Magazine
Editor's Log: Hope and Concerns
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief As we enter a new year, it brings a mixed bag of hope and concerns for the underground infrastructure markets. This issue of Underground Construction includes two excellent analyses by ..
Solar HDDP: Drilling Contractor Expands into Renewable Energy
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), more than one-fifth of the nation’s domestically produced energy comes from Texas. The state has a long history of producing crude oil and natural gas, but more recently, the state’s energy production is rapidly expanding into renewables..
Tunnel Vision
By Michael Kozak, J.D. A welded PVC waterproofing system was recently applied to an underground rail segment being built in the Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland (DMV) area. The system was supplied by CETCO. Cr..
Demand for Broadband Supports Need for Fiber Optic Systems
EDITOR’S NOTE Eben Wyman is a veteran advocate for key underground utility and pipeline associations. He points out that maintaining an effective advocacy program is fundamental to the success of any organization interested in the happenings of the federal government. Zack Perconti is an associat..
Informative Seminars and Innovative Equipment Await UCT Attendees
Underground Construction Technology (UCT) returns to the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, Jan. 24 with the pre-UCT kick-off of CUIRE Schools. The main UCT program runs Tuesday, Jan. 25–Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Taking place before the height of construction season, UCT is ..
Rehab News
PPG Unveils Complete Coating Solutions for Wastewater Operations PPG significantly expanded its coatings offering for wastewater infrastructure, thanks to its recent acquisition of VERSAFLEX/Raven Lining Systems, “which are used throughout the water, wastewater and manhole rehabilitation industrie..
FERC Punts on GHG ‘Significance’ Again
By Stephen Barlas, Washington D.C. Editor The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) continues to hesitate in determining whether greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new pipeline projects are a “significant” contribution to climate change. The latest example is an FERC draft environmental im..
Newsline
Michels Completes 15,000+ Foot HDD Crossing Michels completed a 15,426-foot horizontal directional drill (HDD) of a 24-inch pipe crossing of Lake Sakakawea on the Missouri River in North Dakota, extending the limits of trenchless construction. The crossing is part of a new pipeline being constru..
Infrastructure Money and Reality
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief The Great Infrastructure Money Grab is on and at long last, underground construction markets are getting a reasonable share of the funding bonanza. Markets are anxious to secure their piece of the $550 billion of which $120 billion is designated for water, sewer..
New Products
Heath Consultants Introduces Industry-LeadingTechnologies Heath Consultants Incorporated’s Remote Methane Leak Detector-Complete System (RMLD-CS) successfully completed the certification process to earn the Intrinsic Safety (IS) rating of Class I, Division II, which allows its use indoors and with..
BUSINESS People
PPI Announces New Chair for Board of Directors Douglas Keller, technical lead-Americas for Equistar Chemical-Pipe Resins, was named chair of the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), board of directors, a two-year appointment. PPI is the major North American trade association representing the plastic pip..
BUSINESS
Xylem’s ‘Smart Sewer’ Exceeds Requirements, Saves Money, Improves Resilience Global water technology company, Xylem, delivered the advanced “smart sewer” system that is enabling the City of South Bend, Ind., to exceed the requirements of a wastewater Consent Decree, reduce capital investment, and ..
REHAB NEWS
New Cherne I-Series Test-Ball Plugs Deliver State-of-the-Art Solutions The newly redesigned Cherne I-Series Test-Ball Plugs are the most innovative pneumatic plugs available for the underground/waterworks market. Lightweight, short and flexible, these plugs deliver state-of-the-art solutions for..
REHAB SPOTLIGHT: Laterals Rehab & Cutters
Avanti (800) 877-2570, avantigrout.com Leaking service laterals and lateral connections are a source of significant groundwater infiltration into collection systems. According to the EPA, as much as 60 percent of overflow comes from leaking service connections. Injection grouts such as AV-100® C..
NA, Global Energy Pipeline Construction Plans
By Jeff Awalt, Executive Editor As global markets claw their way back from the 2020 pandemic trough and energy demand continues to rise, oil and gas producers remain largely committed to fiscal restraint, prices have risen to multi-year highs and storage has yet to recover from historic lows. ..
Gary Oradat to be Named 2022 MVP
The Most Valuable Professional of the underground infrastructure industry will be honored at the annual Underground Construction Technology (UCT) International Conference & Exhibition, in Fort Worth, Texas, at a special luncheon on Jan. 25. The 2022 award, co-sponsored by the Underground Constructio..
HDD Legends Canon, Hair to be Inducted into Hall of Fame
Frank Canon When it came to understanding the impacts of proper drilling fluid use for HDD, Frank Canon’s name instantly springs to mind for thousands of veteran drillers. His homespun teaching style and humor, combined with years of practical experience, made Canon the renowned educator for drill..
HDD Reunion Returns to UCT 2022; Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
In conjunction with the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) International Conference & Exhibition, the second Horizontal Directional Drilling HDD) Reunion and the annual HDD Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Honored as the 2022 ind..
Editor's Log: Be Careful What You Ask For
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief Whatever happened to common sense? If something is working, why toss it away like two-week-old lasagna? Natural gas prices have more than tripled in 2021, climbing above $5.10 per BTU at..
Inside Infrastructure: 2021 Shaping Up to be Landmark Year for Utility Construction
EDITOR’S NOTE Eben Wyman is a veteran advocate for key underground utility and pipeline associations. He points out that maintaining an effective advocacy program is fundamental to the success of any organization interested in the happenings of the federal government. Zack Perconti is an associ..
Mini-HDD for Placement of HDPE Pipe in Municipal Applications
By Dr. Lawrence M. Slavin A new set of guidelines for the use of mini-horizontal directional drilling (mini-HDD) has been developed by the Municipal Advisory Board (MAB) of the Plastics Pipe Institute (http://plasticpipe.org). Previously available as Technical Report TR-46, the new document, MAB ..
Utility Expo Includes New Name, Layout
Billed as the utility industry’s largest trade show for utilities and utility contractors, The Utility Expo (formerly known as ICUEE) will be held Sept. 28–30 in Louisville, Ky. The biennial trade show, known for equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations, has been reimagined with ..
Newsline
NTSB: Crew Safety Failure Led to San Francisco Natural Gas Fire An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that an excavation crew from Kilford Engineering Inc. failed to follow safety procedures which led to a 2019 natural gas release and fire in San Francisco...
Editor's Log: An Investment in Rural America
The pursuit of increased infrastructure spending received new hope recently when the political impasse in the U.S. House of Representatives was temporarily bypassed. A working compromise within the Democratic Party allowed a vote on the divisive and partisan $3.5-billion reconciliation spending bill..
Movie Titles, Politics & Hope
As the year ends, the country is still going through many transitions with politics, journalism approaches and the lingering COVID-19.
Stop Groundwater Infiltration with Prime Resins’ Convenient, New Kit
Prime Resins introduced new technology to stop groundwater infiltration, primarily in manhole, culvert and stormwater structure applications.
John Deere
John Deere introduced the new E-II Articulated Dump Trucks.
Owens Corning
Owens Corning designed two new systems engineered to help mitigate corrosion under insulation.
HCSS
A new version of Aerial was launched to provide a cloud-based solution for continuous monitoring of infrastructure construction projects, with additional features to make job-site mapping and data visualization easier and more effective.
LiuGong
LiuGong NA introduced a new, 9-ton midi-excavator, the 909ECR designed to compete in the critical 8- to 10-ton size class.
- 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