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- Canada to cover any cost overruns on $2.1 billion Detroit bridge
Canada says it will assume responsibility for all potential cost overruns on the $2.1 billion New International Trade Crossing, according to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. This article looks at various factors that could affect construction of the six-lane bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, including Proposal 6, sponsored by Manuel Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge and an opponent of the new bridge, which is designed to increase trade opportunities. Crain's Detroit Business (free registration)
(10/23)     
| Infrastructure Watch | | |
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- NRC OKs amendment to fix concrete issues at $14B Ga. nuke plant
Issues with concrete and rebar at Southern Nuclear's $14 billion Plant Vogtle project in Georgia have been resolved. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the company's amendment to the construction license to increase the "compressive strength of the concrete to be poured around the rebar from 4,000 pounds per square inch to 5,000" to keep it in seismic compliance. It also approved a 4-inch variability in the basemat's levelness. The Augusta Chronicle (Ga.)
(10/23)
- Endangered beetle stalls portion of TransCanada's pipeline
Construction of part of TransCanada's $2.3 billion pipeline project between Oklahoma and the Gulf Coast will be delayed. Some of the route for the project has been found to be the habitat of an endangered beetle species, the American burying beetle. The 500-mile pipeline is now 12% finished and may be completed in the latter part of next year barring further delays. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
(10/23)
| Trends & Technology | | |
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- Water drops can help detect flaws in bridges
Researchers from Utah's Brigham Young University have developed a technique that uses water droplets to find structural flaws in bridges. "There is a difference between water hitting intact structures and water hitting flawed structures," said Brian Mazzeo, a BYU professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We can detect things you can’t see with a visual inspection; things happening within the bridge itself." United Press International
(10/22)
| Sustainable Development | | |
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- Work starts on green, multi-use complex in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City
Abu Dhabi's Masdar City has started construction on a three-building city headquarters complex of nearly 350,000 square feet. The project, touted as one of the most sustainable, advanced multi-use complexes in the United Arab Emirates, will use locally sourced and recycled materials along with low-carbon concrete. The complex is slated to be completed in 2014. EarthTechling.com
(10/23)
- Gulf Arab states constructing more sustainable buildings
The Middle East has 1,348 LEED-registered buildings even though it was late to the green-building game. The region is also using centuries-old technologies to address its energy problems. "When we start a project, we will do some research on what people built in this location before they had electricity. How did they keep buildings warm or cool?" said Bill Odell of HOK Architects. Yahoo/The Associated Press
(10/23)
| Election 2012 | | |
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- Where the presidential candidates stand on infrastructure spending
In 2002, the U.S. ranked No. 5 for the quality of its infrastructure, according to the World Economic Forum; in 2011, it was No. 24. President Barack Obama advocates stimulus-like spending on infrastructure to spur the economy. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney prefers to let states take the lead and doesn't think spending public funds on infrastructure would help much to expand economic growth. Cities and states are looking at alternative ways to fund repairs, including public-private partnerships, an idea with support from both Republicans and Democrats. The Washington Post/The Associated Press
(10/23)
| Advancing the Profession | | |
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- STEM jobs keep growing
While unemployment continues to be a huge challenge for recent college graduates, those with STEM-related degrees, and even individuals with STEM skills but no degree, have more flexibility than ever. The fields of green energy, nanotechnology and cybersecurity are just a few of the many STEM industries needing skilled and dedicated engineers and technicians. B2C Marketing Insider
(10/22)
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A report from the New England Council says that smart infrastructure is vital if the area is to grow economically. The report looks at energy use, transportation and workforce training. "Perhaps the most significant message of this year's research is this: for every $1 billion New England invests in smart infrastructure, a potential 27,000 new and sustainable jobs may be created over and above the immediate construction work," according to New England Council President James Brett. 
