Taisei Construction Corp., Cypress, recently completed a 53,000-sq-ft herbal healthcare supplements plant in the western Riverside County community of Mira Loma for Wakunaga of America. The construction phase spanned 11 months and was finished one month early. The five-acre plant, located at the intersection of East Philadelphia Avenue and Venture Drive, represents a major expansion of an eight-acre site occupied by Wakunaga since 1992. The new tilt-up-concrete facility has 29,000 sq ft of production space, 11,400 sq ft of office space and about 12,500 sq ft of warehouse space. Wakunaga already has a 23,000-sq-ft plant on a contiguous 2.3 acres.
The American Institute of Architects, California Council has published a whitepaper with specific recommendations for building a stronger Division of the State Architect (DSA), including consolidating the state�s construction related functions under a single, efficient agency, and �embracing project delivery methods that increase project value, reduce waste and optimize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction.� With the state facing further budget cuts, the AIACC says it embarked on this effort to focus on �efficiency and effectiveness in the built environment.� �The fragmentation of the state�s design and construction process over the years has increased costs to California
Kristine Young has become the first woman installed as national president of the Associated General Contractors of America. CEO of Miller the Driller, a Des Moines, Iowa-based trenchless technology contractor, she was inaugurated on March 25 at AGC�s 92nd annual convention, held this week in Las Vegas. Photo: Courtesy of AGC Kristine Young The association�s front-burner issues this year include federal investment in infrastructure, new ways to connect with members and coping with the recession. Young is well aware of the tough economic times facing the engineering and construction industry. The incoming president�s Des Moines-based underground construction company, Miller the
The California Public Utilities Commission and Pacific Gas and Electric agreed on a penalty of at least $3 million for failure to supply all its records for pressure tests of natural gas pipelines in high-consequence areas (HCA) as requested earlier this month. Photo courtesy of NTSB The deal was reached March 24 during a CPUC �Order to Show Cause� hearing on the matter. The commission will discuss the order Monday, March 28, before an administrative law judge with a final decision made �thereafter,� says the CPUC. The CPUC�s Executive Director Paul Clanon says the stipulated outcome would fine PG&E $6
Out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, California ranks 18th worst nationally in terms of the overall condition of the state�s bridges, according to a new report issued by Transportation for America, Washington, D.C., a national transportation reform coalition. San Francisco�s Lefty O�Doul Bridge, built in 1933, needs more structural upgrades. Within the state, San Francisco County leads the way with 40 structurally deficient bridges out of 116, or 34.5%, followed by Madera County with 74 of 229 or 32.3%. According to the report: �Today, one out of every eight bridges that motorists in California cross each day
Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 105 into law this week, which is expected to protect $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion of transportation funds essential to the survival of state, regional and local transportation programs. The Associated General Contractors of California were lobbying hard for the passage of the governor�s budget proposal asking for approval of the transportation tax swap. Proposition 26, approved by the voters in the November 2010 election, invalidated the 17.3-cents of gasoline excise taxes and a 1.75% sales tax rate on diesel, both of which were enacted to replace Proposition 42 revenues eliminated in the �gas
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on March 24 advertised the final segment of the San Joaquin Pipeline (SJPL) system upgrade program (contract 3, eastern segment, $75 million) with a pre-bid meeting and site tour scheduled for April 20. Photo courtesy of the SFPUC The SJPL is part of the SFPUC�s Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), a $4.6 billion bond-funded program that includes 86 projects to seismically upgrade and repair the aging regional water system in six Bay Area counties. The WSIP involves a broad range of projects varying in size and complexity covering all aspects of the water system
While Pacific Gas and Electric prepares to explain to the California Public Utilities Commission at a March 24 hearing why it didn�t supply all its records for pressure tests of natural gas pipelines in high-consequence areas (HCA) as requested, other federal entities and elected representatives are getting more involved in the gas pressure spike controversy. Photo courtesy of NTSB PG&E failed to satisfy CPUC�s terms under a March 15 deadline to provide data on its pipeline system. The utility says it supplied records for pressure tests or historical operating pressure for more than 90% of its 1,805 miles of natural
Caltrans last week broke ground on a project to construct new bus/carpool lanes on the Golden State Freeway (I-5) between the Hollywood Freeway (SR-170) and the Buena Vista Street interchange in Burbank. The $69.2-million project is financed in part ($39.3 million) by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Security Paving, Sun Valley, is the general contractor on the project. The project includes the construction of nearly 9 mi (4.4 mi in each direction) of new bus/carpool lanes (HOV) and repair damaged pavement on one of the most heavily traveled freeways in the state, Caltrans says in a press
Despite a delayed $2.3-billion bond sale and possible budget cutbacks, California�s Dept. of Transportation is moving ahead with a number of highway projects that have already broken ground as the governor and legislature continue to try to resolve a $26-billion deficit. A spring infrastructure bond sale was delayed until the fall in order to save $250 million in state debt service, says Tom Dresslar, spokesman at the state treasurer�s office. Dresslar adds that Treasurer Bill Lockyer and the governor�s office consulted about the bond sale and decided to postpone rather than cancel. �It was a good thing to do,� he
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