There’s a cement shortage

There’s a shortage of cement in parts of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes region. And it’s due in part at least to last year’s harsh winter. The Michigan Concrete Association tells the Detroit Free Press that because the Great Lakes nearly froze over completely last winter, the shipping season started later than usual. That, in turn delayed the shipping of cement in the springtime. And combined with that, the oil boom in North Dakota tied up freight trains. The cement industry provides the binding material for concrete in roads, sidewalks and other projects. The Free Press reports that it all adds up to a cement shortage, delaying everything from new driveways to public works projects. Daniel DeGraf of the M-C-A says some jobs may not be completed this year as scheduled, because of the shortage.  (MRN)