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Test excavation speeds utility relocation
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September 1, 2006
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The U.S. DOT’s Federal Highway Administration presented its 2006 Utility Outstanding Achievement Award to Frank Huber, P.E., for his work on the New Jersey Route 21 reconstruction project in Newark. |
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Retrofit project doubles treatment plant capacity without shut down
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September 1, 2006
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New Mexico Water Service Company completed the first wastewater retrofit project of its kind at the company’s Rio Del Oro Wastewater Treatment Facility in the Rio Del Oro area between Belen and Los Lunas. |
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Project News: Transportation
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September 1, 2006
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Transportation project news |
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Project News: Environment
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September 1, 2006
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Environmental project news |
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IECA director dies in helicopter crash
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August 22, 2006
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International Erosion Control Association Board Director Carol Forrest, CPESC, CPSWQ, P.E., was killed on Aug. 13 in a helicopter crash outside of Astoria, Ore. Forrest was taking part in "Flight of Discovery," an aerial expedition to study the environmental and cultural changes along the Lewis and Clark trail.
Also killed in the crash was the pilot, Petor Simpson, and photographer Michael Lilburn.
The team was on a preparatory flight when one of two helicopters crashed about a mile off the Oregon Coast. At press time, the cause of the crash was unknown, but weather was believed to have been a factor. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
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Milestone reached in New York's massive water tunnel project
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August 22, 2006
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Earlier this month, crews working more than 500 feet beneath New York's streets broke through the final inches of rock for Water Tunnel No. 3, an 8.5-mile-long section of what is considered the biggest public works project in the city's history.
The project, encompassing nearly 60 miles of storage and delivery tunnels, and costing an estimated $6 billion, was first authorized in 1954. Construction of stage one-a 13-mile-long tunnel that travels west from the Bronx into Upper Manhattan and into Central Park-began in 1970 and was completed in 1998. Water Tunnel No. 3 is part of stage two, connecting Midtown and Lower Manhattan to the earlier work under Central Park, which is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
According to city officials, completion of the entire project will nearly double the capacity of New York's water supply, which is currently 1.2 billion gallons per day.
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Discovery of tribal remains on the rise as development increases
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August 22, 2006
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"Construction of homes, roads, and bridges is stalling as bulldozers increasingly unearth Native American remains and artifacts," USA Today reported on Aug. 14. Recent cases have been reported in Washington, Arizona, California, New York, and New Mexico.
According to the report, the law requires landowners to report such discoveries-including calling a coroner-and to halt construction until a proper agreement is reached with the appropriate tribe or tribes. Such resolutions could lead to the remains being reburied elsewhere, or in some instances, the projects abandoned altogether.
"It's happening more and more, simply because of development," Larry Myers, executive secretary of California's Native American Heritage Commission told USA Today. Read the entire story on the newspaper's website.
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To conserve water, some California residents are given free, high-efficiency toilets
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August 22, 2006
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As part of a continuing program to help drought-proof the region by increasing water conservation and improving water supply reliability, the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Whittier, Calif., partnered recently with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Rio Hondo College in an unusual giveaway.
On Aug. 13, the team handed out 1,000 high-efficiency toilets to residents who lined up on the college campus for the free commodes, which use just 1.3 gallons of water per flush compared with older toilets that typically use 5 to 7 gallons.
"The turnout was truly amazing, the largest we have seen in years," said Central Basin Director Ed Vasquez. "Within three hours, 1,000 toilets had been distributed. Through this distribution alone, we will save more than 9 million gallons of water annually." |
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Big Dig Director Resigns His Post
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August 8, 2006
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Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello has resigned his post (effective Aug. 15), following repeated calls for his removal from Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney after last month’s fatal accident in the Big Dig’s I-90 connector tunnel.
Oversight of the massive project and the ongoing inspections to prevent more failures has been handed over to the state Department of Transportation.
CNN reported that under his contract, Amorello will continue to receive his salary ($223,000 per year) through Feb. 15, 2007. |
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Engineer Builds 'Big Dig House'
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August 8, 2006
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Not all Big Dig-related stories these days are bad news. USA Today recently profiled a civil engineer who worked on the project for 11 years and managed to recycle and reuse scrap materials from the project to build a new home.
Paul Pedini, who at the time was a vice president for Modern Continental Co., one of the Big Dig's main contractors, salvaged about 600,000 pounds of concrete and steel to build his 4,300-square-foot "Big Dig House" in Lexington, Mass. Saving the materials for himself-and paying to have them transported to his property-Pedini estimates that he saved the company $20,000 in demolition and dumping fees.
"These materials are as good as you can get," Pedini told USA Today. "We were being paid money to junk this stuff. There's something inherently illogical about it." |
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Audit Finds 'Accounting Shell Game' in Iraq Reconstruction Projects
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August 8, 2006
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According to a recent federal audit of some of the reconstruction projects underway in Iraq, the agency charged with overseeing the projects knowingly withheld schedule delays and cost overruns in what The New York Times reported as "an accounting shell game."
The findings appear in an audit of the United States Agency for International Development's (U.S.A.I.D.) oversight of the construction of a children's hospital in Basra, but the report refers to wider reconstruction efforts throughout Iraq.
The government's auditors report that U.S.A.I.D. made a practice of hiding escalating costs for security and other problems by reporting them as overhead or indirect costs. Further, the agency was found to have regularly withheld project delays in its reports to Congress.
The U.S. government has sent a new director to its embassy in Baghdad to oversee reconstruction efforts. |
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Water Woes Continue to Plague New Orleans
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August 8, 2006
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Among its many problems as a result of last year's devastating hurricane, the city of New Orleans continues to struggle with the damage to its water, wastewater, and drainage systems.
Local reports say the city's Sewerage and Water Board still is waiting for most of the promised $447 million in federal assistance to pay for a growing list of repairs to underground pipes. Meanwhile, businesses and government buildings often face low water pressure and frequent service shut downs.
FEMA spokesperson Ronnie Simpson told New Orleans television station KATC3 that his agency recognized the severity of the situation. He said that, "we're all here to help this city come back," but that the federal funds were "an astronomical amount of taxpayer money" that must go through a review process to justify spending. |
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Learn from the best
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August 1, 2006
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The third annual Best Firm To Work For Summit will be held Sept. 28-29, 2006. |
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Plastic pipe presentations
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August 1, 2006
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More than 500 international plastic pipe industry leaders will explore strategies on topics such as sustainable development, infrastructure rehabilitation technology, recycling, and drinking water quality at Plastics Pipes XIII. |
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Port problems
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August 1, 2006
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A new, National Science Foundation-sponsored project, led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, aims to develop strategies to help safeguard ports from earthquake damage. |
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Arizona Cardinals stadium ready for first season
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August 1, 2006
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Completion of the Arizona Cardinal’s new stadium kicks off this month with an August 12 pre-season game between the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. |
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Investigations Continue into Big Dig Accident
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July 25, 2006
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More trouble spots were found in the Big Dig’s I-90 connector tunnel following a fatal accident on July 10 in which a motorist was killed when several heavy ceiling tiles (weighing approximately 3 tons each) crushed the victim’s car. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) has ordered an examination of every road and tunnel in its highway system, and the federal government is looking into the ceiling tile failure as well. |
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National Infrastructure Protection Plan Released
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July 25, 2006
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The Department of Homeland Security has released its National Infrastructure Protection Plan, calling for key federal and state agencies to cooperate and collaborate in protecting critical transportation infrastructure and resources.
The broad document outlines how federal, state, tribal, local, and private entities should work together to "Build a safer, more secure, and more resilient America by enhancing protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources to prevent, deter, neutralize, or mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts by terrorists to destroy, incapacitate, or exploit them; and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster, or other emergency."
The complete document is available online at the Department of Homeland Security’s website. |
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Senate Endorses New Controls for Army Corps Projects
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July 25, 2006
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On July 19, the Senate voted 54 to 46 to place new controls on water projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The legislation was an amendment attached to a new, $11.6-billion funding measure that adds 100 new projects to the Corps’ schedule.
The legislation calls for creating independent panels to review (and offer their advice to Congress and the Corps) proposed water projects that are valued at $40 million or more, or that could be considered controversial. The panel members would be appointed by the Secretary of the Army. An additional amendment, which called for creating an interagency panel to prioritize Corps projects, did not pass. |
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GIS/Geospatial Market Continues to Be Strong
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July 25, 2006
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According to the latest research from Daratech, Inc., a leading market research firm for the information technology industries, the market for GIS and geospatial equipment, software, and services continues to increase. The company forecasts that worldwide revenue will reach $3.6 billion this year, up from $2.82 billion in 2004.
The growth is driven by sales of commercial data products and the emergence of desktop- and Internet-based systems, Daratech reports. Software developers comprise more than half of this projected revenue ($1.5 billion), with three vendors (ESRI, Bentley, and Intergraph Corp.) accounting for about half of the industry’s total software revenues. |
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CE News, Structural Engineer, and Bridges Magazines Want to Hear From You!
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July 11, 2006
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We want to include your opinions in our continuing coverage of last year's devastating Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Please consider the following question and write to us with your response. We plan to use your feedback in the September issues, so please include your name, credentials (P.E., S.E., etc.), city, state, and firm/organization name along with your response.
Question: As repair and re-building continues in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, what do you believe that state and/or federal agencies should mandate to protect structures (especially residential and commercial buildings) against future wind and/or water damage in the region?
Send your answers to us via e-mail, with "hurricanes" in the subject line. |
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Mineta Makes His Final Remarks as Head of DOT
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July 11, 2006
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On Thursday, July 6, Norman Mineta made his final speech as the U.S. secretary of transportation. In an address before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mineta reminded officials about the nation's key transportation concerns as they move forward in his absence.
He said the nation's transportation system is at a critical juncture that requires bipartisanship if we are to continue to lead by example. The secretary noted that if the United States wishes to maintain its competitive edge in transportation design and construction then we should not "make a habit out of turning our noses up at investors in our seaports, airports, and highways just because they are headquartered outside the United States." |
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Race is on to Replace U.S. DOT Secretary
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July 11, 2006
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According to a July 7 report in the Washington Post, trucking industry lobbyist Bill Graves, a former Kansas governor, is considered the front runner to replace outgoing U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
Government and industry sources also told the newspaper that Federal Aviation Administration Head Marion Blakey is another strong candidate. Blakey headed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the early 1990s.
When asked about his preference for a successor, Mineta told Traffic World magazine recently that he would prefer his former deputy Maria Cino.
A decision on the Cabinet post could come as early as this week, Bush administration officials say. |
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2006 'Hot Firms' Announced
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July 11, 2006
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Zweig White Information Services has identified the 100 fastest-growing U.S. architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms for its annual ranking, The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List. These firms have outperformed the economy and competitors to become industry leaders.
Compass Environmental, Inc., earned the number-one spot on the 2006 list. Compass and this year's other Hot Firms will be recognized at a special reception at The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Celebration & Conference, to be held Oct. 25-27, 2006, in San Francisco. |
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CE News, Structural Engineer, and Bridges Magazines Want to Hear From You!
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June 27, 2006
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We want to include your opinions in our continuing coverage of last year's devastating Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Please consider the following question and write to us with your response. We plan to use your feedback in the September issues, so please include your name, credentials (P.E., S.E., etc.), city, state, and firm/organization name along with your response.
Question: As repair and re-building continues in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, what do you believe that state and/or federal agencies should mandate to protect structures (especially residential and commercial buildings) against future wind and/or water damage in the region?
Send your answers to us via e-mail, with "hurricanes" in the subject line.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Resigns
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June 27, 2006
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On Friday, June 23, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a letter from Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta addressed to President Bush in which the secretary announced his intent to resign effective July 7.
The letter does not give a specific reason for Mineta’s resignation, other than to say "it is time for me to move on to other challenges." As the only Democrat in Bush’s cabinet, Mineta thanked the President for crossing party lines. "Working with you has been particularly rewarding and most gratifying, especially since I have been able to do so with your full support and confidence," he stated in the letter.
Before he joined President Bush’s administration, Mineta, 74, served as secretary of commerce under President Clinton.
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Difficulties Continue for U.S. Contractor in Iraq
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June 27, 2006
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On June 19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced that it cancelled a $99.1-million contract for Parsons to build a prison north of Baghdad, saying the firm was more than two years behind schedule and over budget. This announcement came just weeks after the Corps cancelled another Parsons contract, which was valued at $300 million to construct hospitals and clinics. |
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Water Utility Workers Fired for Drinking, Swimming on the Job
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June 27, 2006
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Several employees (including an interim general manager) at a municipal water treatment facility outside of Austin, Texas, were fired recently for drinking alcohol at work and for swimming in a pond that is part of the treatment plant. |
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Limits Placed on Army Corps' Control of Remote Wetlands
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June 27, 2006
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On June 19, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision, refusing to expand the authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to regulate man-made ditches and remote wetlands. Calling the decision "one of the most significant environmental-related cases in recent years," the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) said that if the Court had granted additional power to the federal agency, it could have led to even greater delays on transportation projects. |
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Army Corps Accepts Blame for Katrina Damage
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June 13, 2006
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On the heels of its announcement in late May that phase one of the reconstructed levee system in New Orleans would be completed in time for the beginning of hurricane season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) also announced that it was accepting blame for the flooding during Hurricane Katrina last year. |
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