Pit & Quarry connected with Kent Starwalt, the executive vice president of the Tennessee Road Builders Association, to discuss his optimism for Tennessee’s aggregate industry in 2020.
Describe the current state of the industry within Tennessee in a word or two: Stable
His outlook for 2020: Somewhat optimistic
Greatest opportunities available to aggregate producers in Tennessee: Highway funding and economic growth in the urban areas
Greatest challenges facing producers in Tennessee: Regulatory issues such as continued uncertainties concerning WOTUS (the Waters of the United States).
On the likelihood of a multi-year federal infrastructure bill passing in 2020: I would like to be optimistic and say yes, but impeachment and the election are going to drive everything.
