Magazine
The Road to Safety Starts with Stability
Safety is the highest priority on any construction job site, but not every equipment solution aids in attaining that safety goal. In fact, in 2020, more than 174,100 injuries and 124 deaths occurred on construction job sites throughout the United States.
Equipment Spotlight: Compact Excavators (under 25,000 pounds)
Bobcat, CASE, Caterpillar, Doosan Infracore North America, Hitachi, Hyundai and more.
UCT 23: New Features, Old Favorites, Fresh Opportunities
(UC) — For the first time in its 28-year history, the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) will be held in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 7-9, 2023. In fact, this is only the second time UCT has been in Florida, where the 2010 event was held in Tampa.
Construction Theme Park Opens in Texas
The 3.5-acre park is located at Katy Mills Mall (west of Houston) with its main entrance facing Interstate 10. Dig World in Katy, Texas, was recently unveiled and is now open Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Editor’s Log: Launch of the Big Event
(UC) — There’s a good chance by now that most of our readers have seen announcements for the evolution of the next big event for underground industry awards – a very special occasion that will reward accomplishments and people of the underground infrastructure industry in a unique, personal and deserving fashion.
New Products
Latest industry developments
Spotlight: Manhole and Pipe Coatings
Spotlight: Manhole and Pipe Coatings
Moving PACP Data Between Systems
After many successful Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) inspection projects end, there is a large amount of collected data that some PACP-certified professionals, engineers and utility workers do not understand.
Spotlight—Linings
Applied Felts (276) 656-1904; appliedfelts.com Using only the highest quality raw materials available, Applied Felts’ decades proven, PU-coated, all-felt AquaCure® liners, with stitched or flame-bonded seams, are built to ..
Pressure Pipe Cleaning and Preparation for Rehabilitation
Pressure pipes, like gravity pipelines, need to be cleaned and prepared for rehabilitation. This NASSCO Tech Tip will discuss pressure pipe cleaning methods and requirements before a pipe rehabilitation is completed.
Annual UCT ShowStopper Awards Feature Innovative Exhibits
Exhibitors at trade shows compete with hundreds of other exhibitors to capture attendees’ interest in their booths and the specific products and services being promoted.
RehabZone
As always, the 2022 edition of RehabZone was a vital part of 2022 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) held this past January in in Ft. Worth, Texas,
UCT 2022 Hosts Flood of Re-Engaging Attendees
After battling through more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the underground infrastructure industry took another significant step towards normality in January as a strong crowd of interested attendees packed educational sessions and the exhibit hall at the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition.
Industry study takes hard look at 811 process, facility locating
At a time when excavation construction is at an all-time high, and much more is on the horizon after landmark infrastructure legislation enacted in 2021, protecting underground infrastructure during excavation activity is more important than ever.
Modern mud systems bring large benefits to big HDD jobs
In today’s environment of strict environmental regulations, rising costs and intense competition for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) jobs, mud reclaimer systems have become an indispensable companion to large-diameter HDD rigs.
Utility & communications construction update
The pandemic exposed the frailty that exists in current supply chains and the war in Ukraine has placed those concerns into overdrive.
New FERC pipeline policies worrisome
By Stephen Barlas, Washington, D.C. Editor Potential impact of Europe’s new need for U.S. liquid natural gas (LNG) is now reverberating inside and outside the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as it attempts to implement two new policy statements..
Newsline
U.S. Interior Earmarks $1.7 Billion Tribal Water Settlements U.S. Department of Interior announced that it will use $1.7 billion from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to fund 16 tribal water rights settlements. The funds are to pay for infrastructure that provides access to water t..
Good math, bad math
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-chief First the good math The over two-year COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc through the lives of virtually everyone in the world. That also held true for the business world and certainly the underground infrastructure indust..
Rehab Technology: 5 Questions to Help Municipalities Choose the Right Utility Inspection Equipment
By Patrick Iyonsi, utility inspection product manager, Subsite Out of sight, out of mind. This is the general population’s stance towards the 2 million miles of underground pipe in the United States and even more around the world. And rightfully so. As a service provided and supported by municipa..
Convention Preview: NASSCO Thrives in Virtual World; ‘Live’ Annual Convention in Scottsdale
By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor In spite of the COVID-19 epidemic, NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) stayed true to its mission of setting standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure, and assuring the continued acceptance and grow..
HDD: Mud Systems
American Augers americanaugers.com, (800) 324-4930 The new M300DH fluid cleaning system helps contractors working in tight job sites stay agile and efficient. Its high-cleaning power circulates drilling fluids with 100,000-to-240,000 pounds of pullback and a 480-volt generator enables agitatio..
Directional Drilling: Muddy Waters: 3 Ways Fluid Cleaning Systems Can Improve Job-Site Success
By Richard Levings, American Augers Project Manager & Ben Clark, Derrick Corp. Civil Global Manager As demand for underground construction projects continues to increase, getting the most from your equipment is vital to job-site success. For HDD operators, drilling fluid plays a crucial role in eff..
Convention Preview: APCA Plans Scottsdale Convention to Tackle Important Business
Working in a rapidly evolving industry and facing serious challenges from a variety of sources, American Pipeline Contractors Association members are traveling to sunny Scottsdale, Ariz., March 25–30, for the 2022 APCA Convention. The meeting features an outstanding slate of speakers, important educ..
First Look: Tesmec Offers All-Inclusive Truck Approach to Conventional Fiber Microtrenching
By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor A variety of construction methods can be used to install fiber optic cable to expand broadband networks. While horizontal direction drilling (HDD) receives most of the trade press coverage abo..
New Products
WrapidSeal Controls Infiltration, Prevents Deterioration, Provides Structural Integrity of Manholes Manholes deteriorate, as a result of soil stresses, groundwater, exposure to sewer gas, structural movement from traffic loading, and soil movement from wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycling. Over time, th..
Business People
Freese and Nichols Alan Hutson, P.E., vice president/principal of professional consulting firm Freese and Nichols, has a new role as division manager-Central Plains, at the Oklahoma City office. He will lead the continued diversification of services for state and local clients in Oklahoma and the ..
Business News
Reed Manufacturing Celebrates 125 Years Reed Manufacturing in Erie, Pa., is celebrating 125 years of supplying the highest-quality pipe tools and vises for professional trades. Carl Reed, scion of one of Erie’s pioneer families, along with three partners, started the business in 1896, manufactur..
Rehab News
Vortex AccuPower Designed to Remove Concrete, Heavy Debris, CIPP Lining Without Damaging Host Pipe The Vortex Companies, a leading provider of advanced trenchless water and sewer technologies and infrastructure renewal services, introduced the new AccuPower High-Pressure Water Blaster. Built upo..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- 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