May 2026 Vol. 81 No. 5
Newsline
Pipelines, PFAS and fiber projects reshape infrastructure outlook
Skanska JV lands $1.29 billion Hudson River tunnel contract
A joint venture led by Skanska has secured a major contract to construct a key underground section of the Hudson Tunnel Project, advancing one of the largest rail infrastructure efforts in the U.S.
The contract, awarded by the Gateway Development Commission, covers construction of twin passenger rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey to Manhattan. The scope includes boring two parallel single-track tunnels, each approximately 7,250 feet long, along with installation of tunnel linings, floors and nine cross passages between the tubes.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months following final project approvals. Last year, project officials reached a key milestone with the completion and testing of the first tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the Hudson Tunnel Project.
In December 2025, the Gateway Development Commission said the machines were ready for shipment to New Jersey, where they would be assembled and prepared for tunneling operations. Each TBM is designed to excavate at a rate of about 30 feet per day while installing concrete lining behind it.
Fiber construction causes repeated water main breaks in Florida city
Underground fiber installation work has been linked to a series of water main breaks in a Central Florida neighborhood, prompting service disruptions and changes to contractor oversight.
City officials said more than a dozen utility strikes have been recorded this year in Longwood, with several occurring during recent fiber construction activity. The latest incident damaged a water main in a residential area, triggering flooding, service interruptions and another boil water notice for affected homes.
The utility provider confirmed a subcontractor was responsible for the latest strike and has since been removed from the project. The company said it will implement additional oversight measures, including dedicated field monitors and increased verification of underground utility locations before excavation begins.
Residents have experienced repeated disruptions, including temporary water outages and damage to private property, as crews work to expand fiber infrastructure. City officials have also increased preventative efforts, such as testing water system components in advance of planned underground work, to reduce the risk of future incidents.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges tied to utility coordination during fiber expansion projects, particularly in areas with aging or congested underground infrastructure.
Garney breaks ground on Tampa’s largest wastewater project
Garney has broken ground on the One Water Project in Tampa, Fla., marking the next phase of what is expected to be the largest capital wastewater infrastructure investment in Hillsborough County’s history.
The project includes construction of an advanced wastewater treatment facility, a high-capacity lift station and more than 20 miles of wastewater and reclaimed water pipelines. The system is designed to support population growth while expanding water reuse capabilities across the region.
Pipeline installation includes large-diameter ductile iron pipe ranging from 42 to 48 inches, connecting the system and enabling conveyance and reuse distribution.
Delivered through a progressive design-build approach, the project is intended to improve coordination among project partners and support long-term infrastructure planning. Initial pipeline construction began in 2025, with the treatment facility expected to come online in 2028 and full project completion targeted for 2030.
Court oks MVP Southgate pipeline in Virginia, North Carolina
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has denied motions to stay water quality certifications for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate project, allowing construction activities to move forward while legal challenges continue.
The rulings apply to Clean Water Act Section 401 certifications issued by regulators in Virginia and North Carolina, which are required for the project to proceed with construction across streams and wetlands.
The court had previously issued temporary administrative stays in March to maintain the status quo while it considered the motions. With the denial of those requests, the permits remain in effect during the ongoing judicial review.
The MVP Southgate project involves construction of a 31.3-mile, 30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline extending from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, into Rockingham County, NC, with the majority of the route located in Virginia. The pipeline is an extension of the broader Mountain Valley Pipeline system and is intended to transport natural gas to markets in the southeastern United States.
Separate legal challenges to the project’s federal authorization are ongoing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Water infrastructure needs top $2.1 trillion per AWWA report
A new report from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) finds that infrastructure renewal and financing remain the top challenges facing water utilities, as systems age and costs continue to rise.
The 2026 State of the Water Industry report shows that utilities are operating under increasing financial pressure, driven by aging infrastructure, stricter regulations, workforce constraints and emerging contaminants. AWWA estimates that drinking water infrastructure needs will exceed $2.1 trillion over the next 25 years, requiring a significant increase in capital investment.
The report also highlights growing concerns around long-term water supply availability, with one-third of utilities reporting they are at risk of water stress. Financial sustainability remains a key issue, with fewer than half of utilities able to fully cover operating costs through rates and fees.
Industry leaders said the findings reflect a sector working to balance rising infrastructure demands with affordability challenges, while continuing to deliver reliable service.
Fiber drilling strike triggers major sewer failure, lawsuits in Florida
A fiber installation project in Florida has led to a major wastewater spill, lawsuits and financial fallout after a drilling operation struck a critical sewer line, according to Wireless Estimator.
The incident occurred when directional drilling equipment hit a 36-inch sewer force main in Lake Worth Beach, releasing more than 6 million gallons of raw sewage into nearby canals and triggering a large-scale cleanup effort. The city has since filed a lawsuit seeking more than $7.5 million in damages tied to the rupture.
The case also involves a separate legal dispute with an insurance provider over whether the spill is covered under existing policies. If coverage is denied, contractors involved in the project could be responsible for the full cost of damages and cleanup.
The rupture has been linked to discrepancies between project plans and actual underground conditions, along with challenges in locating utilities in a congested corridor. The event caused ground instability, environmental damage and weeks of emergency response operations.
The incident also had broader industry implications, with one contractor involved filing for bankruptcy months after the spill.
Pipeline project advances in New Mexico, Arizona as review process begins
A proposed 234-mile natural gas pipeline crossing the Navajo Nation has advanced after a key tribal committee approved a resolution allowing early project work to proceed, according to Capital & Main.
The project, led by Tallgrass Energy through its GreenView Resources subsidiary, would run from near Farmington, New Mexico, to an area north of Flagstaff, Ariz. The pipeline is designed to transport natural gas or a blend of gas and hydrogen to support energy demand in the Southwest.
Approval from the Navajo Nation’s Resources and Development Committee represents the first formal step in what is expected to be a multi-year permitting process requiring additional tribal, state and federal approvals. Environmental and archaeological clearances are still required before construction can move forward.
The proposal has been under development for several years and has evolved from an earlier concept focused on hydrogen transport to a system primarily designed for natural gas. That shift has raised concerns among some stakeholders about the project’s environmental impact and long-term energy strategy.
Supporters of the pipeline have emphasized potential economic benefits, including payments to local communities and broader revenue generation for the Navajo Nation. The company has outlined plans for annual contributions to communities along the route, though the scale of those payments has been a point of discussion during the approval process.
Opposition groups have questioned both the project’s environmental implications and the pace of the approval process, citing concerns about limited public input and the long-term effects of continued fossil fuel development in the region.
Court ruling blocks financing path for California Delta tunnel
A key court decision has effectively blocked California’s effort to secure bond financing for the proposed Delta tunnel project, adding another hurdle to the multibillion-dollar water infrastructure plan.
The ruling follows a decision by the California Supreme Court to deny review of an earlier appellate case that found the California Department of Water Resources lacked authority to approve financing tied to the project.
With the high court declining to intervene, the lower court’s findings remain in place, leaving the Delta Conveyance Project without a validated funding mechanism. The project is designed to move water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state.
The legal dispute centered on whether the state could issue bonds and recover costs from water contractors for a large-scale conveyance project. Courts ultimately determined the proposed financing structure exceeded the agency’s authority.
The project, which has been debated for decades, is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars and remains in early stages without confirmed funding.
$925-million undergrounding project draws scrutiny from Calif. residents
Residents in Altadena, California, are calling for a pause to a major utility undergrounding project, citing rising homeowner costs, coordination gaps, and construction impacts as rebuilding continues following the Eaton wildfire.
The $925-million effort by Southern California Edison is aimed at improving grid safety and reliability by burying distribution lines across fire-impacted areas, the LA Times reported. However, homeowners say they face unexpected costs—often tens of thousands of dollars—to connect their properties to the underground system.
Concerns have also emerged around project execution, including trenching impacts on mature trees and a lack of coordination with telecommunications providers, which in many cases are not burying their lines alongside electric infrastructure.
Local officials and residents have urged a temporary halt to construction until planning, cost-sharing, and coordination issues are addressed. According to LA Times, the situation highlights broader challenges facing utility undergrounding efforts, particularly in wildfire-prone regions where projects must balance resilience goals with cost, environmental, and stakeholder considerations.
S.D. pipeline faces delays amid warning of growing water supply risk
Officials are warning that delays to a proposed regional water pipeline in western South Dakota could pose increasing risks to long-term water supply, particularly as drought conditions persist.
Testifying before a U.S. House subcommittee, the executive director of the Western Dakota Regional Water System said the region lacks a reliable, long-term supply and faces mounting pressure on local aquifers. The proposed project would deliver water from the Missouri River to communities across the region, South Dakota Searchlight reported.
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide $10 million for a Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study, a key next step in advancing the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project. The system has already received state funding and completed several years of preliminary planning work, according to South Dakota Searchlight.
Project leaders said the pipeline is critical to supporting population growth, agriculture, and regional development, as well as infrastructure tied to national defense, including operations at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Officials emphasized that without new supply sources, existing groundwater resources may not meet future demand during extended drought conditions.
DOJ sues D.C. Water over Potomac interceptor failure, sewage spill
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (D.C. Water) over the collapse of a major sewer pipeline that discharged more than 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River.
Filed on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the complaint alleges that D.C. Water violated the Clean Water Act by failing to properly operate and maintain the Potomac Interceptor, a critical wastewater conveyance system serving the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia region.
According to the complaint, a section of the interceptor collapsed in January 2026, triggering a multi-day release of raw sewage into the river. Emergency response efforts included installing bypass pumping systems and temporarily routing wastewater through the C&O Canal, though additional discharges occurred during pump failures.
Federal officials said the incident highlights risks tied to aging wastewater infrastructure and the need for proactive maintenance. The Potomac Interceptor carries up to 60 million gallons of sewage per day, making it a key component of the region’s wastewater system.
The Justice Department is seeking civil penalties, as well as requirements for system-wide assessments, rehabilitation projects, and the development of an enhanced operations and maintenance plan. The action follows an investigation by the EPA into the pipeline failure and resulting environmental impacts.
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