Technical Hires

There’s been some severe flooding across Texas in the last few days. In the video below, you can see the Hwy 635 Dallas freeway, where some cars have been abandoned after 1.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in just three hours! A bridge over Atkins Creek on FM-1097 near Montgomery also completely collapsed due to the heavy rains. Local officials are working hard to repair the damage, but it looks challenging with more rain on the way. This is a reminder of the importance of water resources infrastructure for our communities and the vital work of civil engineers. From Technical Hires: stay safe out there, follow local updates, and avoid areas that have been severely impacted if possible! (Video from LoneStarLive.com on YouTube). #Texas #Infrastructure #CivilEngineering #WaterResources #Dallas #Floods

Great news for infrastructure and supply chain connectivity! On July 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act 2024 with a resounding vote of 359 to 13. This bill aims to significantly enhance commercial waterway infrastructure and streamline supply chain operations. Here’s what you need to know: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • 🏗️ 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: The bill focuses on upgrading ports, dams, waterways, canals, and locks. • 🌊 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹: Special emphasis on systemic flood control for the upper Mississippi River. • ⚙️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀: Reducing red tape to expedite project completion. • 🌍 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲: Improving ports, harbors, and inland navigation networks for better U.S. and international commerce. "This bipartisan legislative package improves our nation’s ports, harbors and inland navigation networks while strengthening U.S. and international commerce and enhancing protection of communities during national disasters." - 𝗥𝗲𝗽. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘇𝗲𝗿 (𝗥-𝗡.𝗖.) 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻: The bill now heads to the Senate, where senior transportation policymakers aim to finalize it before the year’s end. The Senate's version also focuses on strategic investments and the completion of ongoing projects. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The WRDA 2024 ensures that our waterway infrastructure keeps pace with economic growth and user demand, providing stability and certainty to communities across the nation. Check out the full story from TT News in the comments below! Follow Technical Hires for more civil engineering content. #Infrastructure #Civil Engineering #WaterResources #WRDA2024 #Transportation

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act has allocated a massive $66 billion for rail projects across the US. Infrastructure investment has been sorely needed, and rail has often been neglected in Texas. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 🚦 Technical Hires has highlighted the significant congestion across Texas, worsened by the extensive network of toll roads—the most in the nation. With the population projected to grow from 30 to 47 million by 2050, the congestion issue will only escalate. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 🛤️ A high-speed rail connection between Dallas and Houston has been in the works for almost a decade: • 🚄 Travels at 200 miles per hour • ⏱️ Takes 90 minutes, compared to a 3.5-hour drive • 🚧 Bypasses the notoriously busy Interstate 45 While the project has faced hurdles, additional funding has revived it, with Amtrak leading the charge. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝗽? ⏳ • Estimates put the project at $30 billion, from both public and private sources—almost half the total US IIJA budget. • Significant funds will be needed for land acquisition, with Texas Central only owning 30% of what’s required and facing resistance from local landowners. • Texas’ constitution mandates that most of TxDOT’s budget must be spent on building and expanding freeways, adding further constraints. • Republicans have made efforts to block the project, favoring road expansions instead. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 🏁 State Rep. Terry Canales, an Edinburg Democrat who chairs the Texas House Transportation Committee, said he doesn’t foresee that lawmakers will budge on funding rail despite “once-in-a-lifetime” federal funding opportunities for such projects. This renewed push for high-speed rail in Texas could be the breakthrough needed to alleviate congestion and prepare for future growth. What are your thoughts on this potential game-changer for Texas infrastructure? Read the full story in the The Texas Tribune below and follow Technical Hires for more civil engineering and rail updates. #Infrastructure #HighSpeedRail #Texas #Transportation #Sustainability

Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of devastation in Texas, with thousands of residents experiencing prolonged power outages. Among the most significant concerns is the impact on local infrastructure due to the heavy rainfall. 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 🚿 A critical example is the Lake Livingston Dam, which supplies water to 3 million residents in the Greater Houston area. This dam, the only one on the Trinity River’s main stem, is Texas’ largest single-purpose reservoir, spanning 2.5 miles and covering 83,000 acres. 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 🛠️ The Trinity River Authority (TRA) has placed the dam under a "potential failure watch" following an unsatisfactory assessment by the US Army Corps of Engineers in May, which noted "significant deformation" in parts of the dam. However, the TRA has assured that there is "no immediate danger of failure or a breach," and repairs are well underway to ensure the dam's integrity. Read the full story from KPRC-TV in the comments and see the video below. Follow Technical Hires for more civil engineering updates! #Infrastructure #Texas #Water #CivilEngineering

Yet another bridge has been unveiled in Texas! The Texas Highway 8 Bridge over Wright Patman Lake is officially open to traffic, marking a significant improvement in infrastructure and safety for the region. Built by Longview Bridge & Road, the new bridge enhances water flow and commuter safety, replacing two older structures over the Sulfur River between Bowie and Cass County. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: ⭐𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲: 44 feet wide ⭐𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 7 years ⭐𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: $37 million ⭐𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: Extra width provides safe shoulders ⭐𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: higher elevation to mitigate flooding TXDOT celebrated the bridge's opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting its improved design and functionality, as reported by KTBS. Construction crews will soon begin removing the old highway and tying in concrete paving on both approaches.  "It's been a challenge and an exciting project, but we sure enjoy a challenge and enjoy projects like this," said Casey Johnson, Longview Road & Bridge president. At the Technical Hires team it’s great to see the impact civil engineers have on local communities! Link to KTBS' story in the comments. #CivilEngineering #Infrastructure #Texas #TXDOT #Bridge

Odessa has faced severe water outages, highlighting a critical issue impacting all of Texas. 🌵💧 🔹 Record-breaking heat, drought, and underinvestment are straining our water systems. 🔹 One major outage cost the city upwards of $4 million. 🔹 The city council is investing $25 million to overhaul aging infrastructure. What does this mean for Texas? Over $150 billion in potential costs if no action is taken. Learn how Odessa is addressing this challenge and what it signifies for the rest of the state. Read the full article to discover the crucial steps being taken and the broader implications for Texas' water infrastructure. 💧🔧Please follow Technical Hires for more content. #WaterCrisis #Infrastructure #Texas #CivilEngineering #Sustainability

The Third Avenue Bridge connecting the Bronx and Manhattan couldn't take the heat on Monday, shutting down as temperatures soared close to triple digits. 🔥 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻: ⋆ The bridge got stuck halfway open due to overheating machinery. ⋆ FDNY marine units were called around 2:45 p.m. to cool the hydraulics, working until almost 6:45 p.m. ⋆ The 126-year-old swing bridge remained closed to all traffic during this time. 🚒 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁: ⋆ Firefighters used boats to spray water on the bridge, attempting to cool down the overheated steel. ⋆ Thankfully, no injuries were reported. 🌡️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗰: ⋆ A heat advisory was in effect with temperatures hitting 95 degrees, remaining until 8 p.m. Wednesday. 🌍 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: This incident highlights how extreme temperatures can impact infrastructure. It's a reminder of the challenge faced by civil engineers and developers to consider climate resilience in future projects. Check out the video from USA Today below! Link in the comments for the full story. #CivilEngineering #ClimateChange #Sustainability #NYC #Infrastructure

Check out the latest insight from the Technical Hires team on the AI revolution and its impact on civil engineering. We talk about: ⚙️ The cautious adoption of AI in an industry with high regulation and significant consequences for errors, despite initial optimism from business leaders. 🖥 How we might see AI integrated into design software and its potential role in modeling to create sustainable structures. 👩🔬 Insights from experts such as renowned roboticist Ayanna Howard, Ph.D., recently interviewed by the ASCE. One of the top 50 women in Tech (Forbes) and named one of the most powerful women engineers in the world by Business Insider. 🤔 Concerns from engineers on whether AI will truly benefit them or their clients, reduce workloads, or instead pose a risk to job security. Check out the link in the comments to see our view on how AI is shaping the future of civil engineering! #CivilEngineering #AI #Innovation #FutureOfWork

Engineering continues to be one of the most sought-after fields at Texas public universities, according to recent state enrollment data. In fall 2023, over 52,000 students were enrolled in engineering programs, making it the second largest field of study after business. This surge reflects the growing need for talent and lucrative salaries on offer for engineers. 🎓𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀🎓: 📈 Engineering is the second most popular major group, trailing only business. 💼 The job market's demand for specialized skills is driving students towards engineering. 🎯 Students are prioritizing degrees with clear career paths and high employability. This trend underscores the importance of specialized education in securing greater career opportunities. As staffing specialists for civil engineers in Texas, it’s encouraging to see the field gaining traction among future talent. Check out the comments for the full article from Houston Chronicle, it’s quite informative! #CivilEngineering #Texas #STEM #Engineeringjobs

Employer asking a bit too much of you? We have some less precarious electrical engineering positions in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. Check out the links in the comments! ⚡ Staff Electrical Engineer - Fort Worth ⚡ Electrical Engineer - Houston ⚡ Electrical Project Engineer - Dallas #civilengineering #electricalengineering #Texas #engineeringjobs Video courteously of 'Electrical Design Engineering' on YouTube.