. The work will create an improved condition in which to bore the new tunnel through the eastern portion of the Hudson River section of the project. The work will also comply with all environmental regulations and be conducted in specified time ranges to protect the river, fish, and wildlife.
The Palisades Tunnel will be the first contract package in the project to utilize Tunnel Boring Machines. The TBMs will start east of Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, NJ and continue at depths between 40 feet to 260 feet below the surface of the Palisades. The boring will extend approximately one mile to the Hoboken Ventilation Shaft just west of the Hudson River. The concrete shell of the tunnel will be constructed behind the TBMs.
GDC has also made substantial progress in recent months advancing other elements of the Hudson Tunnel Project. Early work is expected to begin later this year on both the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation project in New Jersey and the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing – Section 3 in New York.
GDC recently shortlisted potential Project Delivery Partners and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau is advancing the application for obtaining Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loans to support the project. In addition, the Hudson Tunnel Project is continuing to move through the FTA’s Capital Investment Grants program toward a Full Funding Grant Agreement next year.