The State of Mississippi is spending over $212 million to expand a hurricane evacuation route for residents along the Gulf Coast.

Contractor W.G. Yates and Sons was brought on to construct the new Highway 57 project. Approximately 10 miles in length, it will essentially become the new route in Jackson …

State Route 76 (SR 76) in Tennessee runs the length of the state starting north of Nashville and continuing until near the Alabama border. Among the areas that the over 230-mile-long highway traverses are Western Tennessee and Carroll County. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and general contractor, Delta Contracting …

Interstate 35 (I-35) and Interstate 240 (I-240) intersect in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where Allen Contracting Inc./Shell Construction Co. Inc. and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) are in the middle of a multi-phase project to modernize the I-35/I-240 interchange.

The team is currently working on phase 1B, which began in …

As the construction sector throughout the inland Southeast U.S. experiences a surge in job creation, outpacing the state's general economic expansion, it has enjoyed a labor landscape that has grown alongside the demand — but perhaps not enough. In other parts of the country, labor has become a scarce commodity, …

A new transportation corridor is under construction around the southwest Tennessee town of Somerville in Fayette County. The purpose of the Somerville Beltway Project, a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) undertaking, is to create a new highway which meets present and future traffic demands and to provide motorists with improved …

The first phase of the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s (ARDOT) massive 30 Crossing project in Pulaski County remains on track for a summer of 2025 completion, increasing safety and functionality on the highway.

“The purpose of this project is to increase the safety of vehicular traffic on Interstate 30 …

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will hit the road this summer and fall for a new initiative designed to tell the story of the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry and celebrate the men and women who help build, power, and feed the world.

Stops include a tour of production facilities, …

Increased traffic in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, has led the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) to undertake a $14.3 million improvement project on LA 3276. This project marks the first time that DOTD has deployed geocell technology for additional support.

“The use of the geocell technology is a highlight …

Concerned about safety and capacity issues on Interstate 35 at Northeast 63rd Street, near the Interstate 44 interchange in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has launched a $66 million project to reconstruct the I-35 bridges over Northeast 63rd Street and add a flyover exit ramp.

“[The interchange] …

Faced with an outdated interchange unable to safely handle increasing traffic loads, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has begun making improvements to Interstate 55 at E.H. Crump Boulevard in southwestern Memphis.

“The new alignment allows traffic to free flow on new through lanes directly from and to the Memphis …

In November 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure. President Joe Biden’s administration proposed this legislation to rebuild America’s roads, bridges, and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle …

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently completed an $87 million project in Hot Springs, Arkansas, home to Hot Springs National Park and the Ouachita Mountains. The Hot Springs Bypass project improves traffic flow around the resort town, which has a population of nearly 40,000.

The residents of Mayflower, Arkansas, which is 25 miles north of Little Rock, have been dealing with an irregular traffic pattern for years. The culprit — a freight train that passed through the middle of town. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently completed the Highway 89 Mayflower Overpass so …

Crews plan to have one of two bridges on U.S. 62 over the Arkansas River and over 55th Street on the river’s east side completed in the spring as part of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) $74.7 million bridge replacement in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

“The bridges are roughly 60 …

Greenville, Mississippi, is a vital part of the state along the Mississippi River. It’s part of the Mississippi Delta, serves as the county seat, and has an active port that drives significant traffic in and around the area. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is developing the U.S. Highway 82/Greenville …

John Pinney describes Pinney Dozer Service LLC as a company that does “anything and everything dirt related.”

“From small commercial sites to large mining projects, we have the capabilities to handle it,” said Pinney, who is the President of the Skiatook, Oklahoma, business that he co-owns with his father, Tim. …

“If we touch a project, we own it” is the motto Chris Ward, Owner of NWA Fiber Communications, has built his business on. Over the last few years, his 50-plus person organization has owned many projects. But NWA Fiber Communications isn’t a typical utility contractor. The Harrison, Arkansas-based …

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) announces the winners of the 2023 National Design-Build Project/Team Merit Awards. A total of 62 projects from across the United States were submitted for consideration in 10 different categories. The submissions underwent evaluation by a panel of industry experts.

“With the continued growth of …

As the growing population in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, expands the metropolitan area, development has stretched into the floodplain of the Comite River Basin. Occasional flooding that previously occurred in swampland or largely wooded areas with only scattered agricultural usage now impacts many more people.

To reduce the risk of urban …

The first $90 million phase of improvements to the aging Interstate 44 and U.S. 75 interchange in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is open to traffic and substantially complete, with more phases planned.

“This is the oldest section of interstate in Oklahoma,” says Seth Buchanan, Assistant District Engineer for construction in Oklahoma …

Gary Carpenter Construction Co. began with a single backhoe and a dump truck in 1977 and has since grown to a massive fleet of earthmovers and skilled professionals who lay the groundwork for central Arkansas construction. The company’s work ranges from large-scale institutional and commercial work such as hospitals, schools, …

Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is in the Ouachita Mountains, features a national park, hot springs, numerous recreational lakes, and historic Bath House Row. As a popular tourist destination for in-state residents and beyond, the city traffic swells during the summer. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is in the middle …

A native of the State of Mississippi, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has made great strides in addressing his top priorities for the agency – developing a better relationship with the legislature and stemming the loss of employees.

“We have had two of the best …

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently revealed plans to allocate nearly $300 million for nine small- and medium-sized bridge projects in both urban and rural areas. The grants, awarded in eight states and the District of Columbia, are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Bridge …

The segment of Interstate 10 which spans the state of Louisiana is perhaps the state's most vital corridor. It carries an ever-growing amount of multi-modal freight and industrial traffic, plus tourism traffic into the state or passing through the state. The southernmost cross-country highway in the National Highway System, I-10 …

For years, motorists using Interstate 40 through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area have been frustrated by frequent lane closures and the resulting traffic backups along a 3-mile stretch of the interstate in Del City, which sits adjacent to Oklahoma City's southeast side. Six existing bridges, all over 60 years old, …

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded nearly $1.2 billion to nine projects across the country through the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) discretionary grant program, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Mega grant program funds projects that are too large or complex for …

Along State Route 19 in Neshoba County, Mississippi, drivers traveling between the towns of Philadelphia and Tucker will soon reap multiple benefits from a current Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) project. The $35.5 million SR 19 Expansion Project, scheduled for completion in 2024, will expand a 4.6-mile stretch of the …

Louisiana's wetlands provide immense benefits for the state's coastal ecosystems and communities – clean water, habitats for commercial and recreational fisheries, and endless recreational opportunities. The wetlands also give Louisiana its first line of defense during storms by reducing the detrimental effects of wind, waves, and flooding.

Unfortunately, Louisiana has …

The November 2019 opening of the new North Terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport brought a state-of-the-art traveler experience to what has become one of the nation's fastest-growing airports. A current Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) road project, designed to increase vehicle capacity and accommodate …

On State Route 76 in Itawamba County, Mississippi, a project is underway to complete a much-needed four lane highway between major industrial sites in the state and the neighboring state of Alabama. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) SR 76 Extension Project is creating an 8.3 mile, four-lane extension of …

With the recent opening of a new Arkansas River Bridge on Interstate 30 in Little Rock, Arkansas's massive 30 Crossing Project has reached a major milestone. Over several weeks in September, traffic was shifted onto the new bridge (which will ultimately be the eastbound span) in three phases. Work is …

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) $152 million U.S. 69/75 Commerce Connection project though Bryan County aims to improve access and safety on this heavily traveled route.

“This was one of the most challenging areas we had, in terms of the type of traffic we had, a lot of …

Two state department of transportation projects in Arkansas/Missouri and Tennessee won regional awards in the 2022 America’s Transportation Awards competition, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The competition recognizes state DOTs for making a difference in their …

As the $253 million reconstruction and widening of U.S. Highway 49 in Rankin County, Mississippi, nears completion drivers will enjoy less congestion and safer travel.

“The existing roadway was failing, there were too many median crossovers, and the high traffic volume brought a need for increased capacity,” says Luke McMahen …

After three floods within a decade, the St. Mary Levee District (SMLD) decided to build a permanent $80 million Bayou Chene Flood Protection Structure to protect several Louisiana communities from high river dangers.

“The permanent structure is operational,” says Tim Matte, Executive Director of SMLD. “We are prepared for high-river …

U.S. Highway 82, an east-west highway, covers more than 1600 miles between New Mexico and Georgia. The highway passes through southern Arkansas and is a major artery in the area. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is widening a section of U.S. 82 in the southwestern part of the state. …

Maintenance might not be your favorite thing to do, but this minor inconvenience can help you avoid major headaches in the future. Good maintenance practices not only keep the machine running at peak performance, but they also minimize downtime from repairs that come from ignoring key maintenance requirements. Here are …

WINNIPEG, MB — Evolution Wheel is a manufacturer of heavy-duty skid steer tires. The EWRS-HS series solid skid steer tire is the hard surface version of the EWRS-AT series all-terrain tire. The solid EWRS-HS skid steer tire is ideal for surfaces like concrete or asphalt.

Evolution Wheel spends a lot …

Located in southeast Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish is one of the fastest-growing parishes in the state. The parish has a population of approximately 270,000 people and has been growing dramatically since 1990. More growth is expected. To keep up with the population growth, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development …

It doesn’t matter how much aggregate is produced in a day if it is contaminated or not sized correctly. Though screen media is a minor cost when compared to larger equipment in a quarry or mine, it is a crucial part of any operation’s profit machine. One unexpected break and …

The global upheaval of the last few years has undoubtedly rocked the construction industry – and stories of labor shortages driven by COVID-19 abound. Add to that an aging workforce further stressed by current conditions, combined with a lack of skilled replacements, and the current struggle makes sense.

But beneath …

The needs of the project owner have always defined the parameters of a construction job, but all signs are pointing to owners playing a bigger role in the use of technology on their projects in the future, especially as we begin to see federal funds put to work on transportation …

While America’s transportation infrastructure continues to be one of the country’s greatest historical accomplishments, as well as the lifeblood of the American economy, the system itself continues to have serious challenges during the last two decades.

This is mainly due to the rise in traffic congestion which has ensnarled hundreds …

Most people in the construction industry will say that on any given work site, there is always an amount of waste that could have been avoided. Whether it be poorly handled materials, re-work, weather damage, or working from out of date documents, there are plenty of ways that humans can …

The population in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area has been rising and passed 1 million in 2021. Like in much of the country, the area’s infrastructure is aging. Combine these two facts and you have the basis for a project the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is currently engaged in …

The $81 million in upgrades to busy Highway 10 west of Pleasant Valley Drive in Little Rock present several firsts for the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT).

“This section of highway has the highest daily traffic count in Arkansas on a non-interstate highway,” says Keith Goff, a Resident Engineer …

As droughts and growing population affect water security around the globe, desalination becomes an increasingly important option. In communities searching for sustainable, long-term solutions, new technology can increase the efficiency of water treatment efforts.

Initially developed in the late 1950s, reverse osmosis (RO) desalination evolved into the leading desalination process. …

Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB), located in Bossier Parish in northwest Louisiana, is one of the largest military installations in the country, and a critical base of operations for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, the 8th Air Force, the 2nd Bomb Wing, and the 307th Bomb Wing. More …

Many of the most famous structures of ancient times were constructed from a material we often think of us as modern. The workers who built them needed a material that could be shaped into blocks and other forms more easily than carving from stone. Finally, someone concocted a mixture of …

Interstate 55 is a main north-south artery in Mississippi as it travels the entire state. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in the midst of an infrastructure project on I-55 in Tate County, the northwest corner of the state. The project will allow I-55 to continue to function in …

Hammer Construction Inc. has officially been in business for about 30 years, but its roots stretch back to when Jack Hammer founded Hammer Construction and Dozer Service in the 1950s. He focused on building roads, pits and pad sites for drilling rigs and providing roustabout services for energy companies.

Jack …

The future is looking bright for the construction industry, with project pipelines full and the promise of infrastructure spending infusing the industry with confidence and optimism. But as we face another year of supply chain issues and crippling workforce shortages, it’s possible that our industry’s biggest challenge could be too …

Oklahoma’s transportation department is modernizing an aging interchange with Interstate 44 to improve capacity and eliminate a bottleneck on Interstate 235 in Oklahoma City.

“It could not handle the traffic,” says Jeff Garder, Project Manager with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). “We are widening the interstate and addressing …

Arkansas Department of Transportation’s (ArDOT) largest project ever, the first phase of the 30 Crossing project in the Little Rock area, aims to improve one of the state’s most traveled roads, Interstate 30, including the replacement of the Arkansas River Bridge.

“We have a capacity issue, but we also …

There was something about the St. Claude Avenue Bridge in New Orleans that seemed off. The bridge’s members had unusual stresses, four pin joints were misaligned and the seating at the bridge’s “toe” was uneven. While these issues had been identified in an earlier investigation, the report – which a …

Vicksburg, Mississippi, is famous for being the home of a key Civil War battle. The town, which has a population of approximately 23,000, is in Western Mississippi and is located on the Mississippi River. Interstate 20, a major east-west highway that runs from Texas to South Carolina. The Mississippi Department …

Work progresses on a 5.8-mile, $75 million extension of the Hot Springs, Arkansas, bypass, through rugged terrain, to ease traffic heading north and south.

“The goal is to route through traffic around the city of Hot Springs to allow quicker connections to and from Hot Springs Village and other areas …

Carrying on an organization’s legacy offers a challenge for any subsequent owner, especially when the company has a solid reputation for delivering projects on time and on budget. Seven years ago, Cody Hill decided to tackle that task when he became part-owner of Chambers Excavating & Construction, now renamed …

Progressive Construction Co. seems a rather apt name for a company that’s grown continuously in services and size throughout the past two-and-a-half decades. During that time, founders and owners Todd Urbina and Ricky Cruz developed the Alexandria-based firm into one of central Louisiana’s most diversified and comprehensive contractors.

“We are …

As the state capital of Mississippi, Jackson is a city that draws people from the surrounding areas. I-20 runs east to west through the city and is a major thoroughfare for those commuting from the suburbs of Jackson. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in the midst of the …

A long-term employee of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), Lorie Tudor now serves as director of the agency and has risen to the challenges facing those responsible for transportation infrastructure.

“At the end of most days, I feel I’ve made a difference,” Tudor says. “I’ve added value and insight, …

Tinker Air Force Base, located southeast of downtown Oklahoma City and home to 26,000 military and civilian employees, is the largest single-site employer in the state. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is in the midst the I-40 Del City Bridges project, which impacts a significant amount of traffic to …

Despite months of wet weather, heavy traffic that prevented weekday closures, extra safety measures to combat COVID-19, and even a plane crash on the jobsite, the design-build team led by James Construction Group of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, completed the $72.9 million Interstate 10 On the Greaux widening project on schedule …

Located in Southwest Arkansas, De Roche Creek flows under I-30. Recently, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) replaced two bridges along I-30 that go over the 5.5-mile creek whose historical high water elevation is 212.2 feet. While the I-30 bridges at De Roche Creek project was seemingly a simple project, …

The Federal Government’s role in infrastructure can be traced back to the Constitution. According to Article 1, Section 8 of the constitution, Congress is empowered to “establish post offices and post roads.” Although state and even local governments play a major role in the funding of infrastructure these days, the …

The Baton Rogue metropolitan area is growing. The Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD) is in the midst of a number of projects as part of the local government’s Green Light Plan to ensure the infrastructure in the area is capable of handling the additional demands. One such project is the …

A consummate transportation professional, Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz credits his teams of employees, contractors, engineers and others with the state’s success in keeping Oklahoma moving.

“When I talk about the transportation team in Oklahoma, I want to emphasize that includes our construction contractors, our consulting engineers and the people …

Highway 65 is viewed as a major north-south route in Northern Arkansas. The historic Highway 65 begins in Clayton, Louisiana, and runs through Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and concludes in Minnesota. The purpose of the highway – which was created in 1926 and designated as a national highway – was to …

Located in Western Oklahoma, approximately 50 miles from the border with Texas is Elk City, Oklahoma. The city, which is off of the famous Route 66, has a population of approximately 11,500. While the historic route no longer exists in its original form, there is still significant traffic in this …

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD) is changing the configuration of Government Street in East Baton Rouge Parish to reduce the number of lanes, called a “road diet,” to improve safety and traffic flow.

“The major reason is to make the road more pedestrian friendly in this …

Much new infrastructure construction comes down to the same need: new roads are required in order to keep up with growing traffic counts. The Bella Vista Bypass, which falls in parts of southeast Missouri and northwest Arkansas, is made up of multiple contracts that are underway at the same time. …