MILWAUKEE, WI. – The former home of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks had its roof demolition on Sunday, January 13. Demolition crews used explosives to take down the facility’s roof. Crews have been slowly taking down the facility piece by piece after it closed during the Summer of 2018. The building was 30 years old. Using explosives called “shape charges,” the structure’s roof came down at about 9:02 a.m.

Crowds braved the cold weather to watch the demolition take place. The Milwaukee Bucks gained control over Bradley Center as part of the agreement that led to the construction of the new $524 million Fiserv Forum, located next door. The seven-acre site is expected to be used for future development by the Bucs around the new arena.

The complete demolition of the Bradley Center is expected to be done by summer. Bucks and Fiserv Forum Chief Communications Officer Barry Baum said in a news release that the removal of the roof structure went as planned, putting the organization a step closer to the complete demolition of the old structure.

While there hasn’t been an official announcement regarding what plans for the site next to the newer building, the Milwaukee Bucks own it. The Bucks officials have said as soon as the demolition is complete inside the arena, they will start working on the inside of the facility.

Herb Pundsack, of Veit and Company, explained that the process was designed to separate the roof from the rest of the structure so the interior demolition can get finished. He said the operation involved setting a couple of shape charges up in the building so it would lower the trusses down to a lower, safer level.

That put the interior lower, so the workers aren’t hanging 100 feet above the ground trying to demolish roof structure. Interior demolition is continuing right away, according to reports.

On any given day there are thousands of construction projects going on around the globe. But there are some construction projects of mammoth proportions. Here are some of those highly revered construction projects of the World’s largest scale:

Dubailand – This Dubai project is huge. One of the world’s largest. So big three Disney World theme parks could fit inside. This $64 billion venture consists of 278 kilometers and it includes sports venues, eco-tourism, theme parks, science attractions, healthcare facilities, science-related attractions, and even hotels. Inside Dubailand will be the largest hotel in the world, containing a 10-million-square-foot mall and 6,500 rooms. This project is set for a 2025 completion date.

International Space Station – The International Space Station circles the earth every 92 minutes. It was built by a consortium consisting of 5 space agencies and 15 nations, it has construction costs exceeding $60 billion. The eventual costs are anticipated to exceed $1 trillion. And plans are for it to have the ability to house up to a million occupants.

London Crossrail Project – The first underground train system in the world is continuing to grow with 26 more miles of the tunnel being added to connect 40 stations. This project is expected to cost about $23 billion. It is being completed in phases, with the first section becoming operational in 2018 and the last section being in service by 2020.

Bejing Airport – This airport in China saw its first phase completed for the 2008 Olympiad. Further expansion is expected to be done by 2025. Zaha Hadid designed Terminal 1, which incorporates several design concepts of sustainability while presented in a futuristic approach.

South-to-North Water Transfer Project in China – About 50% of China’s population resides in North China. That area only has about 20% of the water resources available in that country. To address the issue, China funded a major construction project consisting of three huge canals, each measuring more than 600 miles in length and carrying water from the three largest rivers in China to the North. It will take 48 years for the project to be completed.

Jubail II in Saudi Arabia – This industrial project spans 22 years with the second phase, an $11 billion expansion, getting underway in 2014. It will include miles of railways, at least 100 industrial plants, roads and highways, and an oil refinery with 350,000 barrels produced daily. The entire project is set to be done by 2024.

Federal Judge Blocks Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline

In Montana, a federal judge blocked the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline construction so there will be more time to study the environmental impact that the project could have on the area. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris issued the order on November 8, right as TransCanada, which is based in Calgary, was preparing to start construction on the oil pipeline’s first sections in northern Montana. TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State had been sued by environmental groups in Great Falls federal court.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, Judge Morris doesn’t believe that the government didn’t study greenhouse gas emissions fully, how the current oil prices would impact the viability of the pipeline, or include any updated modeling of possible oil spills. The pipeline is designed so it would transport as many as 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Alberta, a Canadian province, and areas of Montana to Nebraska-based facilities. The U.S. State Department issued a presidential permit for the construction of the pipeline in 2017. When halting the work, the judge said that the analysis conducted by the state department didn’t meet the federal environmental law standards.

Judge Morris issued the order after some equipment had been making its way through parts of eastern Montana so construction crews could start work. TransCanada Corp., the pipeline owner, is reportedly planning a meeting for Tuesday, November 13, to discuss the project and the judge’s order to halt work. The pipeline is set to be 1,179 miles. The State Department prepared an Environmental Impact Statement in 2014. The Keystone XL pipeline construction is stopped until the department completes a supplement to that study.

Keystone Proposal

The Keystone XL pipeline’s proposal is for it to start in British Columbia’s tar sands and then run through parts of South Dakota and Montana before it connects to the existing pipeline already in Nebraska. The company had hoped to start construction of the Montana portion next spring. The lawsuit was filed by Northern Plains Resource Council based in Billings along with other environmental groups, including North Coast Rivers Alliance and Indigenous Environmental Network.

Glendive farmer Dena Hoff, a member of the Northern Plains Resource Council, issued a written statement that said, “Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law, and it’s a victory for common sense stewardship of the land and water upon which we all depend. Despite the best efforts of wealthy, multinational corporations and the powerful politicians who cynically do their bidding, we see that everyday people can still band together and successfully defend their rights.”

Several major construction projects have been announced recently. The largest project getting underway is the Time Square development which is budgeted for $2.5 billion. The TSX Broadway project is set to start construction by Winter 2019. This project will include the demolition of an existing hotel and the construction of a new 550,000-square-foot, 46-story building around the historic Palace Theater. This construction project will include 75,000 square feet of retail space, which will include 100 feet of storefront directly facing Times Square. Also, there will be a 669-room luxury hotel. In addition, $50 million will be used to lift the 105-year-old Palace Theater, thoroughly renovate it, and then incorporate it into the new building’s third floor. There will be a stage that extends over Times Square, a huge 18,000-square-foot LED screen, and a beverage and food terrace. The experiential retail segment of the project is expected to at least 15 million people every year with its entertainment, creativity, innovation, and engagement. The project developers have planned construction to wrap up in 2021, and it has been set up, so it will not interfere with the vehicular and pedestrian traffic of the area.

Other Major Construction Projects

Seattle has approved a $700 million redevelopment project for KeyArena. The city hopes the new arena will host a National Basketball Association franchise eventually and a National Hockey League team. The project is designed to create a “world-class, multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility.” The construction agreement says that features that are designated as landmarks, such as the current roof, will be retained and the south façade will be removed. Five buildings will be demolished. The project includes the construction of two plazas, a loading area, a surface parking lot, a below-grade parking area, a skate park, and a new arena. It is expected to seat 19,000 people.

A $500 million mixed-use project is set to give Hyde Park a boost. This project will include $60 million of infrastructure and the completion of the 133-room Inn at Bellefield. The project will include 59 residences of various architectural styles, hiking, and biking trails through a nature preserve, an agricultural complex, a year-round farmers market, wine shops, a market square with restaurants, two hotels, specialty food stores, a village green, conference center, and a performing arts center and amphitheater. The project will use eco-conscious construction materials and solar energy and geothermal heating will be used. The hotel construction component is expected to create 500 jobs by itself.

Construction Jobs To Be Available

With the increasing number of construction projects will come an increase in the need for construction workers. Many of these positions will require specialized training, which will enable these workers to perform their jobs accurately and safely. To learn more about ATS Specialized Training, call (800) 678-8149 today.

Progress continues with the HWY 151 rebuilding project

All over the country, large-scale roadworks are taking place to ensure that the essential transport links that keep goods moving are maintained. One such project is the Highway 151 rebuilding project in Sun Prairie, WI, which covers the road between Sun Prairie to Beaver Dam. This significant project covers a considerable length of the highway and this first stage aims to replace southbound pavement and shoulders, while the northbound will be patched and resurfaced, and bridgework improvements will be carried out at the same time. Further stages which are expected to commence between 2019 and 2025 include extending turn lanes and other roadway redesigns.

The rebuilding construction project began on May 1^st, 2018, and has progressed on schedule since. One of the interesting things about this operation is the scheduling has allowed the work to take place without significant traffic impact. While turnoffs are out of use and require a short detour, in general, the traffic has been allowed to flow smoothly all through construction.

The site itself features a large number of heavy machines in use daily, including dozers, graders, rollers and wheel loaders, and represents a significant opportunity for Wisconsin heavy machinery operators, who are enjoying increased demand for their skills. It is important to remember the importance of trained professional operators and their ability to operate machines safely in any conditions, even among flowing traffic as they do every day on this project.

For the construction industry, this is a rebuilding project that highlights the opportunity for heavy machinery operators today, not just in this project, but in similar ones all over the country, offering a great chance to build a career, while also being part of a country-wide initiative that is rebuilding the country to give America the infrastructure it needs for the 21^st century. Because of projects like this one, heavy machinery operators are in high demand, and the surge in road construction provides a fantastic platform for new operators to begin their careers. With this project continuing on through stages over the next 6 years, and similar projects in almost every county and state, this is a demand that is not going to reduce any time soon.

If you are rebuilding your current career, or even starting your first career, training to become a heavy machinery operator is an exceptional investment in yourself and an industry that is growing quickly. Well-paid, reliable work that employers are actively looking for, and operator skills are a great way to grab that new opportunity.

If you are managing a construction site or running a business, having the right heavy equipment is mandatory. But there are two ways in which you can get your hand on great equipment: buying or renting it. While both of them have their advantages and disadvantages, in our article you will discuss the pros and cons of renting heavy equipment.

If you already have decided that renting the equipment is the best option for you, then we recommend learning more about one of the equipment rental service firms with the largest presence in North America, Herz Equipment Rental. For more info on the types of Hertz equipment rental services, rates, insurance options, rental locations, and more, visit the linked article. Now, let’s see what the pros and cons of renting heavy equipment are.

The Pros

1. Latest and best

Having the latest and best heavy equipment on the market can be the key to a thriving business. But unless you have a fortune lying around, then it is impossible to purchase all the latest equipment.

By renting, you enjoy updated technology while avoiding getting stuck with old, outdated equipment that doesn’t belong in your workplace. Your employees will be happy to work with the latest gear and they will be able to learn to use multiple types of equipment, which will turn them into real professionals.

2. Small, regular payments

You probably know the saying “Don’t spend all of your money in one place”. Well, that is what happens when you buy heavy equipment instead of renting it. When you rent equipment, you won’t have to pay a huge sum of money at once. Instead, you will pay small, regular amounts of money. This is best for organized business owners as they can make the payments on the same day every week or month.

Also, you can rent a piece of equipment for different periods. You can rent it for a small project, for a month or more. Different companies accept different types of payment. This should be discussed upfront with the person in charge of renting the equipment. Get the best deal for you.

3. Maintenance

Another important pro for renting heavy equipment is that some companies include maintenance in their services. This means that, if a tool breaks due to normal use, the company that rented the equipment is responsible for repairing it. However, not all companies offer free-of-charge maintenance, so do your research before renting it.

The Cons

1. Total Cost

The total cost of renting heavy equipment depends entirely on the period of time you want to rent it. For instance, if you need the equipment for a month, the cost can be very low, so you’ll be better off renting the equipment. On the other hand, if you plan to use the equipment for several years, the total cost could be bigger than the actual price of the equipment. Renting is best for small projects or for short periods of time.

2. Can’t get your money back

Another problem with renting is that you don’t get any part of the investment back. When you purchase a piece of equipment and you keep it in good shape, you have a high probability of selling it and gaining at least a part of the investment back. When renting, this is impossible because you don’t own the equipment.

3. Availability

If you want to rent, then get prepared to settle for a different model of equipment than the one you had in mind. Although rental companies update their inventory from time to time, it is impossible for them to have all models, brands, and types of equipment. So, when renting, try not to have a brand in their mind.

Most of the time you will be forced to settle for the model of equipment the rental company has. Also, you can wait for the equipment to be available, but that might not be an option if you have a project already.

Renting or buying heavy equipment can be tricky because both options come with pros and cons. However, think about the period of time you plan on using the equipment, the costs, and the equipment you are mainly interested in. If you want something big, cheap, and for a short period of time, then renting is the best option. If you need the equipment for a longer period of time and you seek a certain model or brand, you should consider purchasing it.

When natural disasters strike, from Hurricanes across Texas to mudslides in California, the news reports are full of information, shocking images, and stories of tragedy and heroism alike. However, such is the pace of the world we live in today, that a week later, the story has moved elsewhere, and the last we hear about those terrible situations are the images of houses buried or destroyed, flooded roads, and so on. How many of us think about what happens next, and how such devastation is cleared up?

The most important thing to occur after the devastating disaster like the mudslides in California earlier this year took place long after the TV crews and cameras had gone to the next story, and that was the long process of cleaning up, salvaging what was possible from wrecked homes and clearing up the roads to make them useable again.

Using a range of equipment, the cleanup specialist’s first challenge is not moving the mud, but the mud itself. With potential contaminants including oil, gas, pesticides, sewage, and a wide range of chemicals washed out of people’s homes, it’s a potential health hazard in its own right. Care when moving the mud was essential, and teams of dozers, loaders, and dump trucks from specialists such as National Plant Services were employed to move the huge quantities of mud, which was dumped at the coast to reinforce costal protections and prevent yet more problems from storm flooding.

With the most significant volume of mud removed in the first month, attention then turned to the infrastructure of the region. Each manhole had to be opened and checked individually, a difficult task with some invisible due to the layer of mud. The entire city collection system had been affected by the mud, and every drain, sewer, and access point had to be checked by hand. To accomplish this, teams of contractors and city workers worked together, using maps to identify where access points should be, and using dozers to scrape away remaining mud to get at them.

In some cases, where opening the manhole revealed mud right to the top, and here Vac-Con trucks were deployed to clean out the sewers and restore normal operations. Camera equipment was used to assess areas that were less obviously obstructed, and much of the work involved removing large stone and rock debris from within the pipes, left behind by the mud.

With the constant hazard of the mud and debris around them, this is tough work for any contractor, and it took 2 months of 7 days a week, 15 hours a day shifts to finish the disaster cleanup. With teams from three different disaster cleanup specialists aided by city workers and national guard engineers working together to complete the task, that is a lot of manhours and a lot of unsung effort.

It might not be as attention-grabbing as the disasters, but the people who find themselves struggling in the aftermath of any such event need the men and women who clean up after the cameras have gone. Maybe it’s time we all said a thank you for what they do.

There has been a lot of talk about the need for investment in infrastructures, and while the biggest projects are still at the early stages, Wisconsin is seeing a lot of construction activity focused on reinvigorating transport connections and providing the safe road solutions that we all need.

There is a drive for resurfacing that covers all areas of the state this summer, and this significant effort is accompanied by further works to backfill existing bridge structures and other substructures of the roadway.

A concerted effort covering various counties in Wisconsin, including Brown, Door, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Shawano. Organized by the Department of Transportation, this represents a huge summer effort to restore Wisconsin highways to an acceptable condition and reinvigorate travel within the state.

While resurfacing is a common theme, projects around the state also take in other remedial works as well, including storm sewer reconstruction and renewal, railroad crossing construction, and other roadworks that can be carried out during the disruption. For heavy machinery operators, particularly graders and other road construction equipment, this is a fantastic opportunity, with skills in demand for a large number of simultaneous projects.

With various projects launching from May and continuing on to September and beyond, while this road initiative is widespread, collectively it is a huge undertaking for the state. However, that central organization does have its advantages, as Wisconsin is making use of social media to keep road users informed of any disruptions the ongoing works are causing. With a central Twitter account, they remind road users of lane restrictions and road closures each day, adding to the smooth running of these projects both for the teams working on-site and for Wisconsin road users looking to avoid any roadwork problems.

While we tend to think of infrastructure work as huge construction endeavors such as the California high-speed rail network, the reality is that these state-wide initiatives, which involve hundreds of works on dozens of sites, are where the most dramatic effect will be found for most people’s daily lives. A better, safer road surface to travel on every day as you go to work, school or the grocery run, this is where updated infrastructure leaves its mark on our lives most.

It is also where heavy machinery operators and other skilled construction workers will find long-term employment and create long-lasting, successful careers. By rebuilding infrastructure and providing safer, easier transport for Americans, this construction initiative is helping to deliver the platform that modern America needs for its workforce and industry.

For anyone looking to start a new career in construction, this really is a perfect time, and with our range of training courses offering both classroom and practical experience, we prepare you for a new career quickly and effectively. We are dedicated to teaching you the skills you need for a lifelong and successful career.

One of the few things politicians of all persuasions agree on is that the country needs investment in its infrastructure to ensure that we have the systems in place to take us into the future. While they argue about how much and so on, for the construction industry as the plan for infrastructure takes shape, it is having a dramatic effect.

There are several areas where such large construction plans matter and one of the main ones is the skill shortage that needs to be addressed. In almost every aspect of the construction-connected industry, from truck drivers to haul materials to skilled heavy machinery operators to work on-site, there are shortages of people with the appropriate skills.

Construction throughout the country hit new highs at the end of 2017, with over $1 trillion in November, and with government infrastructure construction spending yet to really get moving, there is much more to come. Everything from housing, where demand is high but inventory is low, through to major infrastructure projects are coming online requiring more people and more skills.

The lack of skills is a problem all over the country, and this became apparent last year after contractors struggled to recruit skilled staff in the response to Hurricane Harvey, and those problems persist today in almost every state. It is not just a recruitment problem for today either, with many skilled professionals in the building trade having an average age of 50, this is a long-term issue that is now becoming a critical problem.

For those looking for a career though, this problem definitely represents an opportunity, and for those willing to learn those in-demand skills, whether that is craftsmen, heavy machinery operators, crane operators, and everything in between, there is much to enjoy about the coming infrastructure spend. Gaining those skills is a commitment of course, but with vocational schools now back on the political agenda and awareness that there is an alternative to college to build a career, it is one people are beginning to choose.

With a skill shortage, these are careers that are paying increasingly well, and with the construction projects put in place over these next few years often stretching out into decades-long commitments, they are also able to offer a level of job security that many other areas cannot hope to match.

The ability to be a part of projects that will shape the future of the country is an amazing opportunity for anyone today, and with the right skills, even in the 21^st century, you can still leave your mark on this great land.

It may have hosted the Super Bowl in 1982, but the Silverdome has definitely been on its own overtime the last few years. Since the Detroit Lions left in 2001, the Silverdome has been searching for a purpose, although a popular venue for concerts throughout its life, until the current ownership, the Triple Investment Group, finally decided the 130-acre site had the potential for development.

It was at that point that plans for demolition of the old site, whose record attendance of 93,173 came when it was host to WrestleMania III in 1987, were made and the project to redevelop the large site began. As one of the largest construction projects in the region, it has attracted a lot of interest within the industry, but until December, there was not a lot to see.

However, December was marked as the beginning of the demolition of the Silverdome itself, a significant challenge due to its size, but also one that has attracted a lot of interest, with members of the public more curious than ever due to the connection with the venue through their favored sports teams. Indeed, there was even a live video stream set up to let people watch the demolition itself.

However, when it came time to take the upper structure down, things did not go quite as planned. As thousands watched online and at the sire, the countdown came, the explosion occurred, and the Silverdome remained standing. While weakened, the upper part of the building was still intact, and since then investigation has shown wiring errors caused some explosives to remain undetonated, as the cause.

The stadium eventually gave in a couple of days later, when a new demolition with fresh charges successfully brought the old stadium down, and now the major work of the project begins. However, the initial failure attracted a lot of attention, not least from Detroit Lions fans, with many comparing the failure with the performances of their beloved team when they were performing inside that very stadium.

Now the major demolition is complete, large numbers of heavy machinery operators and other contractors are on site removing the debris and preparing the ground for the redevelopment. With such a large project, the machinery of all sizes is being used, and it represents one of the largest construction projects in progress in Detroit at the moment.