Related Links: Website for Metro Line 4 Project ENR's 2012 Special Report: Brazil (subscription) Brazil has become a country engulfed in major transportation projects ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro—including subways, ports and a beltway to ease congestion in and around São Paulo.In the past few weeks, however, the South American giant has become engulfed in some of the biggest protests in 20 years. Apparently sparked by a proposed increase in bus fares in São Paulo, which is known for its unreliable bus service, some 65,000 citizens there recently took to the streets
Related Links: Florida Awards Groundbreaking Highway Contract P3 Delivery Drives Construction Speed on Florida's I-595 Project The mission: to shoehorn three new 10.5-mile-long reversible toll lanes into the middle of a six-lane interstate highway—including work on 63 bridges and 2.5 miles of the Florida Turnpike—while minimizing disruptions to up to 200,000 daily vehicles in the Fort Lauderdale area of Broward County, Fla.The method: a concessionaire agreement with a design-build construction contract, a first for the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT). The $1.8-billion Interstate 595 widening project also came with plenty of complexity, including southern Florida's quirky geology, various stakeholders and
Related Links: More about EPA's national enforcement initiative Link to Consent Decree In a settlement with federal agencies, Ash Grove Cement Co., Overland Park, Kan., has agreed to pay a $2.5-million penalty and spend about $30 million on pollution-control improvements to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations, U.S. officials have announced.The company's agreement with the Dept. of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency is the latest settlement in a nationwide EPA enforcement drive to reduce emissions from the largest air-pollution sources, including portland cement manufacturing facilities, according to DOJ.Under a consent decree lodged on June 19 in federal district court
Related Links: Frost and Sullivan Analysis An analysis of the global water and wastewater membrane-technology market suggests the market could see its revenues double by 2020.The analysis by Mountain View, Calif.-based Frost & Sullivan, a market research firm, found the market earned revenue of $5.54 billion in 2012 and estimates it will reach $12.07 billion by 2020.Although well established in the U.S., much of Asia and parts of Europe, the use of membranes for wastewater and water purification and treatment is used less widely in Eastern Europe and developing countries, says Paulina Szyplinska, Frost & Sullivan energy and environment industry
Photo Courtesy of Sheehan Pipeline Construction Road ahead for pipeline outfits looks good, with ample demand from the utility and chemical sectors and stable costs for materials and labor Related Links: Pipeline Specialists Profit From Safety, Not Shale Boom Rerouted Keystone Pipeline Path Back for Another Round PG&E Faces Harsh Aftermath Of San Bruno Gas Blast These are good days for pipeline engineering and construction firms. There is a steady flow of work, thanks to booming natural-gas and oil production from U.S. shale plays, increased use of gas for power generation and other factors. The activity is driving a major
photo By Mary Servatius Even as Sandy recovery work continues in and around New York City, the mayor aims to move beyond the storm and fortify flood-prone areas against potential risks related to climate change. Related Links: Post-Sandy Mobilization Moves into High Gear New York City aims to ramp up protection against damage from catastrophic weather events and a changing climate with a new $19.5-billion plan to strengthen 15 critical areas, from food supply to health care to shorelines. The plan, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) revealed on June 11 in a 438-page report, offers long-term recommendations and goes far
Related Links: Urban Green Council Building Resiliency Task Force Reasoning that existing buildings will improve naturally over time when they undergo renovations, a task force on building resiliency in New York City, formed after last October's Superstorm Sandy, is recommending building-code changes mostly for new construction and substantial renovations."Recommendations are intended to minimize interruptions to building functionality while allowing the market to dictate the need to implement resiliency measures," says the Building Resiliency Task Force in its 42-page report to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (R) and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn (D).The task force's 33 proposals for commercial and
Photo By Marc A. Hermann/MTA New York City Transit Just Short of a Rebuild: Transit personnel inspect Montague tube damage that is so severe the tube requires a major overhaul. Related Links: At Four Years Old, a New Station Needs Rethinking After Sandy, A SpecialReport on the Superstorm Reconstruction New York City Transit plans to start major reconstruction work this summer on two subway tunnels that were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The agency is preparing bid documents for the work, which is expected to be divided into two projects, each with multiple contracts that will total more than $100
Related Links: Chinese former minister Liu Zhijun's trial on corruption charges begins The Trial of the Most Hated Man in China: Former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun The trial of Liu Zhijun, China’s former railways minister, on bribery charges in a local court in Beijing was short, but it drew national attention and has fueled public debate about relations between government officials and private-sector executives, according to published reports there.Liu, who was a key player in China’s huge high-speed rail expansion over the last decade, admitted on June 9 to accepting cash and assets worth more than $100 million for himself
Related Links: Fast-Track Replacement Planned For Collapsed Skagit River Bridge (ENR 6/3/13 issue) Washington DOT Skagit River Bridge Web page The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has released the remainder of the federal aid to finance the repairs and replacement spans for the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said.Murray opened a June 13 Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing on bridge issues a bit late, but the reason for the delay soon became clear. Murray, the panel’s chair, said she had just received a call from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, telling her U.S. DOT was “releasing
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