A lingering drought and population boom in North Texas have prompted the Wylie-based North Texas Municipal Water District to undertake water-use restrictions while embarking on a $300-million project to build a 48-mile pipeline from Lake Texoma to the 300-million-gallon-per-day Wylie raw water treatment plant, bypassing Sister Grove Creek, a natural tributary of Lavon Lake. The closed pipeline also will prevent any invasive species, including freshwater zebra mussels, from being released into the environment while restoring a major portion of the region's lost water supply. Related Links: North Texas Municipal Water District McCarthy Building Cos President Barack Obama signed House Resolution
Work is underway on the first phase of a $200-million mixed-use development in New Orleans. When completed, it will be the largest mixed-use development in the city with 600 apartments and 170,000 square feet of retail space spread out over four blocks. The Domain Companies When completed, it will be the largest mixed-use development in the city with 600 apartments and 170,000 square feet of retail space spread out over four blocks. In late-June, Woodward Design Build started construction on the first phase, which includes the $48.4-million Paramount at South Market. The five-story building will occupy an entire city block
The State Highway 114/121 corridor, also known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Connector, is undergoing a supersize upgrade. The $1-billion project expands and redesigns two interchanges and portions of four highways in addition to building 39 bridges and more than 100 retaining walls. The 8.4-mile-long route runs through the cities of Southlake, Grapevine and Irving as well as the northern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The Texas Dept. of Transportation design-build project is being built by NorthGate Constructors LLC—a 65%-35% joint venture led by Kiewit Texas Construction LP with Zachry Construction Corp. The lead design engineer is PB Americas,
The Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans officially reopened on June 16 after a seven-year $1.2-billion expansion project. It was recently awarded the Alliant Build American Grand Award and named one of the most significant construction projects of 2012 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Angelle Bergeron In April 2011, a vertical 102-ft lift of a 2,758-ton steel truss was accomplished in 4.5 hours. The project increased the driving surface from 18 feet to 43 feet with three eleven-foot lanes in each direction. MTI, a joint venture of Massman Construction Co., Kansas City, Mo., Traylor Bros., Evansville, Ind.,
An extensive prefabrication strategy aims to keep the $1-billion University Medical Center project in New Orleans on target to meet the project's daunting scope and aggressive construction schedule. With more than 2 million sq ft of built space, the project for the state of Louisiana is one of the largest health care campuses under construction in the U.S. Its 31-month construction schedule has prompted construction-manager-at-risk Skanska USA Building, New York City, and joint venture partner MAPP Construction, New Orleans, to pursue prefabrication of mechanical systems, headwalls and bathroom facilities. Related Links: Parkland: A 'Hospital for the Future' Top Starts: Texas
FHP Tectonics Corp, New Orleans, will start construction in June on a $26.5 million school in New Orleans. Image courtesy FHP Tectonics The $26.5-million Morris Jeff Community School was designed by the joint venture of VergesRome Architects and Fanning Howey. The new Morris Jeff Community School is being funded by State of Louisiana Recovery School District and was designed by the joint venture of VergesRome Architects and Fanning Howey, both of New Orleans.The three-story building will be constructed in accordance with the Educational Specifications for PK-8 schools with 35 teaching stations and a total area of 108,000 square feet. It
As of April 20, it's been three years exactly since BP's Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 and pouring some 5 million barrels of oil into the sea. Related Links: The Ocean Conservancy Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Coast Builders Coalition Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC Some coastal restoration and protection work has occurred since the 2010 disaster, funded by initial payouts from the oil giant and other responsible parties. But plenty of work has yet to be done, with potential opportunity for engineering and construction firms in the Gulf Coast
With natural gas production continuing to gain momentum, the oil and gas industry is fueling major construction work in the region. The total cost of the top 25 projects that broke ground in the region in 2012 was $13.2 billion, a $1.1-billion increase over the previous year, according to ENR Texas & Louisiana's Top Starts list. Megaprojects in the oil and gas, petrochemical and energy sectors provided the big boost to this year's list. Analysts believe these projects are just the first swell of a huge wave of future work. Related Links: Top Project Starts of 2012 Liquid Gold The
Nearly 11% of the nation's animal fat waste, used cooking oil and other discarded grease streams will be turned into renewable diesel fuel when work is completed on the $368-million Diamond Green Diesel facility now under way in Norco, La., near New Orleans. The biomass project will nearly triple the amount of renewable diesel produced domestically, according to the U.S. Energy Dept., and may be the first of several such innovative technology projects planned in the state. Related Links: Valero Diamond Green Diesel The project, a joint venture between independent oil refiner Valero Energy Corp. and animal rendering and food
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started work on a $44.8 million project to construct 5,000 feet of underground drainage canal in central New Orleans. Related Links: Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project Cajun Constructors The 38-month contract is being performed by Louisiana-based Cajun Constructors. It is part of the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA), which is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from a 10-year rainfall event. A licensed arborist has commenced tree removal along the medians and pathways. Cajun Constructors will build 3,700 feet of underground drainage canal along Jefferson Avenue and 1,300 feet of
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