According to the House Democrat’s Stimulus Bill report, the Coast Guard alters, repairs, or removes bridges that it deems a hazard to marine navigation, and it says there are 12 eligible bridges that fit that category right now. The bill provides $150 million to “fund authorized bridges that have 90 percent of their design completed and could begin construction during fiscal year 2009.” Although a “subject matter expert” conversant with the Coast Guard’s bridge replacement initiative was not available at press time due to the federal holidays, the service supplied a list of twelve bridges it has declared unreasonably obstructive

The U.K. government gave its approval on Jan. 15 for a third runway and sixth terminal at London’s Heathrow airport. Construction is estimated at $13.5 billion, and a rail hub also could be built at the airport providing high-speed links to London and central England. The project has proved controversial with many opponents, including the Conservative Party, challenging the scheme on environmental grounds. Transportation Secretary Geoff Hoon says measures to reduce the environmental impact include limiting the runway’s early use and allowing access only to the “cleanest planes.” Because of the urgent need, he says permitting will begin soon for

The nearly decade-long fight over whether to raze or rebuild the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle’s waterfront is nearing a final decision. On Jan. 13, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) announced that she favors replacing the 55-year-old highway with a $4.25 billion deep-bored tunnel. King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani also support the plan. Elected officials have been debating whether to rebuild or replace the viaduct since 2001, when the double-deck freeway was damaged in an earthquake. A month ago, an advisory committee created to study design options

A planned rail transit spur in northern Virginia has moved another step forward, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters' approval of a $900-million, multi-year federal funding commitment towards the project's $2.6-billion first phase. With Peters' Jan. 7 action, the proposed "full funding grant agreement" goes to Congress for a 60-day review. Slide Show Photo: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority First phase would carry line part way to Dulles airport. Related Links: FTA Approves First-Phase Funds for Virginia Rail Project The $900 million would help finance an 11.6-mile first stage of a planned 23-mile extension of of the Washington Metropolitan Area

Ten-mile hikes, wasp nests and forest fires marked an almost unfeasible feasibility study for a potential world-record road tunnel. Engineering geologists with Kleinfelder Inc., San Diego, are now working on a report, due by fall, for the Orange County Transportation Authority and Riverside County Transportation Commission. It will assess the possibility of building a pair of 50-ft-dia tunnels almost 12 miles long under the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California. Photo: Klienfelder Rugged test sites required a full-time helicopter. Engineers say tunnel-boring technology is not quite there yet, but might be by the time the agencies find funding and complete

The Texas Dept. of Transportation announced on Jan. 6 that it pulled the plug on the estimated $200-billion Trans-Texas Corridor, a vision introduced by TxDOT and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2002. TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Jr. made the announcement during the fourth annual Texas Transportation Forum in Austin. Projects already started under the heading of the Trans-Texas-Corridor will continue as a series of individual projects. Portions of two TTC projects are under development: Interstate 69 from Texarkana/Shreveport to the Mexico border and the I-35 corridor from north of Dallas/Fort Worth to Mexico. Perry cited financing as a

The Texas Department of Transportation today announced that it has effectively pulled the plug on its ambitious and widely publicized Trans-Texas Corridor, a comprehensive transportation plan introduced by TxDOT and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2002. What was once envisioned as 4,000 miles of existing and new highways, railways and utility rights-of-way now will be attempted in smaller segments. Photo: TxDOT The vision that was: A rendering of the project formerly known as the Trans-Texas Corridor. Photo: TxDOT Amadeo Saenz, Jr., executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. Major contracting consortiums had lined up to build the first

As the highlight of a $1.8-million, four-year federally funded research program, academic and industry researchers have begun testing multiple types of bridge-cable sensors in a chamber generating real-world-based corrosive conditions at Columbia University in New York City. The six-month test, launched on Dec. 23, has the world’s only cable mockup tested under 1.2-million lb of tension, say Columbia officials. Photo: Parsons Betti (left) and Khazem handle prefabricated parallel wire strands built for the mock suspension cable that will be subjected to real-life corrosion factors. The 20-ft-long mock suspension-bridge cable has a diameter of 20 in. and is made of nearly

Following a dramatic accident—the second in two months on the $803-million Interstate 10 Twin Spans bridges project—lead contractor Boh Bros. Construction Co. is reviewing safety procedures and employee training and actively seeking out “any additional steps we can implement to improve safety,” says Robert Boh, company president. Photo: La. DOT New Orleans Twin Spans project suffered a second accident in two months on Dec. 23. The Dec. 23 accident occurred when a 20-year-veteran crane operator, working a mobile hydraulic crane, apparently made a lift “beyond the safe working radius of the crane, causing the machine to tip over against the

President-elect Barack Obama's choice to lead the Dept. of Transportation, 14-year Republican congressman Ray LaHood (Ill.), took construction industry officials by surprise. LaHood's name didn't appear on rumor-mill lists of possible candidates to lead the Dept. of Transportation. Obama formally announced LaHood as his pick to be DOT Secretary on Dec. 19. Ray LaHood He hasn't been a leading legislator on transportation matters, though he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for his first six years in the House. Nevertheless, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Transportation committee's current chairman, says he believes LaHood will be "an excellent—superb infact—secretary of