In today’s construction news, learn about the groundbreaking of the new U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa on August 29 was celebrated by U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn, representatives from the U.S. Mission to the DRC, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), and Congolese officials as a sign of the ongoing commitment to strengthening relations. On the other hand, local and state officials in Daviess County prioritized three road projects on Tuesday. Officials claim a Maceo junction at HWY 231/U.S. 60 near the William H. Natcher Bridge will reduce traffic and improve safety. Meanwhile, US 23 in Coal Run will be resurfaced next Tuesday in Pike County. Lastly, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, and its contractor, Mark Schaffer Excavating-Trucking, will commence Vermilion Harbor West Pier repairs the week of Sept. 4.
The Department of State Begins Building the New Kinshasa Embassy
Original Source: Department of State Begins Construction on New U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
On August 29, U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn, representatives from the U.S. Mission to the DRC, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), and Congolese officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the new U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa as a sign of the ongoing commitment to strengthening relations.
The embassy will symbolize our shared commitment to democracy, sustainable economic growth, and global collaboration.
The project will inject $170 million into the local economy and employ around 1,600 Congolese. To progress this project, the US has invested $1.4 million in the local economy since April 2023 and aims to buy cement, concrete aggregates, soils and fill materials, and landscaping supplies locally. Congolese construction employees will benefit from project skills and safety training.
The DRC’s diverse landscape inspired the embassy’s design. The Department implements rigorous energy-saving and sustainability measures to reduce construction’s environmental effect, maximize building performance, and improve sustainability and resilience.
SHoP Architects of New York is the design architect, B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama, is the design-build contractor, and Page of Washington, D.C., is the architect of record.
When the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program began in 1999, OBO developed 177 new diplomatic facilities and has more than 50 projects in design or under construction internationally.
OBO provides safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities to represent the U.S. government to host nations and help diplomats advance foreign policy goals.
Daviess County’s Top Road Project is HWY 231/U.S. 60 Junction
Original Source: Construction of interchange at HWY 231/U.S. 60 now ranked top road project in Daviess County
Local and state officials in Daviess County prioritized three road projects on Tuesday. Officials claim a Maceo junction at HWY 231/U.S. 60 near the William H. Natcher Bridge will reduce traffic and improve safety.
The Owensboro-Daviess County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Kentucky Transportation Cabint (KYTC) met Tuesday to discuss score-based road projects. The MPO and KYTC can “boost” three projects by 15 points each to improve their rankings.
The interchange project rose from 7th to 1st on both groups’ priority list.
KYTC District 2 Chief District Officer Deneatra Henderson said they chose several projects they “absolutely want to sponsor,” starting with the interchange.
At that crossroads, crashes are severe and lethal. Henderson stated we asked Frankfort’s safety program for help.
Henderson said project team members considered a J-turn and roundabout for that intersection but found both impracticable. She said engineers decided a grade-separated intersection like one on a parkway or interstate was best.
“With the amount of traffic through that intersection, that’s what we need to work towards,” Henderson said.
Daviess County County Engineer Mark Brasher stated the intersection’s crashes are a problem.
There was also some speculation that the interchange might see more traffic due to the Ellis Park expansion, but officials noted that Churchill Downs Incorporated has only generally announced a future site in eastern Daviess County.
Besides the interchange, the MPO and KYTC improved Fairview Drive from Settles Lane to KY 54 and rebuilt the Old Hartford Road-Fairview Drive intersection. Today, the initiatives are 2nd and 4th most important.
The KY 54 improvement from U.S. 60 to Bold Forbes Way is now 3rd (formerly 1st).
On US 23 in Pike County, Nighttime Construction Will Start for a Week
Original Source: Weeks-long nighttime construction to begin on US 23 in Pike County
A US 23 resurfacing project in Pike County begins next Tuesday in Coal Run.
Repaving starts in Stone Coal at US 23 and KY 3227 and continues to Mossy Bottom. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet stated that milling and removing old asphalt, resurfacing, and restriping the route will be done. Remove and install new reflective paddles (quick curb) separating North and South Bound lanes.
To keep supplies and equipment handy, one lane in each direction will be closed at all times during repaving. Nighttime lane closures will keep traffic moving and maintenance employees safe. Officials advise motorists to use caution during the resurfacing since most of the work will be done at night.
Nighttime work. We will always wear high-visibility gear. It’s a 45-mph section, but motorists should be extra cautious, said Pikeville Section Engineer Vince Hayes. The crews will be day shift personnel. Doing this work at night will be stressful, but it’s for everyone’s safety, especially the workers.”
Traffic patterns and signals may change during the next six weeks while maintenance is done, so drivers should expect congestion. Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. begins the project. Teamwork will continue weekdays from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. until the repaving is complete.
The road’s resurfacing reminds drivers to be careful because road personnel work nightly to maintain it.
Hayes stated, “A lot of things going on around you- a lot of distractions- no matter if you’re in a work zone or not.” We merely ask that you be patient and aware of your surroundings.
Construction on the Vermilion Harbor West Pier will start by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Original Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on Vermilion Harbor West Pier
The Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mark Schaffer Excavating-Trucking of Norwalk, Ohio, will begin Vermilion Harbor West Pier repairs the week of Sept. 4.
While repairs are done, construction will restrict access to the Main Street beach to keep the harbor economically viable and give recreation and refuge to Great Lakes boats.
Lex Barker, USACE Buffalo District project manager, said the west pier is essential for safe passage in Vermilion Harbor and Lake Erie. “We appreciate the community’s support as we repair this critical pier during this construction.”
“The work that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will undertake to repair the Vermilion Harbor West Pier this fall is historic, and I was pleased to announce earlier this year that it was included in the Corps’ work plan for 2023,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, I work in Washington to ensure federal money are used wisely to repair marine infrastructure to protect Lake Erie and help coastal towns. I look forward to finishing these repairs before the end of the year and finding new ways to improve our Great Lakes infrastructure.”
The City of Vermilion thanks Congresswoman Kaptur and the Army Corps of Engineers for the substantial and costly West Pier renovations at the mouth of the Vermilion River. Vermilion’s active port attracts thousands of visitors and benefits the local economy. The City could never afford the repairs and is appreciative for Congresswoman Kaptur’s financing and the Army Corps’ expertise, said Vermilion mayor Jim Forthofer.
The Vermilion Harbor West Pier must be repaired to protect seafarers, beachgoers, and the community. For the 2023 season, Erie MetroParks has discontinued public programming at Wakefield MetroParks with our many partners. Melissa Price, deputy director of Erie MetroParks, said the work site will continue to maintain and monitor federally vulnerable coastal species.
All lakeside stone that has settled will be removed during repairs to 900 feet of the pier from the beach portion to the north wrap. New granular fill will be poured beneath the stone and the cap stones returned to their initial heights.
100% government funded, this $1.2 million project is planned to finish in December 2023.
The Main Street beach will be closed Monday through Friday for contractor repairs. The beach will be available Saturday and Sunday during construction.
Anyone near the beach should be cautious. Traffic will be intermittent and daytime only.
West pier repairs are not expected to affect navigation, but seafarers should be cautious near the repair area.
Vermilion Harbor is 37 miles west of Cleveland and 21 miles east of Sandusky on the south shore of Lake Erie near the entrance of the Vermilion River. The River & Harbor Act permitted its construction in 1836 by the federal government as a small-craft harbor. The West Pier is 1,333 feet.
Vermilion Harbor boating trips and annual craft spending generate $6.9 million in revenues to accommodations, restaurants, retail, boat repair, and other services and industries, as well as 44.5 full-time equivalent jobs, $3.3 million in labor income, $4.4 million in the gross regional product, and $7.3 million in economic output in the local impact area.
Summary of today’s construction news
In simple terms, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s rich environmental mosaic serves as inspiration for the embassy’s design. The Department is dedicated to putting strict energy-saving and sustainability measures into place to reduce the environmental effect of construction, improve building performance, and increase sustainability and resilience.
On the other hand, the MPO joined KYTC and used its leftover funds for the repair of the Old Hartford Road and Fairview Drive intersection as well as improvements to Fairview Drive from Settles Lane to KY 54. These tasks are now ranked as the second and fourth most important, respectively.
Meanwhile, drivers should be ready for congestion in the work area as traffic patterns and signals are expected to alter over the course of the next six weeks while construction is happening. On September 5, at 7 p.m., the project begins. The work will be done by crews weekdays from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. until the repaving is finished.
Lastly, At Vermilion Harbor, boating trips and annual craft spending support 44.5 full-time equivalent jobs, $3.3 million in labor income, $4.4 million in gross regional product, and $7.3 million in economic output in the immediate impact area. These revenues are distributed to lodging, dining, retail, boat repair, and other services and industries.
