Magazine
History of Technology Information at UCT’s RehabZone
In 2002, a comprehensive display of various trenchless technologies at the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) became a reality with the birth of the RehabZone.
Lane Wins First Washington Contract with $255 Million Seattle Project
Lane Construction said it won its first contract in the state of Washington—construction of a water storage tunnel to reduce polluted overflows into Seattle’s Lake Washington Ship Canal.
Colorado Company Fined for Fatal Trench Collapse
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined an excavation company for the deaths of two Colorado workers in a collapsed trench.
Volunteers Canvass Newark in Service Line Replacement Push
Volunteers have been going door-to-door in Newark, N.J., to help sign up thousands of residents to have their corroding lead service lines replaced.
Value of Knowledge
I recently attended the annual meeting of the Industry Advisory Board for the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University. It’s something I’ve been involved with for decades and thoroughly enjoy. Networking with industry experts, learning of cutting-edge research and discussing a..
Body Found Near Wastewater Treatment Plant
Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body near a Massachusetts community’s wastewater treatment plant.
Toro Sells MTI Equipment Business Acquired in CMW Acquisition
Making good on a promise to streamline its product and services portfolio after acquiring Charles Machine Works, The Toro Company has shed CMW's pre-owned construction equipment business by selling MTI Equipment back to its founders.
Discussions Continue on Potential Combining of NACE International and SSPC
Leadership from both NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings continue to discuss a potential combining of the two industry organizations.
USDA Investing in Coastal Maine Sewer Improvements
The USDA is investing nearly $1 million in sewer improvements for a coastal town in Maine.
CASE CE Awards 2019 Diamond, Gold Dealers
CASE Construction Equipment named its 2019 “Diamond Dealer” and “Gold Dealer” award recipients as part of its North American Partnership Program, which encourages dealers to provide the ultimate ownership experience to customers and increases dealer performance per the results of a dealer assessment.
Michels Celebrates 60th Anniversary
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Michels Corporation is honoring the people, projects and values that have helped the company grow from a regional gas distribution contractor into one of the largest utility and transportation contractors in North America.
Australian Fiber-Optics to Bring High-Speed Internet to East Timor
Australia has agreed to provide the fledgling democracy of East Timor with naval infrastructure and an undersea internet link with the world, responding to China’s increasing influence in the region.
Caterpillar’s ‘Dream Dozer’ Campaign Generates Interest, Leads for D6 XE
In conjunction with introducing its D6 XE electric drive dozer, Caterpillar, a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment for the construction and mining industry, launched the Dream Dozer campaign. Using KBMax’s product configurator, this interactive design game allows users to create their own “dream” version of the D6XE.
Sewage Dumping Caused No Contamination at South Dakota Airport
State regulators say Rapid City Regional Airport did not cause contamination when it dumped about 74,000 gallons of sewage on its property without a permit.
Xylem Earns Change the World Honor
Global water technology company, Xylem, was included on Fortune’s 2019 “Change the World” list, for a second, consecutive year.
APA Group Completes Gas Pipeline, Brisbane River Crossing
APA Group said it has completed the installation of a gas pipeline in Australia that included a 300-foot (905-meter) crossing under the Brisbane River.
Michigan Offers Grants for Rural Industry, Infrastructure
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants supporting land-based industries and infrastructure that benefit rural communities.
Rising Demand for Sewer Inspection Drives Growing Crawler Camera Sales
A new market report projects worldwide demand for crawler cameras used in sewer inspections will continue to grow at a brisk pace, describing them as the “future of pipeline inspection systems” due to their efficiency, accuracy and low cost.
Water Restored at Grand Canyon after Pipeline Break
Officials at the Grand Canyon lifted water restrictions last month after fixing a pipeline break in a section north of Phantom Ranch.
U.S. Construction Spending Rose a Slight 0.1%
U.S. construction spending ticked up just 0.1% in July, aided by government spending on schools, sewers and the water supply.
Aqua Pennsylvania Acquires Delaware County Wastewater Assets
The municipal water authority for Delaware County, Penn., has agreed to sell its wastewater assets to a subsidiary of publicly traded water utility Aqua America for $276.5 million, the company said.
Quanta Acquires Hallen Construction, 2 Specialty Contractors
Quanta Services said it has completed the acquisition of Plainview, N.Y.-based Hallen Construction, a large gas utility contractor serving key markets in the U.S. Northeast, along with two Southeast specialty contractors for $330 million in cash and stock.
ADS
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS), the Hilliard, Ohio-based, global manufacturer of water management products, solutions and technologies for infrastructure, released its enhanced Design Tool 2.0. The new application enables customers to incorporate site-specific information, quickly create StormTech system layouts in CAD and PDF formats and edit and save these designs for review and modification.
GoodForGas
Compact, durable and very easy-to-use, the G450 Gas Detector from GoodforGas Instrumentation offers exceptional performance for an extremely affordable price.
New Cat D3 Series SSLs, CTLs Advance Reputation, Deliver Improvements
Caterpillar released 16 new D3 Series skid steer loader (SSL) and compact track loader (CTL) models that advance the D and D2 Series’ reputation for quality, comfort and performance, and deliver improvements in operator experience, stability and technology.
EPA Proposes Limits on State Regulatory Barriers to Pipeline Construction
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving ahead with an effort to limit the ability of states to stymie pipeline projects by either declining to issue or delaying the issuance of Clean Water Act certifications. The states and Indian tribes are required to issue those permits within one year of submission of a request by a company wanting to build a pipeline.
RehabZone Additions, Changes for 2020 Event
As in the past, the RehabZone is a unique feature of the 2020 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exposition (UCT). The show is scheduled for Jan. 28–30, 2020, at the Fort Worth, Texas, Convention Center.
HDD Memories to the Future
If you are involved in the horizontal directional drilling industry, by now you’ve probably heard about the first-ever HDD Reunion (HDDR) being organized by industry personnel and Underground Construction magazine. HDDR 2020 will be held in conjunction with the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 28-30.
Queens, New York Breaks Ground on $139 Million Upgrade Project
A New York neighborhood has broken ground on a $139 million renovation across 25 blocks which will include, among other things, several miles of sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.
August Construction Starts Decrease 6 Percent
New construction starts dropped 6% over the month in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $807.1 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.

- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
- $227 million Garnet Valley water project advances, set to create 73,000 jobs in Nevada
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
- Gehl and Mustang offer world’s largest skid loader
- Growing Pains and Gains
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish