Underground Construction
Utility & Communications Construction Update
The summer construction season of 2019 saw further decline for the Utility & Communications Construction Index (UCCI) companies relative to the S&P 500. From June through September, the S&P 500 is up over 3 percent, while the UCCI had declines of approximately 1.4 percent.
Queens, New York Breaks Ground on $139 Million Upgrade Project
A New York neighborhood has broken ground on a $139 million renovation across 25 blocks which will include, among other things, several miles of sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.
Plaquemines Parish Gets $4 million for Water Infrastructure
The federal government is giving one Louisiana parish a $4 million grant to help improve the water infrastructure.
Making the Grade: Tracking On-Grade Bores
Two 300-foot bores, 17 feet deep, through 44,000 psi of basalt – all at a 0.75 percent grade. It’s just another day’s work for Logan Kallwick and his crews.
Though Challenging, HDD Intersect Project is Effective Solution
Directionally drilled intersects – two drill units drilling pilot holes from opposite ends of a planned bore path that intersect – are not unusual today, but hardly could be described as routine. The complexities of an intersect and consequences of failure deter most horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors from entering this highly specialized market.
Michigan Offers Grants for Rural Industry, Infrastructure
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants supporting land-based industries and infrastructure that benefit rural communities.
CUIRE Laboratory Receives a 330-kip Actuator
In February, CUIRE purchased a 330-kip actuator from MTS Company for its soil box testing of underground pipes. This actuator will be used for the NCHRP SAPL Project to develop structural design methodology for Spray Applied Pipe Liners (SAPLs) in gravity stormwater conveyance conduits through actual size soil box testing.
New Publication Promotes SUE Understanding, Up-to-Date Practices
Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is ideally knowing as much as possible about a subsurface project prior to starting the design process. SUE incorporates existing and emerging technology to identify, characterize, and map underground utility facilities.
TTC Wraps Up Another Active Year of Growth
The Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University has once again had a very active year, continuing to meet its mission to advance trenchless technology by serving as an independent source of knowledge, research and education in the field.
Worker Rescued After Trench Collapse in Western Michigan
A construction worker has been hospitalized after being rescued from a trench that collapsed in western Michigan.
PG&E Commits to Underground Power Lines as Part of Wildfire Rebuild
PG&E announced today that it will put all electric distribution power lines underground in the Town of Paradise and some of the surrounding areas as the town rebuilds from the Camp Fire.
Mike Rowe Helps Launch National Excavator Initiative
The importance of the pipes, wires, and cables buried underground that support our daily lives is being “unearthed” with the help of Executive Producer, Host, and Author Mike Rowe and his animated alter ego micro Mike Rowe. Known from the hit TV series Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, and his groundbreaking Facebook show Returning the Favor, Rowe is also CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a nonprofit organization that calls attention to America's skilled trade workforce and strives to close the skills gap.
Hidden Beneath the Bed
Undocumented Obstacles Below Railroad Tracks Complicate Ramming Job
Steering Through Sandy Soils to Upgrade City Sewer System
The economy in Garden City, Kan., is strong with the recent opening of a Dairy Farmers of America plant. Approximately 4 million pounds of milk from regional farmers makes its way to the plant each day, which has led to expansion for many other companies throughout the area. To keep up with the expected growth from the dairy industry and retail stores being constructed nearby, Garden City is upgrading existing utilities to ensure they are prepared to handle current and future needs.
EPA Announces $2.6 Billion in Availability for Water Improvement Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of $2.6 billion in new funds to assist states, tribes and territories with improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across the country.
New INGAA Report Highlights Importance of Natural Gas to a Lower-Carbon Economy
Natural gas will remain a significant contributor to the energy portfolio and to economic growth in the United States over the next two decades, playing a key role in meeting low-carbon goals, a new study commissioned by the INGAA Foundation finds.
Markwest Agrees to Payment for Pipeline Installation Issue
A subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum's MPLX midstream partnership agreed with West Virginia regulators to pay $124,030 for environmental violations related to a pipeline installation.
Unusual Sliplining Solutions Developed on Los Angeles Project
Rehabilitating or replacing large-diameter sewer lines in heavily populated areas always is a challenge: heavy traffic complicates work and causes disruptions and traffic delays, creating a ripple affect extending far beyond the construction zones.
Utility & Communications Construction Update
Strong revenue and profitability marked the first quarter of 2019 for the utility and communications industry, particularly among the publicly traded members of the Utility & Communications Construction Index (UCCI).
Fort Wayne Announces $100 Million in Utility Infrastructure Investments
City officials in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Monday announced plans to invest $100 million in city neighborhoods for stormwater protection, sanitary sewer improvements, and water pipe upgrades.
Giacomo (Jack) Conte
NASSCO honoree Giacomo (Jack) Conte grew up literally learning the business from the ground up. As his career progressed, Conte quickly reacted to market opportunities and became a respected innovator and leader within the underground infrastructure industry.
Gas Distribution Replacement Work Continues Strong Pace
As recently as 2017, the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) estimated 30,000 miles of cast-iron pipe still carried gas in the United States, with the highest percentage of these mains located in older eastern cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
UCT 2019: ShowStopper Awards Presented to Stand-Out Exhibits at UCT
UCT 2019: ShowStopper Awards Presented to Stand-Out Exhibits at UCT
Breaking Records in a Conservation Park
Watercare Services of New Zealand engaged McConnell Dowell and McMillen Jacobs to increase the outfall capacity for its Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project involved installing a new wastewater outfall, upgrading the existing pump station and building a new ultraviolet disinfection facility.
Call or Click for Safe Digging
Calling 811 before any digging begins starts the process of identifying and marking buried utility lines in the United States and preventing the damage, service disruption, injuries, potential fines and costly repairs that result from unintentionally hitting them.
Infrastructure Funding Chances, Opportunities Looking Up in 2019
It's uncertain whether infrastructure legislation will be approved in 2019, but the good news is that any bill will likely include water projects. This was not the case last year, when spending talk centered on roads and bridges instead of water and sewer construction.
22nd Annual Municipal Sewer/Water Infrastructure Survey
Underground Construction's exclusive annual survey revealed stronger budgets for many cities and growing expectations for a prolonged, stronger economy – but municipal personnel remain cautious.
Perma-Liner Celebrates 20 Years in Trenchless Pipeline Rehab Industry
Perma-Liner Industries LLC is celebrating 20 years in the trenchless pipeline rehabilitation industry, marking a milestone of innovation and perseverance in an ever-changing and growing industry.
Pipe Bursting Solution from Inside Park
In California’s San Francisco Bay Area, the Ross Valley Sanitary District faced several challenges on a project to rehabilitate or replace aging sanitary sewer infrastructure.
DCA President Jay Osborn Sees Opportunities for Industry Newcomers
Underground Construction met with DCA President Jay Osborn to discuss his career success from field to executive suite, his longtime involvement in DCA and his outlook for the contracting industry.
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
- Ditch Witch 1030
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis