Category: Infrastructure
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Fix the Dam Concrete: Aging U.S. Dams Face Urgent Repairs
With America’s dams showing their age, utilities have an opportunity to tap into federal funding and modernize critical concrete infrastructure before costly failures strike. In the U.S., hydropower generates nearly 27% of renewable electricity and 93% of all utility-scale storage, yet the average dam is nearly 80 years old, according to the U.S. Department of…
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How Contractors Can Strengthen Our Roads & Highways
Far more than just physical connections between cities, our nation’s road and bridge systems are the lifelines of our economy and daily life, enduring relentless loads, severe weather, and chemical assault. Despite their robust design, these structures are deteriorating at an alarming rate. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the average age of…
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Sanibel Causeway Reconstruction: How Superior Construction Built Resilient Coastal Infrastructure
Three years ago I sat at my desk and saw the photos and videos posted online in the aftermath of hurricane Ian. I felt a catch in my throat as I saw what happened to the small community just off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida. You see, I grew up in the state of…
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Heat Safety Rollbacks Endanger Road Crews in the Sunbelt
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in Application, Asphalt, Blacktop, Business, Compaction, Construction News, Construction Safety, Dirt Work, Featured, Infrastructure, Labor & Workforce Development, Maintenance, Milling, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement Marking & Striping, Pavement Preservation & Maintenance, Paving, Plants, Policy Matters, Production, safety, Seal Coating, Sealcoating, Striping, Top Story, WorkforceImagine if tomorrow you woke up and heard a news report stating that a few states had passed laws which ban local governments from requiring workzone barriers like cones or concrete blocks? Or what if you heard they forbid localities from requiring a flagger for road work? Your first reaction might be to fact-check the…
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Reality Capture in Concrete Road & Highway Construction
In one way, the world of concrete road and highway construction is slow to move forward. It takes time for the job to be done the right way. In another way, the construction of this country’s transportation infrastructure has accelerated drastically. One could say that the continued adoption of technology has allowed the contractors of…
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What Is VRAM? Void-Reducing Asphalt Membranes for Joint Longevity
In the past three years I’ve visited a fair number of jobsites to see how blacktop crews do a lot of what they do on a day-to-day basis. However, I haven’t undergone a lot of what I think of as “formal” training. Thankfully, last year I connected with Shelly & Sands, a large road work…
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Caterpillar Unveils Next Generation Cat 140 Lever Motor Grader at PWX 2025
At this year’s Public Works Expo, Caterpillar introduced its new Cat 140 Lever Motor Grader (140 LVR), giving attendees a first look at a machine designed to merge traditional operator preferences with cutting-edge technology. “This machine is an all-new ground up design for us,” said Eric Kohout, product application specialist for motor graders at Caterpillar,…
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Skills gap threatens delivery of water reuse infrastructure
A new report on water reuse in the UK is calling for urgent action to equip a skilled workforce that can ensure safety, build public trust and help tackle water scarcity challenges. The report, Bridging the skills gap for water reuse in the UK, follows the Independent Water Commission’s review recommending regulatory action to drive the…
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What Your City Wants Paving Contractors To Know About Public Works
If you work in the blacktop industry long enough, you may eventually find yourself exploring some money making opportunities beyond the confines of the private commercial properties market. The good news is that there are usually a lot of different types of jobs that you can bid on in the public sector. While it is…
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Growth & Contracting: State of the Concrete Industry
In 2025, not all concrete work is created equal; some segments are booming, others are pulling back. Segments in concrete construction seeing growth are in infrastructure and civil projects; data centers and advanced manufacturing; and tilt-up and precast. Public funding, digital infrastructure needs, and long-term demographic shifts are fueling growth. Meanwhile, high interest rates, evolving…