Russel Dingman

U.S. Department of Transportation have awarded $3.2 billion in grants to fund 180 Projects across the US. Some of the key projects receiving funding are; Alabama Department of Transportation - I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Multimodal Project - $550 Million Rhode Island Department of Transportation - I-95 15 Bridges - $251 Million South Carolina Department of Transportation - Replacement of I-95 over Lake Marion. There is a full list available here - https://shorturl.at/mfJ1I #DOT #ProjectFunding #USCivil #Construction #Funding

5

Maintaining 7,000 bridges across West Virginia is no small feat! Our Chief Engineer of Planning and Program Implementation, Gehan Elsayed, Ph.D., P.E., joins WV on the DOT to discuss the complexities of prioritizing bridge maintenance. FULL EPISODE HERE: https://bit.ly/3alkDRb

20

Prince Contracting, LLC is teaming with OHLA USA and WSP to lead a major infrastructure project for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in Broward County. 🔹 Project Highlights: ‣ $933M investment to widen I-95 and reconfigure the SW 10th Street and Hillsboro Boulevard interchanges ‣ Includes new flyover ramps, enhanced ingress/egress, and safety improvements for emergency evacuation routes ‣ Nearly 4 miles of corridor improvements aimed at reducing congestion and enhancing regional mobility 💬 Jack Calandros, President of Prince: “The phased design-build method fosters collaboration between the contractors, client, and designer, which drives greater innovation. Our team is committed to engaging local subcontractors and suppliers to accelerate efficient project delivery.” This project continues Prince’s strong track record of delivering major infrastructure improvements across Florida and Georgia, including recent awards at Orlando International Airport, I-75, and the Central Polk Parkway. 🔗 Learn more: [https://lnkd.in/gTmQBZMb] #Infrastructure #SouthFlorida #TransportationEngineering #PublicInfrastructure #HighwayConstruction

6

🔴 Trench Collapse on Cape Cod Leaves 1 Worker Dead, 2 Injured 🟡 Yarmouth, Massachusetts – On the morning of November 18, 2025, a sewer construction trench collapsed near South Shore Drive in front of The Skipper Restaurant and Chowder House. Three workers were in the trench when it failed. One worker was buried up to his waist and required a lengthy, technical rescue before being flown to a trauma center. A second worker who entered the trench to help was able to self-rescue and was transported to a local hospital. Tragically, a third worker did not survive, and his body was recovered later in the day as the scene was stabilized. OSHA has opened an investigation into the incident. Events like this are a sobering reminder that trenching and excavation work remains one of the most dangerous tasks in construction. Basic controls save lives: • Proper sloping, shoring, or use of a trench box in any trench 5 feet or deeper • Daily and ongoing inspections by a trained competent person • Protecting access/egress and keeping spoil piles and equipment away from the edge • Strong emergency procedures that prevent additional workers from entering an unstable trench during a collapse Every trench should be treated as an imminent danger when it’s not properly protected. If your team is performing excavation work, make sure your policies, training, and field practices match the risk. We at Z-TEX Safety suggest our readers analyze these reports to strengthen organizational safety discipline and cultivate a robust safety culture. This is our goal when sharing these unfortunate news reports. Follow us to receive news reports you may be able to share with your teams in an effort to spread relatable safety awareness. #Workplacesafety #OSHA #Safety #SafetyFirst #ASSP #NSC #SafetyManager #OHS #EHS #BeSafe #SafetyTraining #HealthandSafety #EmployeeSafety #SafetyProfessionals #Infrastructure #Construction #ConstructionSafety #GeneralContractor #Contractor #ElectricalContractor #ElectricalSafety #MEP #HR #Underground #Excavations #Utilities

3

1 Comment

📉 The Fiscal Year Reality in Construction 📈 Every year around this time, I start seeing the same cycle repeat itself in our industry here in Puerto Rico. When new fiscal budgets are announced, everything moves at full speed. Big projects get the green light, purchase orders roll out, and everyone is on the move — clients, contractors, suppliers, and crews. But as we approach the end of the fiscal year, the rhythm changes fast. Projects slow down. Some get delayed, others put on hold. Even small scopes that were ready to go suddenly wait for “next year’s budget.” You start noticing the same conversations — “let’s revisit this in Q1,” “we need to evaluate the remaining funds,” “management wants to wait.” It’s not mismanagement — it’s the reality of corporate and commercial construction tied to fiscal cycles. Over the years, I’ve learned that the key to staying steady through these ups and downs isn’t just great estimating or tight cost control — it’s building strong, long-term client relationships. Because when budgets get tight, clients don’t stop needing work — they just become more selective about who they trust. Strong relationships open doors that numbers alone can’t: • You become the first call when something urgent comes up. • You get early insight into what’s being planned for next year. • You stay connected through small scopes, maintenance work, or consulting support. • And there’s mutual understanding when adjustments or delays are necessary. Here in Puerto Rico, that trust goes a long way. The market is tight, and reputation travels fast — both good and bad. That’s why I believe consistency, transparency, and genuine communication are just as valuable as technical skill. At the end of the day, fiscal years come and go — but strong relationships keep the doors open and the teams working.

1

S&B USA Construction & Fay Construction has been awarded a $39 million contract by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to replace an aging one lane bridge in Fayette County, Pennsylvania that has reached the end of its service life due to age and corrosion. The project involves replacing the existing Layton Bridge, a 17 span steel Pratt truss structure over the Youghiogheny River, with a modern two lane, three span composite steel I girder bridge. Fay, a highly respected Pittsburgh based contractor specializing in heavy civil infrastructure projects across the Mid Atlantic region, will also complete additional bridge, roadway, and safety improvements in Perry Township and Perryopolis Borough within Fayette County. Fay says the project will improve safety, reliability, and mobility for residents, school transportation, first responders and pedestrians. Originally constructed in 1899, the Layton Bridge was designed as a railroad crossing and currently carries just one lane of traffic. Fay will build the new bridge approximately 200 feet southeast of the existing structure. Construction crews will operate from a temporary trestle, a work platform spanning the Youghiogheny River that is designed to support multiple cranes. According to Fay, this approach will allow PennDOT to keep the existing bridge and tunnel open for most of the construction period and avoid a 17.5 mile detour. After finishing the bridge and road realignment, Fay will close and seal the Layton Tunnel, which will no longer align with the new Layton Road alignment. Fay is also one of four contractors currently building six new interstate bridges as part of the PennDOT Major Bridges P3 Program, the largest bundled-bridge project delivered in the U.S. under a public-private partnership agreement.

15

Construction is underway at the Dupont Bridge Replacement Project in Panama City, Florida, a $350 million initiative funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. Plans include the construction of two parallel bridges that, together, will provide four travel lanes: two eastbound and two westbound. The new structures will be built beside the current bridge to keep traffic open until construction is finished, and then traffic will be shifted. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.

205

7 Comments