We are pleased to announce three new OPL related Stimulus web pages - Stimulus Guidance, Fast Track PS&E Process, & FAQ's. You may view these pages using the links below. A link to a broader ODOT Stimulus web page is also provided.

Inflation and Commodity Indicators - this section includes commodity information and inflation trends.

Looking for Awarded Contracts, Project Summaries, Bid Opening dates, etc.?

The ODOT transition from a mainframe to client-server was completed with minimal problems. The Estimator program provides regions and consultants powerful and flexible software for developing project bid items and costs. The Next Generation Transport (NGT) system under development by AASHTO will include Estimator and add even more powerful system capabilities.

KDOT will Beta Test the future version of software systems designs later this spring. The prototype Web Based Database system is one of a new class of software that eliminates the need for programs and datasets to reside on -C- drives or servers. Web based systems will streamline access to data and continuously upgrading operating systems at the same time. The AASHTOWARE development program is a $50 Million Dollar effort with component upgrades planned for the next 7 years. ODOT is monitoring the progress of the system development with an eye for eventual implementation into ODOT systems.

OPEC members agreed to cut production quotas by another 2.2 million barrels per day this week. The oil markets reacted with prices plunging further, hitting a four-and-a-half-year low on futures exchanges. OPEC members, in an attempt to support higher prices, agreed to reduce the cartel's production quota to about 25 million barrels per day.

Recent estimated production by OPEC producers has been reported at well above current quota levels. It appeared that markets considered the reduction too little to offset the apparent drop in worldwide oil demand. Some sources estimate that the recent drop in world oil demand may be as much as 6-7 million barrels per day. That would make OPEC cuts insufficient to balance markets. OPEC members were getting some pledges of cuts from non-OPEC member nations, including Azerbaijan and Russia. However, the combined reductions were not assumed to be enough to bring supply in line with eroding demand in the near term.

West Coast

Summary: The markets for asphalt liquid in the West Coast region were mixed, with prices in some markets generally holding steady and others headed down to start the month of September. There were reports of supplier price reductions in parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Suppliers seemed keenly aware of how much asphalt they would likely need between now and the end of the paving season, and they were being careful not to over commit for fear of being stuck with product at the seasons end.

In Oregon, the market for asphalt liquid dropped in the western part of the State, as there were reports of some suppliers reducing prices significantly. Asphalt prices in the Portland area skidded lower. Posted prices dropped from the $490-500/ST range to around the $450/ST level for PG 64-22 grade. Selling prices declined and were assessed between $390-425/ST for base grade.

WTI crude prices continued to move higher this week. The December crude contract settled at $80.50 per barrel, increasing $1.97 per barrel for the week. The discount for Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude oil from NYMEX December WTI widened to about $13 per barrel late in the week.