Uncertainty over federal funding due to the partial government shutdown has caused transportation officials in Oklahoma and New Mexico to delay seeking construction bids for upcoming projects. State agencies can still access funds from the Highway Trust Fund during the shutdown, but the agencies say operating in the current funding environment is "a very risky thing."

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's $2.3 billion Green Line Extension is roughly 60% designed and remains on schedule, with demolition scheduled to begin this month. About 320 people are working on the 4.7-mile light rail extension, but that number is expected to increase over the coming year as construction ramps up.

Officials revealed five proposed renderings for the planned $8.5 billion 3.4 million-square-foot expansion of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Workers will build an international terminal and two passenger concourses.

D.J. Gribbin, former infrastructure adviser to President Donald Trump, said a 2017 executive order is an important move toward easing infrastructure project delays that critics blame on bureaucratic issues. The goal should be to help nonfederal agencies move forward on regionally significant projects that can face delays because of environmental reviews, Gribbin said.

The Port of Alaska has begun work on the first phase of a $1 billion upgrade that entails building a $150 million to $200 million dock that will be supported by an underwater concrete block. Ships will use the dock to drop off fuel and cement.

Shanghai recently inaugurated the world's longest 3D-printed concrete pedestrian bridge. The roughly 86-by-12-foot single-arch bridge and its handrails are composed of 112 3D-printed concrete units built by two robotic arms in 450 hours.

To widen the availability of 3D printing in construction, Sunconomy has partnered with residential developer Forge New to introduce We Print Houses, the first 3D-printing home system that can be leased and licensed by builders and contractors. The system can produce energy-efficient, disaster-resistant, low-maintenance concrete residences in "a matter of weeks," and the construction on the first home will begin in February in Lago Vista, Texas.

Montgomery, Alabama's capital, is the middle of a smart transportation project that includes testing streetlights, free Wi-Fi and app-based parking management. The Smart City Living Lab, in downtown Montgomery, is a public-private partnership.

The California State Water Resources Control Board will not issue the necessary permits for a project to raise the height of the Shasta Dam, citing a law preventing agencies from involvement in planning of projects that compromise free flow of the McCloud River. Congress approved $20 million for preconstruction and design work for the $1.4 billion effort last year, but with a new Congress in place, the project could face new funding hurdles.

The International Code Council and the Alliance for National and Community Resilience have developed the first resiliency guidelines, which local communities can use to improve buildings codes. "These benchmarks provide a standard for local and state governments to follow ensuring they are well prepared for the next disaster," ANCR Executive Director Ryan Colker says.

Engineer Lucia Pía Torres says efforts need to be made to recruit and train more women, who often offer different skills and vision. "If we train, accompany and encourage women, who want to continue to increase their knowledge and enhance their skills, promoting and recognizing their development, we will be able to fulfill our main objective: a diverse, balanced, and equitable world, sustainable for the next generation," she says.

Ewa Bauer-Furbush is implementing a retrofit that will make the engineering icon last for decades to come. Discover the impressive achievements of the 2019 ASCE Outstanding Projects And Leaders award-winner in management. Celebrate all five OPAL winners and see the 2019 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement winner revealed at the 20th annual OPAL Gala, March 14. Order your tickets.

How will engineers satisfy the transportation needs of the future? Leading planners, researchers, and policymakers will discuss innovative solutions at ASCE's International Conference on Transportation & Development, coming to suburban Washington, D.C., June 9-12. See the program and register.