$305 billion highway bill leads to growing need for sand and salt storage
Congress officially passed a 5-year highway authorization bill Dec. 3 – the first time a long-term highway bill has been approved in a decade.
The National Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing indicated the House passed the bill by a vote of 359 to 65, and the Senate followed with a vote of 83 to 16.
The bill’s primary purpose is to improve U.S. infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal reported money will be put toward restoration of a crop insurance subsidy, renewal of the Export-Import Bank and revamping roads and railways. The legislation is financed in part by federal gasoline tax revenue.
“The sand and salt industry will likely experience a greater need for reliable storage options.”
The bill overcame significant opposition in its early stages, making it unclear whether it would pass in any form, according to The Hill. However, lawmakers pressured by the authorization’s expiry and the upcoming election season encouraged agreement on the precise funding allocation in the legislation. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law quickly thereafter.
“This bill is not perfect, but it is a commonsense compromise, and an important first step in the right direction,” Obama noted prior to signing the bill, according to The Hill. “I look forward to signing this bill right away, so that we can put Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and transit systems, reauthorize the Export-Import Bank that helps our companies compete around the world, and give local and state governments and employers the certainty they need to invest and hire for the long term.”
Revitalized highways and new infrastructure construction projects will likely contribute to faster transportation options and fewer logistical hurdles for companies with sizable supply chains. On the other hand, with the ability to move more products to market, certain industries will face the dilemma of now having to store a greater amount of these same products on site.
A growing need for future storage
Companies in the salt and sand industry will likely have a higher demand for storage facilities. A fabric covered building from Winkler Structures provides a durable solution to businesses in this situation.
A fabric building serves as an optimal place for road maintenance professionals to store salt and sand, and Winkler Structures provides a customized fabric storage building for the unique needs of each client. With customization, industry professionals can install additional doors for easier loading and unloading opportunities, making storage a more manageable aspect of their business.
Environmental consciousness
According to U.S. Roads, one issue with storing sand and salt is the stockpile runoff. Maximum concentration of salt can contaminate the environment and impact the health of an ecosystem.
While there are a number of state regulations in place to protect the environment, those who need to store salt rely on appropriate storage facilities that minimize the environmental impact. Winkler Structures offers a wide range of available materials to ensure salt and sand storage is not only tailored to state regulations, but maximizes overall eco-friendliness.
Consumers can select a variety of foundations to minimize the risk of runoff being absorbed into the ground. Companies can work with Winkler Structures to determine which foundation is best for their salt and sand storage facility.
Winkler Structure’s membrane fabric products are both durable and safe. Clients can customize all aspects of their fabric building, including the fabric material used.
With the new bill recently passed, storage needs must accommodate the new infrastructure realities in the country, and Winkler Structures is here to help.