As the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) constructed Bois d’Arc Lake northeast of Bonham, Texas – the state’s first new, major reservoir in over 30 years – their federal permit required them to mitigate a similar-sized area to offset natural habitat loss associated with construction.

The 17,000-acre mitigation ranked …

The Association of General Contractors (AGC) and Construction Risk Partners recently honored this year’s best new and renovation construction projects with Build America Awards at the AGC Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Build America Merit Awards were also presented to construction companies at the convention.

“These awards are designed …

What does it take to create a new water source for the rapidly growing number of Texas residents?

In the case of Bois d’Arc Lake in Fannin County – the first major reservoir built in Texas in over 30 years – it took years of planning and permitting, $1.2 billion …

Billy Digby has always loved equipment and playing in the dirt. He views construction as an art form.

“It’s the concept of taking nothing and making it into something,” stated Digby. “It’s in my veins, and I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else. I spent about 10 years as …

With San Antonio’s Interstate 35 corridor already over capacity – and exponential growth expected throughout the area in the coming years – the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) needed to find a way to reduce congestion and improve safety. However, because of commercial and residential development along the corridor, conventional …

Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating, Inc. recently received the 2022 Trimble Viewpoint Construction Award for Most Impressive Human Resource Achievement by hiring and onboarding 1,000 new employees in under two years. Trimble’s annual awards honor the technological achievements of North American contractors as exhibited through the growth and improvements of …

As another 1,000 people call Texas home every day, those in charge of the state’s infrastructure face a unique dilemma.

“We have a need for updating our aging infrastructure and also a need to build for growth,” said Brooke Paup, Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). “We’re …

This September in Frisco, Texas, over 400 members of the civil engineering community gathered to celebrate the profession at the Texas Civil Engineering Conference (CECON). The three-day event, organized by dedicated volunteers and ASCE Texas staff members, is the place for engineers to engage in professional development, peer-to-peer technical exchange …

HOLT sponsored a Texas-sized Round-Up and customer appreciation in October to showcase their newest Caterpillar equipment rebuild and manufacturing facilities, as well as the entire Holt family of companies.

An estimated 800 Holt customers and friends were treated to a full barbecue dinner and entertainment at the HOLT Manufacturing and …

As traffic increases and pavement deteriorates on Interstate 10 on San Antonio’s east side, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) undertook five separate, but overlapping, projects to improve mobility and safety.

With two projects complete and three currently under construction (see “Project Breakdown”), contractors have dealt with ongoing utility relocations, …

Billy Digby has always loved equipment and playing in the dirt. He views construction as an art form.

“It’s the concept of taking nothing and making it into something,” stated Digby. “It’s in my veins, and I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else. I spent about 10 years as …

Under Chapter 2251 of the Texas Government Code, Public contractors enjoy the protections of statutory requirements for prompt payment similar to those provided by the Texas Property Code for contractors on private projects as discussed in last month’s edition. Chapter 2251 recognizes that contractors performing work for governmental entities expect …

Cities across the United States are prioritizing the replacement of aging underground utility infrastructure to improve service and integrate required environmental safeguards.

In San Antonio, Texas, a massive project is currently underway to replace a 5-mile-long deteriorating and inadequate sanitary sewer pipeline known as the “W-6 Upper Segment” main. Part …

Located in the heart of a continuously growing community, the Fort Bend County EpiCenter project will bring a much-needed venue for hosting a variety of events in the City of Rosenberg, Texas. According to the Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Fort Bend County was once a small community with only …

Payment for work performed is important to every contractor at every tier. Receiving payment in a timely manner is equally important. Texas law recognizes this and provides contractors a remedy for untimely payment in the form of interest and the right to suspend performance. The Prompt Pay Act in Chapter …

For several years, companies of all sizes have been pursuing digital transformation and integrating innovation into several key focus areas of the business. While the goals for digital transformation are different for each company, it’s time for companies to establish a more ambitious goal – to become a digital organization. …

Drivers who regularly pass through southwest Austin have inevitably experienced the ever-increasing traffic volume and frequent gridlock around the intersection of U.S. 290 and SH 71. This intersection has long been identified as a heavily congested area in need of solutions and is listed as one of the 100 most …

Interstate 45 is a major interstate route through central Texas, connecting the cities of Dallas and Houston, then continuing southeast to Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico. As the primary transportation corridor between the state's two largest metropolitan areas, I-45 carries an ever-increasing volume of commuter, commercial, and heavy truck …

Ransomware is now the most common cybersecurity threat among U.S. businesses, affecting organizations of all sizes. Ransomware attacks have grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, as cybercriminals take advantage of the more vulnerable landscape that has resulted from a drastic shift to widespread remote work strategies.

We are now seeing more …

With recent market analysis showing that the design-build project delivery method will account for as much as 47 percent of construction spending by 2025, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is seeing significant growth and success in design-build projects across the country. One such design-build project, the Midland Water Pollution …

Apprenticeships already offer a path into construction skilled trades – but what about those who want to work in other areas of the industry?

Legislation enacted this year offers Texas employers sales tax incentives to hire new apprentices, especially in emerging areas like technology, marketing, engineering, artificial intelligence, and more. …

Hot news (pun intended) these days is OSHA’s intent to issue a national standard laying out employer obligations to protect employees against heat injury and illness. This responds to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting of 344 work-related deaths in U.S. due to environmental heat exposure between 2011 and 2019. …

For over 50 years, the 1,500 acres of Houston’s Memorial Park were separated into two halves by high-speed traffic on Memorial Drive. By the end of 2022, a new land bridge will reunify the park for people and animals, with four tunnels conveying traffic under 35-foot-tall hills.

To the north …

War, inflation, pandemic, and staffing shortages – just a few of the events causing fragility in our supply chains. Texas contractors are asked to absorb these shocks all while maintaining project budgets and schedules. As with most problems on construction projects, answers are complex, but may be found in the …

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas announces it is entering the articulated dump truck market with two new models – the HA30 and HA45 articulated dump trucks –targeting the popular 30- and 45-ton segments. The first of the new ADTs are now available for order through Hyundai’s North American network of authorized …

The construction ecosystem has not been immune to risks facing the global economy. The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, a continued dearth of skilled labor, and fallout from a volatile geopolitical landscape, including fragile supply chains and rising material costs, have all presented challenges. Even so, the industry has still …

Sage Oil Vac is a true American success story rooted in innovation and the determination to find a better way. In the early 90s, Gary Sage was a farmer looking for a better way to change oil in his irrigation equipment without spilling oil on himself or the ground. This …

Two Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects 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 community, with each …

Systemic disruptions of supply chains over the past two years because of the pandemic and, more recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine have renewed calls for political authorities to do something about soaring prices.

With inflation hitting 8.5 percent in March and risks of another oil and energy price shock …

RSM US LLP (RSM) hosted nearly 250 guests at its annual Skeets & Eats event on May 5 – the first time back at the event since before the pandemic.

For the past 30 years, RSM has brought clients, business partners, and friends of the firm together at Skeets & …

Interstate 35 is one of the nation's most important highways, running north-south from Canada to Mexico. In Texas, the highway crosses the heart of the state, covering nearly 600 miles from the Red River at the Oklahoma border to the Rio Grande at the Mexican border. As essentially the hub …

Safety isn’t a discrete activity or afterthought on utility construction sites. Instead, it’s an attitude and philosophy that must become an integral part of all operations. By encouraging all contractors and their workers to embrace the utility’s commitment to safety, it’s possible to facilitate the development of an even stronger …

Ever think human trafficking is an isolated problem? Not true – and especially in Texas. The state ranks number 1 in the country for human trafficking. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth rank first- and second-worst among all U.S. cities.

What can be done?

“I believe that the construction industry can create …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

Over the next few decades, San Antonio’s population is expected to grow by 2 million residents.

That poses problems for Loop 1604 – the outer highway encircling San Antonio – since the Texas A&M Transportation Institute already identified the northern portion as one of the most-congested corridors in 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 …

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 …

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 …

Construction projects certainly have their challenges and work on the Grand Parkway has proved no different. This 184-mile corridor, that will reach across seven counties and provide a third highway loop around the Houston metropolitan area has been decades in the making.

The mega-loop will meet the needs of a …

In his term as President of Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Texas, David Casteel, P.E., DBIA, is working with the organization’s staff and Board of Directors to learn from the past and optimize the present.

“Most importantly, though, we want to influence the future,” he said.

That includes …

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. …

About 30 years ago, Dana Pendergraft worked for a company pulling stone from a quarry in Haskell County, Texas. After an economic decline, the owner decided to shut it down. Dana, however, believed it was still a viable business proposition and took over the company.

“I had one loader and …

To complete the $301 million Irving Interchange project in the City of Irving, Texas, near Dallas, general contractor Webber, LLC, of Irving utilizes many crews, cranes, and drill rigs throughout the 9.6-mile corridor.

“It’s a resource-driven job,” said Brenan Honey, P.E., Director of Construction for the Texas Department …

At the $45 million Northeast Texas Cancer and Research Institute in Tyler, Texas, three linear accelerators will provide external beam radiation treatments for patients. Before that happens, general contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., needed to construct three high-density concrete vaults to keep the radiation contained. That included performing two …

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 …

When Houston’s Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA) undertook reconstruction of 10 blocks of Bagby Street on the west edge of downtown, a traffic impact analysis led to devoting 60 percent of the right-of-way to pedestrian and landscape amenities.

During construction, however, General Contractor Main Lane Industries, Ltd., of Houston, Texas, …

Labor and material shortages. Supply chain disruptions. Economic turbulence. COVID-19 rules and restrictions. Vaccine mandates. Many challenges impacting the built environment in recent years have rolled over into 2022. Industry experts are optimistic that a reopened economy and increased federal infrastructure investments will propel recovery and growth in nonresidential construction …

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 …

In Clear Lake City, Texas, an abandoned golf course became the solution to catastrophic seasonal flooding.

For the $49 million Exploration Green project, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., (LAN) of Houston, Texas, designed five massive detention ponds that each hold up to 100 million gallons of stormwater. When complete, …

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 census, the population of Austin, Texas, grew 21 percent since the previous census in 2010. The surrounding areas also grew. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working on multiple infrastructure projects to ensure the roadways can handle the extra traffic the population …

A lack of funding delayed the $370 million Interstate 635/State Highway 121 Interchange project north of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) a decade ago – but once funding became available, the project finished six months ahead of its scheduled completion date.

Design-Build Contractor NorthGate Constructors – a joint …

“Texas is a blend of valor and swagger.” Or so said Carl Sandburg in 1950, after reading works by Texas author Boyce House. In those eight words, Sandburg summarized the Lone Star State’s long-established culture of gallantry and determination, and its penchant for thinking big, then bigger.

Take the historic …

When the City of McKinney, Texas, designed a new sanitary sewer line along a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lake, they originally specified PVC pipe and concrete manholes. After city officials toured Plasson USA’s plant in Corsicana, Texas, to gather information for a different project, they decided to ask …

Aiming to improve traffic flow and safety, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has undertaken a bridge replacement project along about four miles of the Interstate 40 corridor in Amarillo.

“The existing structures were built with the original interstate construction,” says Sonja Gross, Public Information Officer for TxDOT’s Amarillo …

To build the new $766.5 million State Highway (SH) 249 Extension project northwest of Houston, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) used multiple strategies to accelerate the work and provide faster relief for the area’s increasing population and economic growth. First, they divided the project into several parts in order …

To complete the 15-mile, $50 million reconstruction of Corpus Christi’s State Highway 358 with minimal traffic impacts, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) organized the project into 10 main phases – then divided those phases into 42 different work units.

“Every work unit is different,” said Bruce Kowalik, Project …

As Zachry Construction Corporation of San Antonio, Texas, works to complete the $178.3 million second phase of Bexar County’s U.S. 281 improvement project, they’ve juggled challenges and silver linings to meet the accelerated construction schedule.

Surprisingly, one consequence of the pandemic actually helped them expedite work, as did unconventional precast …

To improve safety and boost economic impact, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) undertook an upgrade to turn State Loop 335 around the City of Amarillo, Texas, into a four-lane, controlled-access freeway.

However, with total estimated construction costs topping $1.5 billion, the 43.5-mile, multi-phased upgrade will take a while. So …

The population of Texas today stands at almost 28 million. By 2050, that number is predicted to nearly double to 55 million, with most people clustered in already-dense urban centers like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.

Over the next several decades, researchers also project an increase in the …

For many, the dawn of 2020 signaled a new decade of hope and prosperity. However, the year closed with a shocking twist: a global death toll topping 1.6 million (including 300,000-plus in the United States) that stemmed from the outbreak of COVID-19, a highly contagious and unpredictable disease originating in …

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston District oversees infrastructure improvements across a six-county territory containing approximately 6.8 million people. A strong, diverse economy is laying the groundwork for the population to reach 10.7 million by 2045, making it increasingly imperative for TxDOT to address the dozens of major traffic …

As part of the $42.6 million I-35 at Oltorf Street project in Austin, Texas, general contractor OHL USA, Inc., of Austin needed to demolish a prestressed concrete, box beam bridge across Interstate 35 mainlanes – in an area that sees more than 200,000 vehicles a day – then construct …

Just south of downtown Dallas, efforts to relieve mounting traffic jams and improve mobility along I-35E and U.S. 67 are moving forward at a steady clip. The Southern Gateway Project, owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is rebuilding and widening these major Dallas County arterials as part of …

For several decades, planners in the City of Fort Worth, Texas, dreamed of building a connection between downtown and the city’s near southside, but a lack of funding, Interstate 30, and four Union Pacific railroad tracks stood in the way. Finally, in April the $53 million Hemphill Street Connector opened …

When the 8-mile, $743 million U.S. 183 South project in East Austin, Texas, opens all lanes to traffic by year-end, drivers will not only find reduced congestion through the corridor, but also a more scenic drive.

“People pay to use this facility, so they expect a better experience; it’s a …

First conceptualized about six decades ago, the Grand Parkway (SH 99) is a future 184-mile corridor that will traverse seven counties and provide a third highway loop around the Houston metropolitan area. This multidecade megaproject, owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), aims to improve mobility, safety, and travel-time …

Just east of downtown El Paso, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is ramping up construction on its I-10 Connect project, which aims to improve connectivity between I-10 and Loop 375 (César Chávez Border Highway) and address congestion issues caused by traffic queuing on I-110 for the Bridge of the …