Displaying items by tag: traffic
Cemex's Lyons cement plant operations may be terminated
11 April 2024US: Boulder County has initiated action to terminate the operating licence of the Cemex cement plant near Lyons, Colorado, citing improper expansion of use. Dale Case, director of Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting, sent a notice to the company, motivated by a ‘significant’ rise in traffic. The letter said that the increased traffic created a need for new traffic construction and infrastructure, and requires a new access permit from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
The plant has been operational since 1965, but faced changes in 1994 when Boulder County amended its land use code, necessitating special use approval for open mining at the Dowe Flats Quarry. The special use approval for the quarry expired on 30 September 2022, leading to termination of all mining operations and multiple complaints alleging the cement plant's non-compliance with county code and traffic congestion. A CDOT study revealed an increase in truck traffic since the quarry's closure, with daily trips increasing by 50% year-on-year.
Cemex now has a 30-day window to contest the director's determination, reduce plant use, or appeal to the Boulder County Board of Commissioners. The plant will continue operating under existing conditions until a final decision is reached.
Lafarge Africa completes 20km road in Cross River State
22 March 2024Nigeria: The governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has officially commissioned a 20km road built by Lafarge Africa. The road is being constructed at Mfamosing, Lafarge's operational base, and ends at Odukpani junction near Ayade’s Flyover. It was initiated in 2010 as a bypass to alleviate traffic congestion.
Governor Otu said “What you have done has taken this whole traffic completely out of town and straight to the road where they are actually looking to take things out of the state. I commend you and wish that other corporate bodies would emulate Lafarge.”
Alade Akinyemi, group managing director and CEO of Lafarge, informed the governor that the project was started in 2010, but was delayed due to challenges associated with geotechnical studies and the design. He said “The road will improve safety, drive economic growth, and enhance productivity due to reduction of man hour as a result of no traffic and congestion.”
Sheerness grinding plant secures planning permission
15 December 2022UK: The planning applications committee of Kent County Council has approved Hercules Enterprises' Euro46.5m plan for a new 500,000t/yr grinding plant at Sheerness Docks on the Isle of Sheppey. The Sheerness Times Guardian newspaper has reported that the council assented subject to the producer's adherence to its particulate and dust management plan and continual noise monitoring. When commissioned, the new plant will create 52 new jobs, generate up to 144 truck movements per day and increase traffic on the A249 by 1%.
Hercules Enterprises' director Stuart Mason Elliot said that the new facility will help to move cement production away from its reliance on road transport. He said “This is not an open, dated, dusty old operation, but a fully-enclosed, clean, modern, environmentally responsible and sustainable plant designed to be a good neighbour to residents and other occupants of the port.”
Cemex USA loses Dowe Flats quarry dispute
30 September 2022US: The Board of County Commissioners of Boulder, Colorado, has denied Cemex USA’s application for a 15-year extension to its Dowe Flats quarry mining licence, following its expiry on 30 September 2022. Commissioner Claire Levy cited dust, traffic, noise and disturbances to wildlife as reasons behind the decision.
Cemex USA’s nearby Lyons cement plant has previously relied on the quarry for the supply of 760,000t/yr of limestone.
Tamil Nadu Federation of Panchayat Presidents protests alleged unlawful cement plant practices
14 June 2022India: The Tamil Nadu Federation of Panchayat Presidents, an overarching organisation for local government leaders, has begun a protest against unlawful cement plant practices in the state. The New Indian Express newspaper has reported that the federation’s president Sellam Kadamban said that limestone mines and trucks are operating illegally, creating pollution and traffic collisions.