Uncertainty over federal funding due to the partial government shutdown has caused transportation officials in Oklahoma and New Mexico to delay seeking construction bids for upcoming projects. State agencies can still access funds from the Highway Trust Fund during the shutdown, but the agencies say operating in the current funding environment is "a very risky thing."

Ewa Bauer-Furbush is implementing a retrofit that will make the engineering icon last for decades to come. Discover the impressive achievements of the 2019 ASCE Outstanding Projects And Leaders award-winner in management. Celebrate all five OPAL winners and see the 2019 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement winner revealed at the 20th annual OPAL Gala, March 14. Order your tickets.

How will engineers satisfy the transportation needs of the future? Leading planners, researchers, and policymakers will discuss innovative solutions at ASCE's International Conference on Transportation & Development, coming to suburban Washington, D.C., June 9-12. See the program and register.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will spend $350 million on three concurrent efforts to add travel lanes, upgrade bridges and resurface pavement on a 39-mile stretch of Interstate 94. Construction is expected to begin this summer and last through 2021.

The Port of Alaska has begun work on the first phase of a $1 billion upgrade that entails building a $150 million to $200 million dock that will be supported by an underwater concrete block. Ships will use the dock to drop off fuel and cement.

Officials revealed five proposed renderings for the planned $8.5 billion 3.4 million-square-foot expansion of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Workers will build an international terminal and two passenger concourses.

An AECOM-led consortium lost out on a bid for a terminal at the Kansas City International Airport, but consortium representatives now say they can do the proposed work for about $1.1 billion less than the winning bidder. The city does not appear to be interested in making any changes to the project, saying it is only working with one developer.

The California State Water Resources Control Board will not issue the necessary permits for a project to raise the height of the Shasta Dam, citing a law preventing agencies from involvement in planning of projects that compromise free flow of the McCloud River. Congress approved $20 million for preconstruction and design work for the $1.4 billion effort last year, but with a new Congress in place, the project could face new funding hurdles.

The International Code Council and the Alliance for National and Community Resilience have developed the first resiliency guidelines, which local communities can use to improve buildings codes. "These benchmarks provide a standard for local and state governments to follow ensuring they are well prepared for the next disaster," ANCR Executive Director Ryan Colker says.

Engineer Lucia Pía Torres says efforts need to be made to recruit and train more women, who often offer different skills and vision. "If we train, accompany and encourage women, who want to continue to increase their knowledge and enhance their skills, promoting and recognizing their development, we will be able to fulfill our main objective: a diverse, balanced, and equitable world, sustainable for the next generation," she says.