Penny’s Concrete not hit by shortage

Another company with operations in Lawrence weighed in Wednesday on the nationwide cement shortage.

Bill Penny, of Penny’s Concrete Inc., said the shortage hasn’t reached Lawrence yet, but added: “It’s tight. It’s pretty tight.”

The coasts are more affected than the Midwest, he said, but the coming winter should create some breathing room for the mills that produce cement.

“This would be the prime (construction) time right now, so if we make it through the next month, we should be OK,” Penny said.

Cement, a powder made from limestone and other materials, is used to make concrete and mortar for foundations, walls, roads and other structures.