Underground Construction
Barbco Adds Another Patent to Growing List
Barbco, Inc. Co-Owner and CEO, Anthony R. Barbera was granted a U.S. Patent for the “Material Exhaust Connection For Horizontal Bore” on Jan. 7.
DCA President Mike Hickey Sees Bright Future for Contractors Who Embrace Change
Underground Construction talked with Hickey before the DCA annual convention, Feb. 24–29 in Boca Raton, Fla., about the opportunities and challenges facing distribution contractors and the approaches they can take to capitalize on these positive trends.
Texas Railroad Commission Adopts New Pipeline Safety Rules
The Railroad Commission (RRC) of Texas has adopted new natural gas pipeline safety rules regarding the type of natural gas distribution pipelines that are allowed to be installed.
HDD Hall of Fame Inducts Cherrington, Melsheimer as Inaugural Pioneers
Industry pioneers Dick Melsheimer and Martin Cherrington became the first inductees into the HDD Hall of Fame on Wednesday in its inaugural ceremony at the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas.
2020 Outlook and Utility & Communications Construction Update
The United States construction market is steady and growing slightly amidst the second-longest period of sustained economic expansion since 1964. Despite fears of an impending slowdown, FMI Research projects that construction put-in-place will increase year-over-year by slightly less than 1 percent in 2019 (down from 3 percent in 2018).
New Jersey Capital City Spending $150 Million to Replace Lead Pipes
All 37,000 of the lead water pipes in New Jersey’s capital city will be replaced over the next five years at an estimated cost of $150 million, Trenton officials said Thursday.
Construction Begins to Repair Damage From 120 Million Gallon Sewer Leaks in Florida
Construction has begun to repair damaged sewer lines in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after nearly 130 million gallons of sewer water leaked over several days last December.
FERC Approves Chesapeake Utilities Pipeline Expansion
Chesapeake Utilities has announced that FERC has issued an order approving the Company's proposed Del-Mar Energy pipeline project.
Hands-On Assessment Zone Highlights Modern Methods, Technologies
Another unique, interactive education and demonstration zone has been added to the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition. The Assessment Zone will be a large area within the UCT exhibit hall where attendees can see and learn about equipment and technologies available to assess the structural integrity of utility pipes and avoid catastrophic failure.
USDA to Invest Over $630 Million in Water Improvement for Rural Communities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing over $630 million in water infrastructure improvements for rural communities across 42 states.
Proposed ASTM Standard Supports Water Main Pipe Rehabilitation
ASTM International’s committee on plastic piping systems (F17) is developing a proposed standard for replacing old and failing distribution water main pipes.
Perma-Liner Rolls Out Road Shows, New Product for Tackling Infrastructure Rehab
With aging infrastructure and broken sewer lines being common themes that more and more communities are experiencing, Perma-Liner Industries LLC hosted events to share innovative, trenchless technology, and state-of-the-art equipment and materials to tackle these issues in the least disruptive manner.
East Trunk Sewer Project Solves Weather Risk
Kimberly Paggioli, P.E. While rain is often a welcome sight along the western shore of Lake Michigan, some Mequon, Wis., residents and business owners began to eye the prospect of precipitation with dread. After numerous hazardous and costly sanitary sewer backups, it was clear that a plan of acti..
Stormwater Pipe Replacement in Florida
Communities large and small across the United States are facing a hidden crisis – failing underground water and sewer pipes.
Plaquemines Parish Gets $4 million for Water Infrastructure
The federal government is giving one Louisiana parish a $4 million grant to help improve the water infrastructure.
Kentucky Infrastructure Project Awarded Engineering Design Feat of the Year
A Kentucky-based sewer collection system improvement project has been awarded Best-in-Class by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) during its 2019 National Design-Build Project/Team Awards competition.
UC Survey Reveals Major Trends for Underground Infrastructure
A comprehensive survey of our readers has provided a unique snapshot of market expectations for future underground construction trends. Topping the list: More trenchless applications and HDD.
New Jersey Gas Utility Pipeline Project Named Project of the Year
A $900 million gas main upgrade project responsible for upgrading over 500 miles of gas lines has been named as Project of the Year by the Project Management Institute - New Jersey Chapter.
New Orleans Could Get Up to $111 Million Loan for Sewer Upgrades
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering a $111 million loan for the City New Orleans to help upgrade and improve its aging sewer infrastructure.
Utility & Communications Construction Update
The summer construction season of 2019 saw further decline for the Utility & Communications Construction Index (UCCI) companies relative to the S&P 500. From June through September, the S&P 500 is up over 3 percent, while the UCCI had declines of approximately 1.4 percent.
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.
Plaquemines Parish Gets $4 million for Water Infrastructure
The federal government is giving one Louisiana parish a $4 million grant to help improve the water infrastructure.
Making the Grade: Tracking On-Grade Bores
Two 300-foot bores, 17 feet deep, through 44,000 psi of basalt – all at a 0.75 percent grade. It’s just another day’s work for Logan Kallwick and his crews.
Though Challenging, HDD Intersect Project is Effective Solution
Directionally drilled intersects – two drill units drilling pilot holes from opposite ends of a planned bore path that intersect – are not unusual today, but hardly could be described as routine. The complexities of an intersect and consequences of failure deter most horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors from entering this highly specialized market.
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.
CUIRE Laboratory Receives a 330-kip Actuator
In February, CUIRE purchased a 330-kip actuator from MTS Company for its soil box testing of underground pipes. This actuator will be used for the NCHRP SAPL Project to develop structural design methodology for Spray Applied Pipe Liners (SAPLs) in gravity stormwater conveyance conduits through actual size soil box testing.
New Publication Promotes SUE Understanding, Up-to-Date Practices
Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is ideally knowing as much as possible about a subsurface project prior to starting the design process. SUE incorporates existing and emerging technology to identify, characterize, and map underground utility facilities.
TTC Wraps Up Another Active Year of Growth
The Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University has once again had a very active year, continuing to meet its mission to advance trenchless technology by serving as an independent source of knowledge, research and education in the field.
Worker Rescued After Trench Collapse in Western Michigan
A construction worker has been hospitalized after being rescued from a trench that collapsed in western Michigan.
PG&E Commits to Underground Power Lines as Part of Wildfire Rebuild
PG&E announced today that it will put all electric distribution power lines underground in the Town of Paradise and some of the surrounding areas as the town rebuilds from the Camp Fire.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- West Virginia approves $67 million for water, sewer projects