Most Clicked AGC SmartBrief Stories
1. Crane leg collapse causes 99-ton concrete section to fall
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
A crane weighing nearly 800 tons collapsed on Friday when a footing buckled as it was lifting a 99-ton piece of concrete decking for the new Port Mann Bridge near Vancouver, British Columbia. The damage to the deck has not yet been assessed. The concrete slab will be retrieved from the water, but the project could face a delay. Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), The (02/10) CTV.ca (Canada) (02/10) CBC.ca (Canada) (02/10)
2. Nearly 20 tons of steel plunge 40 stories at WTC site
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 17, 2012
A crane cable snapped at the Four World Trade Center job site in New York City, dropping nearly 20 tons of 62-foot long spandrel steel beams 40 stories onto a flatbed truck. There were no injuries and the debris was confined to the work site, but work was partially halted pending an investigation. Bloomberg (02/16) Wall Street Journal, The (02/16)
3. Tokyo's "Dinosaur Bridge" opens after 10 years of construction
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
A 1.6-mile-long truss bridge in Tokyo will open to traffic on Feb. 12 after 10 years of construction. Constraints dealing with ship and air traffic limited design options -- the Tokyo Gate Bridge had to be wide, but not too high, so the end result is a 36,000-ton bridge that is said to resemble two dinosaurs facing off. Bloomberg (02/09)
4. Study shines a light on builders' risk when pursing LEED
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 14, 2012
Worker injuries could be 41% higher at building sites where LEED credentials are pursued, according to an empirical study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. The higher risks were associated with construction of sustainable roofs, installation of solar panels and managing construction waste. "This information is out there now, and that means increased accountability for injury. Contractors should do their very best to consider implementing improvements in their building process," writes Douglas Reiser of Reiser Legal. Engineering News-Record (01/27) Builders Counsel Blog, The (02/08)
5. Obama budget means agencies taking new look at construction plans
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 15, 2012
Based on President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2013 budget, the $12.2 billion Hanford vitrification plant in Washington state will be re-baselined and may not meet court-ordered deadlines for completion and commissioning. Plans to consolidate the scattered offices of the Department of Homeland Security into a new headquarters campus will need to be rethought as the project would get only a fraction of the funds DHS requested. The $1 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility planned for Manhattan, Kan., may not get built. Kansas City Star (Mo.), The (02/13) FederalTimes.com (02/13) Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash.) (02/14)
6. Big demand for workers in N.D. to deal with Bakken, flood effects
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 17, 2012
Last year's flooding of the Souris River in North Dakota left about $1 billion in damage. Numerous construction opportunities exist, such as $500 million in roadwork, housing developments, $134 million in upgrades at the Minot Air Force Base, and Bakken shale-related construction. All projects are competing for talent to help build, repair and redo. "There is enormous demand for construction and engineering services in North Dakota," said Ryan Bernstein, legal counsel for Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Engineering News-Record (02/20)
7. Obama's proposed budget includes $476B for transportation
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
President Barack Obama unveils his budget today. It's expected to allocate $476 billion for roads and transportation projects over six years, increase taxes on the wealthy and cut the federal deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years. Republicans criticize the budget for failing to deal adequately with the deficit and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., predicts the budget won't pass. "You can't spend $1.40 for every dollar you take in," says David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general. WIVB-TV (Buffalo, N.Y.) (02/13) Los Angeles Times (02/12) National Public Radio (02/13) New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (02/12)
8. Bolt failure may have caused collapse at Cincinnati casino
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
Engineers believe bolt failure was a possible cause of the collapse of the steel structure at a Cincinnati casino, which injured 13 workers who were pouring concrete when it gave way. Connections for beams attached to the mid-span of the main beam were broken, so investigators will review the building sequence. "It's fairly extreme for an entire bay to fall down with all the framing," said Steven Smith, vice president of forensic firm CTLGroup. Engineering News-Record (02/13)
9. 540-foot-tall solar tower rises in Nevada
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 14, 2012
Developer SolarReserve has completed construction of a 540-foot-tall tower for its 110-megawatt solar Crescent Dunes plant in Nevada. Mirrors will direct sunlight to the tower, heating molten salt to generate steam. "This project is on track to bring American innovation to fruition and is already creating jobs," said Kevin Smith of SolarReserve. EnergyBoom.com (02/10)
10. 49ers' $878M stadium plan scores touchdown with Calif. city council
AGC SmartBrief | Feb 16, 2012
Work is scheduled to begin in July on a $1 billion stadium for the San Francisco 49ers after the Santa Clara City Council approved an $878 million contract for the project. Turner-Devcon will be hired by the city to build the 68,500-seat arena. The stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2014 football season. Oakland Tribune (Calif.), The (02/15) Bloomberg (02/15)
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