Our editors are everywhere — at all the industry events that matter most. When they're not speaking on panels, they're busy taking notes — and snapping photos — so they can inform their readers about what was said and who was there.

Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, in concurrence with Illinois DOT, awards contract to build main span of bridge from St. Louis to Illinois. The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has awarded the Mississippi River Bridge main span contract to a joint venture of Massman Construction/Traylor Brothers/Alberici Constructors for $229.5 million. The decision was made with concurrence from the Illinois Department of Transportation. "We're excited to be moving forward with this needed project," said Kevin Keith, P.E., the Missouri Department of Transportation's Chief Engineer. "The important thing to remember is this bridge dramatically improves safety, relieves congestion on the Poplar Street

Slight Uptick in November Construction Employment Outweighed by Big Drop for Year Overall. Missouri, Wisconsin, and Indiana added a small percentage of construction jobs in November, while Illinois lost still more. Citing employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the AGC of America said that construction employment increased in 26 states during November. It attributed some of the construction-job growth to warm, dry weather. Over the past 12 months, however, nationwide construction employment has dropped in every state but North Dakota, the AGC analysis showed. "It is too early to say if the (November) pickup reflects improving

EPA 1-day symposium looks at latest techniques in green preservation of older buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a free one-day symposium on current approaches and innovations in green preservation of older buildings on Jan. 21, 2010, in Indianapolis. The event, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will be hosted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 at the Columbia Club hotel and meeting center, 121 Monument Circle. Government-rate rooms are available to symposium registrants. Required registration for the event closes Jan. 7. The agenda includes sessions on financial incentives to practice green preservation, an exercise led by consultants

The International Standards Organization (ISO) now offers more than 100 crane standards on CD. A recent statement from ISO says it expects the CD collection to be useful for designers, manufacturers, owners, operators, sellers, inspectors, consultants, crane authorities, regulators and consultants. The standards it contains relate to mobile, tower, bridge and gantry, and jib cranes, and cover aspects including terminology; design principles and requirements; use, operation and maintenance; load rating; testing; and safety. They have been developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 96, Cranes, in which 21 countries participate, while another 26 are observers. Some of the world's leading experts

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today visited the future site of Western Illinois University's Riverfront Campus in Macomb, Ill., to announce the renovation of approximately 60,000 square feet of space for the new campus and the 2,000 new jobs the construction project is expected to create. Funding for the project is part of the Illinois Jobs Now! plan that will help create or retain more than 439,000 jobs over the next six years. Despite northwestern Illinois having a population of more than 350,000 people, Western Illinois University-Quad Cities is currently the only public university in the area. Completion of the new

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. ­ Every winter, the Missouri Dept. of Transportation (MoDOT) uses considerable labor, salt and other chemicals to remove snow and ice from the state's roads and bridges. Within the next year, MoDOT will become one of the nation's first agencies to turn to solar energy to prevent ice and snow from building up on bridge decks. MoDOT will install a 'solar warming system' on two bridges near Excelsior Springs, Mo. next spring when the bridges' decks are replaced as part of the state's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Both bridges are on Route 10. The one

The Third Edition of Detailing for Steel Construction is now available in print from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). This updated version of the 2002 Second Edition is consistent with the 2005 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. Related Links: International Code Council Unveils New Web Site Alfred Benesch Chairman Kasi Writes Guide to Value Engineering "Unseen Architecture" Exhibit at Milwaukee's Eisner-American Museum The new edition covers general fabrication requirements, contract documents, common connection details, basic detailing conventions, project set-up and control, erection drawings, shop drawings, bills of material, and detailing quality control and assurance. The publication can

The Sustainable Sites Initiative that it is seeking pilot projects to test the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Initiative is a partnership between the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. The Initiative is accepting applications until February 15, 2010, in conjunction with the release of the next report and new rating system. Any designed landscape over 2,000 sq ft is eligible, ranging from academic and

Chairman of the board of Chicago engineering company Alfred Benesch & Co., Muthiah Kasi, has written a book titled �Function Approach to Transportation Projects � A Guide to Value Engineering� to help design professionals, owners, contractors and end users learn the techniques for maximizing cost savings on transportation projects of any size. Related Links: International Code Council Unveils New Web Site New Edition of Detailing for Steel Construction Now Available "Unseen Architecture" Exhibit at Milwaukee's Eisner-American Museum The book takes readers step-by-step from information gathering to project solution. Visit www.benesch.com for more information.