STV’s Post

🛑 Stop! And take a moment to read our newest entry in the Traffic Control Planning blog series! Check out these blogs to explore the processes behind road construction projects of all kinds.

If you don’t know your current construction equipment utilization rates, it makes it hard to improve them. Telematics can help contractors gain accurate insight into how often equipment is active instead of idle.

New this week - a distinct “if I won the lottery” idea…. I have always been interested in early days of rail. At some point recently, that intersected my current work in construction planning/scheduking/cost management. If my numbers come up, I would love to go on the forensic adventure to research the Canadian trans-continental railway, and as much as possible, re-plan and estimate that project. It would be interesting to see - what would the cost impact be of regulated work shifts? Current worker housing expectations? How many labour hours would be saved through mechanization, and what would the schedule impact be? And, perhaps most obviously, what would the cost impact be of a zero harm approach to safety? I am certain that the safety cost would be a large figure, but an absolute bargain compared to the human impact.

Much of our transportation system is designed to carry more traffic than it actually does. Why are overbuilt roads a problem? Senior Engineer Mariel Colman, P.E., AICP shares her thoughts on why wide, multi-lane roadways are dangerous, inefficient, inequitable, and unnecessary — and she challenges fellow engineers to stop widening roads under the guise of safety improvement. Read Mariel's take on how engineers can be part of the solution. 👇

How cool! The implementation of these 60 hour rail occupation windows has also saved the project a cheeky ~57 tonnes of CO2 through reduced plant and equipment days for occupation activities 🌱 Great work Inland Rail & McConnell Dowell on the delivery and Aurecon on the bridge designs! #sustainableinfrastructure

California High-Speed Rail Authority faces up to funding and construction challenges Constructing California High Speed Rail’s initial operating segment has been challenging, but is offering valuable lessons for future stages and other projects. https://lnkd.in/ekgYyJ6s

Thanks to Concrete Connect for running a guest blog post from our Chair Jonathan Thurlbeck on how the CRA contributes to excellence in concrete repair. Read the blog here >>>

We just successfully completed a challenging project, described below, while reaching over 1,000 days without a loss time incident. Reaching 1000 days of construction without a lost time incident is a significant milestone. It reflects a strong commitment to safety, rigorous adherence to protocols, and effective communication among the team. This achievement is a testament to the culture of safety that has been cultivated, where every worker understands their role in maintaining a safe environment. It’s a point of pride and a benchmark that sets the standard for future projects. However, it’s important to remember that safety is an ongoing process, and continuous efforts are needed to maintain this record. There were many challenges during the construction of a 7.7-mile transmission line, and the most notable was the Sullivan Sq. track crossing, which required the design and construction of two 45-foot-deep pits for tunnelling under railroad tracks. These pits were designed to house the tunnel boring machine capable of boring, in bedrock, twin 300’ long tunnels underneath seven railroad tracks owned and operated by the MBTA, Keolis, and Pan Am. The pits were constructed on either side of the railroad tracks and between the Elevated Expressway, Mystic Ave. Bridge, Maffa Way Bridge.

As summer approaches, so does the season of road construction. Here is a link State wide road construction this summer.