Vermont road-paving business booms thanks to storm

Posted by IronPlanet on Dec 27, 2011 6:26:00 AM

Across the country, spending on new roadways is down nearly 6 percent this year, which has made it tough for many in the road-building business. However, Vermont is one state that has been immune to the effects across the nation, reports Vermont Public Radio.

As an example of the good that can come from a bad situation, Vermont's road-paving businesses were saved this year due to one event - Hurricane Irene in August. The massive storm damaged roads and highways all over the state, and it's helped business owners like Steve Wilk make it through the year.

"You know, we're not grateful for a disaster," he told the news source. "But as far as the economy and us - yeah, it's going to help us."

Wilk says that his small road-paving company has gotten so much new business because of the disaster that he's had to push some work into 2012, ensuring that he'll be busy for quite some time.

The uptick in business also allowed Wilk to buy $15,000 worth of construction equipment. Those who have seen similar increases in business lately may want to use IronPlanet for their equipment needs, as the site contains a wide range of pavers, excavators and much more, all selling for more affordable prices than brand-new models.

Topics: Construction, Industry Headlines