Growth Projected for Transportation Projects, but Costs a Challenge
The U.S. transportation infrastructure market is expected to grow 4.2 percent in 2019, according to the annual economic forecast released Dec. 5 by the American Road &Transportation Builders Association. Yet a report issued by Fitch Ratings, also on Dec. 5, cautioned that “external factors” such as “protectionist trade policies, rising interest rates and volatility in fuel prices” bear close watch. [Above photo by Arizona DOT.] “As interest rates rise, so will the cost to fund new infrastr...
Committee Leadership Comes into Focus for 116th Congress
Congressional transportation committee leadership is poised to change come January following the results of the midterm elections on Nov. 6, which gave control of the U.S. House of Representatives back to the Democrats while keeping the Senate in Republican hands. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, while Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., will serve alongside him as the ranking member. Rep. DeFazio noted during a Dec. 5 round tab...
China, India and US will Drive Global Power Transmission and Distribution Conductors Markets over Next Four Years, says GlobalData
China, India and the US will be the driving forces for the global transmission and distribution conductors markets over the next four years, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. The company’s report: ‘Power Transmission and Distribution Conductors, Update 2018’ reveals that the aggregate global market value of power transmission and distribution conductor markets were valued at $25.99bn and $103.50bn during the period 2013–2017 and are estimated to be valued at $29.5...
Alaska Hit by Major Earthquake; ALASKA DOT&PF Assessing Infrastructure Damage
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Alaska on Nov. 30, centered about 7 miles north of Anchorage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. [Above photo via Twitter.] The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities immediately deployed crews to inspect roads and bridges following the quake, while also placing its Alaska Marine Highway System on alert due to Tsunami warnings issued by the National Weather Service; warnings which were subsequently cancelled by the NWS. Outgoing G...
Why the Upsurge in Microgrid Development?
For more than a century, advanced economies abided by the ‘bigger is better’ philosophy for electric power supply. The world built massive grids that connected power plants to homes and businesses via wires that traversed thousands of miles. As a result, the US grid, alone, now contains enough high-voltage transmission wire to circle the Earth six times over, making it what some describe as the world’s biggest machine. The grid build-out served its purpose well; 84 percent of the global popul...
Just Released: Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II
Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States The National Climate Assessment (NCA) assesses the science of climate change and variability and its impacts across the United States, now and throughout this century. Summary Findings These Summary Findings represent a high-level synthesis of the material in the underlying report. The findings consolidate Key Messages and supporting evidence from 16 national-level topic chapters, 10 regional chapters, and 2 chapters that fo...
Infrastructure Digitization: Two Industry Analysts Discuss Recent Tech Efforts from Autodesk and Bentley
Three Trends Defining Industrialized Construction By Drew Buechley On the main stage of Autodesk University 2017 in Las Vegas, Jim Lynch, vice president of the Autodesk Building Products Group, highlighted Autodesk’s increased focus on the industrialization of construction. It was clear that a convergence of manufacturing and construction processes was happening. In the next few years, this convergence will radically change the way we design buildings, build co...
Optimal Surroundings: Engineering Is Critical to Optimize a Fabric Building for Your Application
Rigid-frame engineering allows for precise building dimensions to be calculated and applied based on the equipment being housed. By Jeff Williams and Scott Jones Nobody enjoys being forced into a decision. We usually like to consider our options, and the best option of all (of course) is getting something exactly the way we like it. Eating at a restaurant is a perfect example. Although most menus will have a wide selection of great entrée choices, many of us m...
Staying on Track: CSX Leads a Reline for Timber-Beam Bridges in Georgia
CSX Corp., together with its subsidiaries based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation’s leading transportation suppliers. For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in economic expansion and industrial development across the eastern United States and into parts of Canada. With more than 2,700 miles of rail track and more than 2 million carloads handled in the state of Georgia alone, CSX maintains a busy schedule transporting loads along those lines as well as maintaining and i...
NTSB Finds Design Errors in Collapsed FIU Bridge
Designers overestimated the strength of a critical section of a Florida International University pedestrian bridge that collapsed, killing six people, and they underestimated the load on that same section, federal investigators reported Thursday. Cracks that were observed in the bridge before it collapsed were consistent with those design errors, their report says. However, the investigation continues, and the National Transportation Safety Board did not blame those errors for the March 15...
Video: New Roundabout Under Construction at McIver and Old Florence Roads in Darlington County
Promenade at The Point
June Issue 2026
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