April 2025 Vol. 80 No. 4
Editor's Log
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter examines the persistent challenges facing major cities like Chicago in managing stormwater and sewer infrastructure, highlighting why even billions in federal funding still leave critical gaps.
Features
Griffolyn reinforced pre-liners offer added protection and reliability during CIPP trenchless pipe rehabilitation, helping prevent resin washout, liner buckling, and installation delays in water and sewer infrastructure projects.
Sarpy County and five cities in Nebraska completed the first phase of a major wastewater project, overcoming geographic barriers to expand sewer service and unlock regional development.
UI Awards 2025 recognized leading underground infrastructure achievements, including major sewer, fiber, water and rehabilitation projects, at the annual awards dinner during the Underground Infrastructure Conference.
This Rehab Spotlight highlights innovative trenchless technologies from Danby, HammerHead, NuFlow, MaxLiner, Reline America, and more, offering structural and CIPP solutions for aging underground infrastructure.
While the final plan for tariffs from the Trump Administration is unknown, the initial rollout shocked investors and caused a flurry of market activity. This will likely continue until a stable plan that is being strategically implemented has been negotiated.
The installed properties of mainline CIPP are affected by the installation process. This phenomenon has been referred to as natural parameter variation. To ensure the installed CIPP exhibits the necessary physical properties after curing is completed, field samples are prepared during installation and then sent to a testing laboratory for testing flexural modulus, strength and wall thickness.
Saertex multiCom Sustainability is an integral part of the corporate culture at SAERTEX multiCom and embedded in its DNA. Trenchless pipe rehabilitation using SAERTEX-LINERS makes a valuable contribution to protecting the precious resource of drinking wate..
Washington Watch
The Trump administration appears to be more interested in energizing the federal pipeline safety regulator than the Biden administration ever was. President Trump in late February nominated Paul Roberti to be the administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a position that Biden left open for his four years in office.
New Products
In the latest New Products column, Underground Infrastructure highlights Bobcat’s new lineup of heavy-duty loaders and excavators, John Deere’s advanced 850 X-Tier Dozer and SmartDetect Digital system, and SPMR’s real-time utility work order platform – each designed to boost performance, safety, and efficiency in underground utility construction.
Newsline
ASCE gives stormwater and wastewater infrastructure near-failing grades; Houston completes key segment of 72-inch water line upgrade; Newsom fast-tracks underground utility rebuilds after wildfires; Massachusetts blasts Trump for halting lead pipe funds — all in the latest issue of Underground Infrastructure’s Newsline!
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
- Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
- Centuri awarded nearly $400 million for U.S. gas infrastructure work
- Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish