Thanks to a state directive mandating the use of more renewable energy and a new federal priority on advancing renewable projects on public lands, solar power claimed the first five spots on this year's ENR California Top Starts ranking for projects that broke ground in 2011. Related Links: 2012 Top Project Starts Ranking Those five solar projects totaled $7.9 billion, a 52% jump over the combined value of the top five on last year's list (ENR California 4/11/11), which was dominated by high-profile transportation projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.This year's roster excludes a massive solar project
Edison Mission Group's $500-million Walnut Creek Energy Park in the City of Industry is designed for those days when electricity consumption peaks or renewable-power sources refuse to play ball. "Historically, peaking powerplants like Walnut Creek operate only when energy demand is highest," says Larry Kostrzewa, managing director, commercial management for Santa Ana-based Edison Mission Group, a unit of Edison International. "Say it's a hot summer daythe Santa Anas are blowing and everybody has their AC on. That's when these plants will get going." The power provided to Southern California by the natural-gas-fired plant also will come in handy when energy
The California High-Speed Rail Authority released a revised business plan that is $30 billion cheaper by blending services with existing transportation infrastructure in both the North and the South rather than building a fully dedicated track system that was projected to cost $98.1 billion in the original draft plan. At an unveiling today in Fresno, Jim Hartnett, an authority board member, said that the $68.4-billion plan will make early investments in systems like Caltrain in the North that will lead to early benefits for those commuters who utilize that system.“By working in cooperation with regional and local transportation agencies on
The Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA) and United Contractors (UCON), formerly the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association (EUCA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a new strategic partnership that will provide joint legislative and regulatory advocacy and labor relations throughout the state. The associations said they will work closely together to aggressively advocate on behalf of the heavy, civil construction industry on state and federal legislation, regulations and litigation matters.United Contractors President Rob Layne, O.C. Jones & Sons Inc., said that by working collectively, UCON and SCCA will form “the only statewide union-only labor relations service to California’s construction
With a budget topping $4 billion, the Los Angeles International Airport's multi-year modernization is among the largest public-works projects in the city's long history.
The market recession has severely tested the confidence of the normally optimistic construction industry. Four years of struggling markets have taken a toll. However, the slow-but-steady recovery of the U.S. economy has many firms in the industry now believing that the worst is behind them and that a broad recovery is poised to begin. The recovery of the industry’s optimism can be seen in the most recent ENR Construction Industry Confidence Index (CICI) survey. Photo courtesy of Webcor Builders The recovery of the industry's optimism can be seen in the most recent ENR Construction Industry Confidence Index (CICI) survey. The
A peer review panel investigating the seismic safety inspection practices of a former Caltrans engineer concluded that the Bay Bridge east span foundation in question is safe and that it “meets or exceeds the state-of-practice and will result in a safe and reliable performance.” Photo courtesy of Caltrans The Bay Bridge Eastern Span in San Francisco Duane Wiles, a Caltrans safety technician in its Foundation Testing Branch, was fired in November for falsifying safety tests on other Caltrans projects. Wiles also tested the Bay Bridge’s Self-Anchored Suspension span T-1 foundation, which caused a regional uproar as well as calls for
Swinerton Builders recently completed the new toll operations building at the Bay Bridge for Caltrans’ Bay Area Toll Authority. Photo courtesy of Swinerton Builders The new Toll Operations Building at the Bay Bridge. The 22,000-sq-ft, steel-framed, two-story building is comprised of concrete on metal deck with pile foundations. The exterior features white metal panels and glass curtain wall, with a glass hand-railed walkway to the main entrance.The new toll operations building will continue to provide Caltrans administration, toll collection, and electronic monitoring of the toll operations, each of which required specially designed and constructed fire suppression, communication, and security systems.
Bomel Construction Co., Anaheim, and International Parking Design, Sherman Oaks, recently completed construction on a 1,200-stall, 500,000-sq-ft parking structure complex that serves the Thornton Hospital Cardiovascular Center at UC San Diego’s East Campus in La Jolla. Photo courtesy of Bomel Construction The new parking structure/soccer field at UCSD. The Bomel-IPD team developed a plan to build two adjoining structures, instead of the owner’s original plan to erect one, and overcame an assortment of pesky construction challenges to complete the $24 million project on time and within budget.The project’s pre-existing conditions included a sloping canyon site, unforgiving soil, a proposed adjacent
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