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Plans for the construction of the Foothill Gold Line light rail extension from Glendora to Montclair have been revised to compensate for anticipated unfavorable shifts in market conditions, the Foothill Goldline Authority announced this week.   Notably, the Authority detailed a proposed plan this week to deliver nearly 70% of the Foothill Gold Line light rail extension from Glendora to Montclair at least two years ahead of schedule and avoid tens of millions of dollars annually in market escalation and risk money proposed by the four design-build teams competing for the Glendora to Montclair Alignment contract; while increasing the budget for the 12.3-mile, six station light rail project by $570 million to a total project budget of $2.1 billion. The proposed plan is subject to environmental approval. The sudden change of plans came after the receipt of bids by the four teams competing for the design-build contract. All four bids reflected a significant unfavorable shift in marke

EPA recently validated a new technology to guide the cleanup of soils contaminated with arsenic and lead. The new laboratory method, based on a “virtual stomach” that mimics human digestion, estimates the bioavailability of arsenic and lead in soils.  This method will increase the accuracy of Human Health Risk Assessments, potentially reducing remediation costs. “Bioavailability” refers to the amount of a substance that is absorbed by the body’s gastrointestinal system following exposure. The newly-validated method is sometimes called the “artificial stomach” because it mimics the human gastric system. Not all arsenic and lead present in soil are able to be absorbed into humans or animals and can cause harm. Certain forms of arsenic and lead are not bioavailable, meaning they are not fully absorbed by the human body. Scientists can now use the artificial stomach method to determine if arsenic and lead in contaminated soils are bioavailable and remove those specific sections o

A new email subscription program through the State of California will keep subscribers informed about vapor intrusion related to contaminated sites.  The new program will be available through the California State Water Board’s, Division of Water Quality, Site Cleanup Program.  Vapor intrusion is the migration of chemical vapors from below ground into buildings and is a frequent problem at contaminated sites. The Site Cleanup Program intends to disseminate information through this vapor intrusion email subscription, including a supplemental vapor intrusion guidance document currently being developed by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control and Water Boards.  This guidance document will likely be released to public in early winter of 2018.  More information  on how to subscribe is available at the following link:  https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.html Converse Consultants provides comprehensive environmental consulti

Scientists are now working on concrete that “heals itself. “ This could greatly reduce the cost of maintain critical aspects of infrastructure.   This is the result of research involving polymers underway at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The researchers are developing a self-healing cement for use in harsh environments where cement can fail over time due to exposure to chemical and physical stresses. When cement in power plants, geothermal wells, oil and gas applications, or hydroelectric dams fails, it can lead to expensive excavation, repair and replacement costs, along with lost production time and revenue, and potential environmental concerns.   Funded by the DOE’s Geothermal Technology Office, scientists have been able to create self-healing cements by adding polymers to traditional cement mixes. The resulting cement has re-adhering properties that extend its lifetime and reduce the risk of failure. The scientists discovered that

According to a new study, driving on bad roads in California costs the state’s drivers $61 billion each year. Founded in 1971, TRIP  is a nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. TRIP has conducted a study that has calculated the cost to the average motorist in the state’s largest urban areas in the form of additional vehicle operating costs (VOC) as a result of driving on rough roads. The study also takes into account the cost of lost time and wasted fuel due to congestion, as well as the financial cost of traffic accidents. The report examines the overall condition, use and safety of California’s roads, highways and bridges, and the state’s future mobility needs. And when it comes to bridges, more than 1,500 of California’s bridges (20 feet or longer) are structurally deficient. That means there is “significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components.” M

The 1.98B 405 Freeway Widening Project is Progressing with the Closure of the McFadden Avenue Bridge The 405 freeway widening project has entered a new phase with the announcement that the McFadden Avenue bridge over the 405 Freeway in Huntington Beach and Westminster will close and stay out of service for about a year so it can be rebuilt.   Demolition of the bridge is expected to begin Aug. 18 and continue for multiple nights.   Once rebuilt, it will include two lanes in each direction and a sidewalk and a bike lane in each direction, according to Orange County Transportation Authority spokesman Eric Carpenter. The current configuration has one lane in each direction and a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. The McFadden Avenue bridge is one of more than 18 bridges slated to either be built, widened or replaced for the 405 widening, which Transportation Authority officials say will help improve travel times on the freeway.   The  project  encompasses a 16-mile portion b