July 1, 2009

News for contractors and the construction industry

§  Inspectors say miscommunication led to errors on CityCenter tower
The quality assurance agency for the Harmon Tower at MGM Mirage's CityCenter project blamed a communications breakdown for problems in the construction process. Converse Consultants Southwest representatives said during a hearing that they are working with representatives from Nevada's Clark County to improve the inspection process. In January, MGM Mirage said it was eliminating the tower's top 15 floors because it would be too expensive to replace reinforcing steel that was improperly installed. Converse inspectors had failed to document the errors. Las Vegas Review-Journal (6/30)

§  Tampa authority reaches settlement for expressway collapse
The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority has reached a $74.8 million settlement agreement with insurers for URS Corp., the engineering company that designed the two flawed piers on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway. The expressway's reversible lanes collapsed in 2004, requiring $92 million in repairs. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (6/29)

§  New York's high court will hear Atlantic Yards case
New York's state Court of Appeals will decide whether the state may use eminent domain to allow a developer to build a $772 million basketball arena in Brooklyn. The project, dubbed Atlantic Yards, also includes 6,000 apartments. The state plans to use eminent domain to acquire private property needed for the development. Landowners and a community group have challenged the plan on constitutional grounds. The New York Times (free registration) (6/30)

§  Levee wall will protect Natomas, Calif., lawmakers say
Construction has started on a 70-foot-deep levee wall that will protect Natomas, Calif. Lawmakers say the $618 million project will protect the community from flooding by shoring up a 40-mile stretch of levee. They also say it will stimulate the economy by creating jobs. KCRA-TV (Sacramento, Calif.) (6/30)

§  Other News

·         Work set to begin on Boston wastewater tunnel
Engineering News-Record (6/30)

§  Report gives Md., D.C. high marks for spending stimulus funds
Maryland and Washington, D.C., were praised for spending stimulus dollars on maintaining existing roads, improving pedestrian paths and expanding transit in a report by Smart Growth America. The report examined the $26.6 billion in flexible-transportation money distributed through the stimulus package. The Washington Post (6/30)

§  Other News

·         San Antonio utility considers spending $13B on nuclear reactors
Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press (6/30)

·         Office blocks in New Zealand go green
The New Zealand Herald (7/1)

§  Groups partner to create international green construction code
A new International Green Construction Code would incorporate sustainability into all aspects of construction, including roofing. The American Institute of Architects, the International Code Council and the American Society for Testing and Materials said they will work together to create a code. They expect to draw on other codes to create a universal code that will apply to new structures and to renovations. Architectural Record (free registration) (6/30)

§  Advanced-design bridge opens in India after years of delay
An eight-lane, cable-stayed bridge has opened in Mumbai, India, after years of delay. The 3.5-mile bridge, which has pylons 413 feet high, is said to have cost nearly $340 million. It links Mumbai to its western suburbs and is estimated to cut commuting time from 40 minutes to six minutes. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)/The Associated Press (6/30) , Google/AFP (6/30)

§  Researchers study how heat, soil affects integral bridges
Engineers at Kansas State University are researching the effects of heat and soil conditions on thermally induced expansion for integral bridges -- those that consist of a continuous deck that creates an interconnected piece. Researchers say these bridges have the potential to be more efficient but that their design is still in experimental stages. innovations-report (6/30)

§  Other News

·         Laser imaging used to renovate historic firehouse
Popular Mechanics (7/2009)

§  Supreme Court upholds Clean Water Act permits
The U.S. Supreme Court this month found that the interpretations of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers about permitting provisions in the Clean Water Act were reasonable. The ruling affirmed a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit issued by the Corps for an Alaska gold mine project and clarified that a Section 404 permit is administered by the Corps and applies to discharge of dredge and fill material pollutants. The 404 permit is mutually exclusive with a Section 402 NPDES permit, which is administered by the EPA for all other pollutant discharges. Mondaq (free registration) (6/29)

§  Other News

·         Ports, rails, trucks should pay for infrastructure, lawmaker says
The Journal of Commerce (6/30)

§  ConsensusDOCS audio conferences are three for the price of one
For the price of just one audio conference, AGC is offering three of our most popular ConsensusDOCS audio conferences in one convenient package. Whether you are new to construction contracts or looking to increase your knowledge of the latest contracting techniques, these audio conferences provide the information you need to better negotiate and administer your project contracts. Each program features a panel of industry experts on construction contracts and lasts approximately 90 minutes. AGC Members: $149; Non-members: $229. Visit www.agc.org/bookstore.

§  New safety DVDs now available!
AGC of America has just released five new safety videos on DVD, titles include: Electrical Safety for the Construction Worker, Safety During Renovation & Demolition Operations, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Power and Hand Tool Safety and Housekeeping on the Jobsite: A Plan for Success. To order any of these or other new products, visit www.agc.org/bookstore, keyword "Safety."

§  Publication notice
In observance of the July 4th holiday in the U.S., AGC SmartBrief originally scheduled for publication on Friday, July 3 will be published on Thursday, July 2.