Business
MTA to Build First All-Terrestrial Fiber Line From Alaska to Contiguous U.S.
MTA Fiber Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTA, Alaska’s best choice for technology and communications products, announced today that it plans to build AlCan ONE (Alaska Canada Overland Network), the first and only all-terrestrial fiber network connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States and beyond.
Questions Abound After Toro Acquisition of CMW
Jeff Griffin | Senior Editor It’s been two months since The Toro Company announced it had reached an agreement to acquire The Charles Machine Works (CMW), best known as the parent company of Ditch Witch. The news came as a surprise to much of the underground construction industry and to CMW empl..
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).
$21.95 Billion Global HDD Market Forecast by 2026
A new report by ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates the global horizontal directional drilling (HDD) market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.6 percent to $21.95 billion in 2026 from $6.43 billion in 2017.
Hoffman Southwest Expands Nationally Via Tri-State Acquisition
Hoffman Southwest acquired Chesapeake, Virginia-based Tri-State Utilities in a transaction that creates a national presence through the combination of two major underground infrastructure firms on the East and West coasts.
Avanti International Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary
Avanti International is proud to announce that the company has reached a milestone, celebrating 40 years as an industry leader.
CASE Announces Fourth-Annual Dire States Equipment Grant
CASE Construction Equipment has issued the call for entries for the 2019 Dire States Equipment Grant. Submissions can be made at DireStates.com/Grant. The 2019 entry deadline is March 31, 2019, and the winner will be announced in April 2019.
People in the News
Yancey Bros/Caterpillar yanceybros.com; cat.com Trey Googe assumed majority ownership of Yancey Bros. Co., a Cat- erpillar dealer in Georgia, succeeding Jim Stephenson as CEO. A share- holder since joining the company in 200..
NASSCO: Active Year Marks Diverse Efforts For NASSCO
Welcoming a new executive director, continuing programs to establish and improve wastewater infrastructure standards, and educating the industry about maintaining and rehabilitating sewer infrastructure kept members and staff of NASSCO busy throughout 2018.
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.
Texas Pipeline Contractor Expands with Horizontal Directional Drilling
Scott Andrews of S & J Contractors has seen boom and bust years over three decades in the industry and believes having the right team of people is the best way to survive those peaks and valleys.
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.
Welcome to Our New Home (Page)
Sometimes updating your home is a good thing. And sometimes completely scrapping the old home for a new one is a great thing. Our completely new website was designed to meet the evolving needs of the underground construction and rehabilitation industries.
Maryland Stormwater Partnership Ahead of Schedule, Under Budget
A stormwater partnership between Prince George’s County, Maryland and Corvias reported it has completed its initial pilot phase ahead of schedule and under budget.
Latest Industry News
Felling Trailers felling.com Felling Trailers Inc. conducted its sixth-annual online auction of an FT-3 drop deck utility trailer to benefit a non-profit organization. The winning bid of $3,400 was placed by Jon Stein, ow..
American Rental Association Releases New Strategic Plan
The American Rental Association (ARA) released a new, industry-wide strategic plan that will drive program initiatives over the next three years
People In the News
BOND Bond BOND promoted Anthony “Tony” Bond to president and Kane Cuddy to CEO of the Northeast building, civil, utility and energy construction firm’s civil and utility division. As civil and utility president, Bond (a fifth-gene..
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.
PCCA Looks Forward to Busy 2019
The Power & Communications Contractors Association plans to follow a productive year with a 2019 focus on advocacy, educational initiatives and programs that help its members run more successful businesses.
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.
Toro to Acquire 'Ditch Witch' Parent Charles Machine Works
Toro Charles Machine Works, parent company of Ditch Witch and other underground construction equipment brands, in a $700 million cash transaction expected to close in October
In Memoriam: Richard Kinsel, Jr
In MemoriamRichard Kinsel, Jr., died Oct. 2, 2018, in Friendswood, Texas. He founded Kinsel Industries Inc., a Houston-area civil construction firm primarily involved in water/sewer business, in 1976. Under his leadership, the company became a pioneer in trenchless pipe construction/rehabilitation ..
NASSCO Tech Tips Pipe Plug Safety
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Plastics Industry ‘Fly-In’ Elevates Issues, Concerns
The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) joined four other plastics organizations in the industry’s annual Fly-In event, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 11-12, to meet with members of Congress. About 135 plastics professionals called on 120 legislators and staff to discuss the key issues the industry faces. “O..
NASSCO Standard Bearers: Brad Dutruch
EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 43nd year and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association experiences remarkable growth, this series profiles those who have made significant contributions, and impacted the continued ac..
LAN to Design Major East Texas Utility Project
The City of Tyler, Texas, selected civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) to design improvements to two of its major sanitary sewer basins. The East Texas city’s wastewater collection system includes more than 690 miles of sewer mains ranging in sizes from 6-inches to 54-inch..
NASSCO Standard Bearers: Steve Mortensen, P.E.
EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 42nd year and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association experiences remarkable growth, this series profiles those who have made significant contributions, and impacted the continued ac..
Oilfield Water Logistics Completes Delaware Basin Project
Oilfield Water Logistics (OWL) said it has completed its Hat Connection pipeline project and broken ground on an 11-mile extension of its Red Hills Water Gathering System pipeline into Loving County, Texas. The projects will enhance disposal capacity and re-use capabilities across its network of pi..
Vermeer Restores Operations after Tornado Strike
Robert Carpenter | Editor-in-Chief Vermeer Corporation, a major manufacturer in the underground utility and pipelines markets, was struck by an EF3 tornado about 4 p.m. on July 19 at its headquarters just outside of Pella, Iowa. Company officials reported only minor injuries with seven people t..
NASSCO Convention Addresses Industry Needs, Concerns
A large number National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) members, spouses and guests converged at the La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, April 11-13, for the association’s 42nd annual convention. As always, the attendees tackled many important issues and needs of the sewe..
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- $2.3 billion approved to construct 236-mile Texas-to-Gulf gas pipeline
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized