highway infrastructure

DOT releases $320M to repair Helene-damaged truck routes

WASHINGTON — The federal government is sending $320 million in emergency funding to North Carolina and Tennessee to help speed the repair of parts of I-40 and I-26, two key truck routes damaged by Hurricane Helene last September.

The funding is part of a $352.6 million “quick release” package for hurricane recovery efforts and is in addition to $167 million initially provided to the two states for emergency relief.

SONAR Critical Events shows continued closures of I-40 in Western North Carolina...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-releases-320m-to-repair-helene-damaged-truck-routes

ATRI: Road congestion cost trucking $108.8B in 2022

Highway congestion cost the trucking industry a record $108.8 billion in 2022, according to a survey released Wednesday by the American Transportation Research Institute.

ATRI’s survey, which measures congestion using average truck speeds, truck volumes and operational costs, found that total congestion hours in 2022 decreased slightly from 2021 due to the weakening freight market.

However, the cost to operate a truck increased at a greater rate in the same period, causing overall congestion...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/atri-road-congestion-cost-trucking-108-8b-in-2022

Trump to name Fox TV host Sean Duffy to head DOT

President-elect Donald Trump is nominating Fox News Host Sean Duffy to head the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Duffy, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin for nine years, is the co-host of Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line” and provides political analysis across all Fox News Media platforms, according to Fox Business.

During his time in the House, Duffy served on the Financial Services Committee and was chairman of its subcommittee on Insurance and Housing.

“[Duffy] will...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trump-to-name-fox-tv-host-sean-duffy-to-head-dot

FreightTech Friday: Japan’s proposed conveyor-belt highway

In a recent meeting of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the group unveiled plans to combat its transportation and logistics sector labor shortages with construction of an automated conveyor-belt highway running over 310 miles across central Japan.

Known as the Autoflow-Road proposal, the ministry showcased its blueprint for building both aboveground and underground conveyor-belt roads running between Tokyo and Osaka 24 hours a day. According to the ministry, it...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freighttech-friday-japans-proposed-conveyor-belt-highway

Trucking congestion costs hit record $94.6B

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Congestion cost trucking companies a record $94.6 billion in 2021, according to a new study...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-congestion-costs-hit-record-94-6b

FreightWaves Classics/Infrastructure: Traffic cones and barrels save lives

A road crew at work. (Photo: Scott Lorenzo/Caltrans)

“National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones.” NWZAW 2022 began yesterday and runs through April 15. Although the Federal Highway Administration and each of the state departments of transportation want drivers to use extra caution in work zones 24/7/365, NWZAW shines a spotlight on work zone safety. 

FreightWaves Classics will publish a new article on NWZAW each day this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsinfrastructure-traffic-cones-and-barrels-save-lives

FreightWaves Classics/Infrastructure: New Jersey Turnpike dedicated 70 years ago (Part 1)

Traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike. (Photo: WHYY.org)

Overview

Seventy years ago today, the New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) was officially dedicated – despite not being completed yet. As the New York Times reported, “A major engineering feat, the new highway is an unimpeded route, without traffic lights, no cross roads, no left-hand turns and no grades over 3%.”

Today is the 70th anniversary of the New Jersey Turnpike's dedication. (Image: NJTA Facebook page)Today is the 70th anniversary of the New Jersey Turnpike’s dedication. (Image: NJTA Facebook page)

Today, the NJTP is a system of controlled-access highways that are maintained by the New...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsinfrastructure-new-jersey-turnpike-dedicated-70-years-ago-part-1

Infrastructure: The money is there but the clock is ticking

Now that President Joe Biden has signed into law the biggest investment in freight transportation in 65 years, the question turns to how quickly the money can reconnect the links of a broken supply chain.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes $110 billion for roads, bridges and major infrastructure projects, $66 billion for freight and passenger rail, and $17.4 billion for ports and inland waterway improvements.

It also sets aside $20.5 billion over five years for three major...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/infrastructure-the-money-is-there-but-the-clock-is-ticking

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