Revamped Highway by the Rio Grande

Revamped Highway by the Rio Grande I-25/Williamsburg Interchange Improvements Editor: Allison Braswell A 2022 auto insurance comparison study revealed that New Mexico is tied with Texas atop the list of U.S. states with the worst drivers. 470 is the number of traffic fatalities that sadly occurred on New Mexico roads in 2021--a 10% increase from the 2019 total. Fortunately, New Mexico residents see the light at the end of the tunnel with the highway bridge replacement and ... Read more

It’s Smooth Sailing with Refreshed Boat Launch

It's Smooth Sailing with Refreshed Boat Launch Merritt Point Park Boat Ramp Editor: Allison Braswell    Merritt Point Park in Dundalk, Maryland, is a local favorite for outdoor recreation. In addition to its charming horseshoe pits and illuminated ball diamonds, this 36.3-acre waterfront park features a dual-lane boat launch that invites boaters and paddlers out onto Bullneck Creek, which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The Old Line State is known for offering some of th ... Read more

Replenishing Pilots on the Mighty Mississippi

Replenishing Pilots on the Mighty Mississippi Water Storage on Pilottown  Editor: Allison Braswell    Just south of Venice, LA is Pilottown, a base founded in 1860 where river pilots guide oceangoing vessels between the entrance of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. From massive tankers to cruise ships with thousands of passengers, these pilots climb aboard from their pilot boats and guide an average of 6,000 vessels a year, which includes ... Read more

Largest Industrial Project in Arkansas History

Largest Industrial Project in Arkansas History ICE® Equipment Takes on Mega Mill Editor: Allison Braswell When the $1.3 billion (about $4 per person in the US) Big River Steel "Flex Mill" opened in Osceola, AR in 2017, it was the newest and most advanced flat rolled mill in North America. That was before United States Steel (U.S. Steel) acquired Big River Steel, which paved the way for a revolutionary breakthrough in the steel industry.  In early 2022, U.S. Steel broke g ... Read more

A Sea of Green at Bainbridge Island

A Sea of Green at Bainbridge Island  Editor: Allison Braswell    Passengers at the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal in Washington State overlook the green iron gracing the area below them from the 30' (ft) tall overhead pedestrian walkway that has stood above the terminal for 50 years. As the busiest terminal in the Washington State Ferries (WSF) system, 3.2 million people use the walkway each year to access the ferry on Bainbridge Island. Its aging wood ... Read more

ICE® Versus Deicing Salts: The Only ICE® You Want on the Road!

ICE® Versus Deicing Salts The Only ICE® You Want on the Road! Bridge L-04 Replacement  Editor: Allison Braswell    The rapid deterioration of America's bridges is a widely recognized problem, and chloride-induced corrosion is to blame. Chlorides are derived primarily from the application of roadway deicing salts. Sodium chloride (common table salt) is the most popular type of road salt, while calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are common altern ... Read more

Lane Con Makes Drivers’ Dreams Come True

Lane Con Makes Drivers' Dreams Come True Theme Park Fans, Rejoice! Florida "Main Street" to be Expanded Editor: Allison Braswell If a family is heading to Central Florida for a vacation, chances are that they are visiting at least one of the fun-packed theme parks in Orlando such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. But, with increased travel comes worsening road congestion on Florida's Turnpike (SR 91).  With over 500 miles of toll roads, the Turnpike ... Read more

Investing In Safe Water Infrastructure

Investing In Safe Water Infrastructure Editor: Allison Braswell The Allegheny Valley Joint Sewer Authority (AVJSA) in Pennsylvania is taking action to protect the Allegheny River from discharges of treated sewage and stormwater. By 2023, the facility plans to expand its sewage treatment capacity from the current 5.5 million gallons (about 20819755 L) a day to 8 million gallons (about 30283280 L). Mandated by the EPA, this $75-million project is part of a nationwide effort to prevent raw ... Read more

Diverting Waters at Illinois River

Diverting Waters at Illinois River Editor: Allison Braswell  The McClugage Bridge has been carrying over 20,000 daily commuters over the Illinois River to and from Peoria, IL for nearly 75 years. As weather, vehicle use, and salt used in snow removal have caused the bridge to deteriorate, it has finally come time to commence some long-awaited improvements. Reconstruction of the eastbound span of the bridge began in 2019. This 3-lane structure requires 22 new piers, each of which ... Read more

Biggest Infrastructure Project in the Nation

Biggest Infrastructure Project in the Nation 112-Year-Old Train Bridge to be Replaced  Editor: Allison Braswell Since the construction of Portal Bridge in 1910, it has become the busiest rail line in the entire Western Hemisphere. This swing-style rail bridge that spans the Hackensack River from Kearney to Secaucus, NJ has been working on her last legs. One out of seven times the bridge opens, it fails to close properly. Operational issues like this have been the culprit ... Read more