A new study attempts to answer ‘How will PE pipe perform in my utility?’ It identifies areas to be addressed during an evaluation. Released by the Plastic Pipe Institute Inc. and commissioned by the PPI and the Alliance for PE Pipe, the study was done by Ontario-based Jana Labs. It examined potable water systems including chlorination, durability, oxidative aggressiveness, temperature and pressure/stress. Case studies of systems encompassing a range of operating conditions, scope of service and system life were included. Uitility managers or water-system design engineers with questions about the longevity of PE pipe may read the report by visiting
Just after Independence Day, floodwaters tested the Santa Ursula Connector in Laredo, which was designed to resist floodwaters from the Rio Grande River. Photo: SEA SEA was awarded a design contract by the city of Laredo and a design award by the PCI. The bridge withstood more than 20 ft of water from Hurricane Alex this summer. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The bridge passed with flying colors, according to its designer, San Antonio-based Structural Engineering Associates Inc. During record flooding of the river along the Texas/Mexico border in the wake of Hurricane Alex, the bridge was inundated with
Design is under way for a new $24-million classroom and office building for Texas A&M University - Central Texas in Killeen. JQ is providing structural and civil engineering services for the Fort Sam Houston Joint Wing Headquarters in San Antonio, one of 14 federal contracts JQ was hired to provide such service on during 2010. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Texas A&M University Central Texas campus is the result of a partnership between Fort Hood and the Texas Legislature among others. Fort Hood donated the site for the university. The project involves the first building of a multi-year development
The Texas Public Works Association gave the North Texas Tollway Authority four awards of high distinction recognizing the authority’s contributions in public works transportation solutions, leadership and community involvement. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The TPWA Public Works Project of the Year Award recognized innovation and excellence for two distinct NTTA projects—the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge and the emergency repair of the retaining wall project on the President George Bush Turnpike at Kelly Boulevard. The Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge received the 2010 TPWA Public Works Project of the Year Award in the transportation category with a project cost greater
Arlington-based Ascension Group Architects’ design-and-build project to replace Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, was named the state’s top private construction project in 2009 by Idaho Business Review. Sixty-four commercial projects were honored by the weekly business journal, including 19 other private projects. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The roughly $100-million Portneuf project broke ground in June 2009. Plans call for the construction of an addition on the east campus of the medical center and interior renovations throughout Portneuf’s existing facility. Construction is slated for completion in mid-2011.
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association named Texas Dept. of Transportation Executive Director Amadeo Saenz, Jr., as Public Sector Entrepreneur of the Year. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Saenz was named the 19th executive director of TxDOT in 2007. In July, he was elected president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. His term will run through July 2011. He previously served as vice president of the group.
Austin-based URS Corp. was awarded a new contract to provide support services for the Red River Army Depot in New Boston. Under the contract, which covers a one-year base period with two one-year options, URS will provide ongoing maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and upgrade of vehicles, including trucks, tractors and trailers and all-terrain material handling equipment. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The company also will provide environmental clean-up services. URS has worked with RRAD since 1996. The depot contract, which has a one-year base period followed by two one-year options, has a maximum value of $140 million to URS,
Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. of Houston finished construction of the $27.3-million North East ISD’s Cibolo Green Elementary School in San Antonio. The campus meets LEED-silver standards and is the 18th LEED building constructed by S&P. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Designed by San Antonio-based Pfluger Associates Architects, the two-story, 122,000-sq-ft school opened for the fall semester. The firm also completed a new junior-senior high school and renovation of the intermediate school for the Teague ISD. Designed by Austin-based architects BLGY Inc., the 196,000-sq-ft school includes an 800-seat auditorium and $1-million kitchen. The new facility was ready for the
The Texas Transportation Commission gave the Texas Dept. of Transportation authority to move forward with funding for the Transportation Enhancement Program. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The federally funded program supports transportation-related activities that promote the quality of the environment through aesthetic enhancements associated with transportation. The current federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, requires transportation enhancement projects be funded over the life of the bill. The program provides funding for projects that contribute to the livelihood of communities, promote the quality of the environment and enhance the aesthetics of roadways. Projects were selected on a competitive basis. TxDOT issued a
After a cooperative effort by the Texas Dept. of Transportation and the city of Gainesville, the Texas Transportation Commission granted $11.3 million of the $14.3 million to build a new interchange in Gainesville. The extra $3 million will come from TxDOT’s Wichita Falls District. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" The funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. TxDOT has experienced under bids on dozens of jobs around the state, leaving enough funds on the table to proceed with the IH 35/U.S. Hwy. 82 interchange. The city is also pledging $56,000 in funding as well as Governor’s Community
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