Tropical Storm Isaac may be what New Orleanians need to scratch that seven-year itch.

It's been nearly a half century since the Texas Dept. of Transportation has taken on a project this ambitious. The $1.9-billion widening and upgrading of 96 miles of Interstate 35 in Central Texas from Salado to Hillsboro make up the most miles of new construction the agency has tackled simultaneously since it first built the state's highway system. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record As a key north-south transportation and economic corridor in the center of state that stretches a total of 492 miles, I-35 is known as "Main Street Texas." Given the upgrade program's massive scope, the main

The holidays came early for riders of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail system. DART opened the first 5.4-mile phase of its new Orange Line in July—five months ahead of schedule. Nine miles of the 14-mile project were set to be completed in December, but the design-build team—in DART's first use of the approach—rallied for an early delivery. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The opening coincided with the 15th Annual Transportation & Infrastructure Summit and 5th Annual Global High-Speed Rail Forum held at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas on Aug. 14-17. The new section includes

Photo by Angelle Bergeron Temporary system of canal gate closures and pumps built after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 will await permanent structure, delayed by dispute until 2016. Related Links: US Court of Claims website page: Ruling on New Orleans project by Judge Victor Wolski (May 23, 2012 redacted) November 2011 complaint to US Court of Claims: CBY Design-Builders vs. United States Companies Flock to $800-Million Pump Station Bid in New Orleans Contractors will get another shot at winning a $700-million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control contract this fall.Reprocurement of the design-build contract, ordered last year by successful bid protests

In their quest to bring swift repairs to a critical floodway and fill a huge scour hole left after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breached Mississippi River levees to fight record floods in 2011, engineers have turned to innovative strategies to cope with an environmentally sensitive complication: a blue hole.

Work could begin as early as next summer on a newly approved, $2-billion plan to build a system that would divert floods on the Red River around Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., if Congress authorizes funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' proposal.

Photo Courtesy Florida Dept. of Transportation A $1.4-million project will knit 70 miles of managed lanes, toll facilities and turnpikes in Florida into a regional network to improve traffic flow. The Florida Dept. of Transportation is preparing to knit 70 miles of managed lanes, toll facilities and turnpikes in multiple jurisdictions into a regional network to improve traffic flow. In February, HNTB Corp., Kansas City, began a $1.4-million, 15-month project to develop a "regional concept of transportation operations," or RCTO, for South Florida.In use for a decade, managed lanes open to different types of traffic at varying toll rates, depending

Innovative dam and levee design construction for sustainable water management is the theme of the United States Society of Dams 32nd annual meeting and conference, which will be held in New Orleans April 23-27.