Around the Industry
IRWA POTOMAC CHAPTER
News Around the Industry
Right of Way Updates
U.S. Senate panel discusses changes to permitting rules for infrastructure projects
A U.S. Senate committee is weighing potential changes to federal permitting rules that govern major energy and infrastructure projects, with both Republicans and Democrats signaling interest in reform. During a recent hearing, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee revisited the issue following House passage of its own permitting bill, even as broader talks stalled amid sharp disagreements over the Trump administration’s opposition to renewable energy. Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito warned that without congressional action, shifting executive branch policies will continue to undermine long-term planning and investment in critical projects.
Pennsylvania's $88-Million Bridge Replacement: A Milestone in the Making
In 1954, Pennsylvania officials hailed the Hawk Falls Bridge on the Turnpike’s Northeastern Extension as a symbol of engineering ambition, carrying traffic nearly 200 ft above the Mud Run gorge in Hickory Run State Park. For nearly six decades, the 738-ft steel deck truss bridge served as a vital north–south link between suburban Philadelphia and the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre region. Now at the end of its service life, the structure is being replaced as part of a five-year, $88 million Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission project that will deliver a new steel arch bridge over Mud Run and a new Hickory Run Road Bridge over State Route 534, with construction led by Trumbull Corporation and scheduled for completion in late 2026.
Colorado DOT Completes I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass
The Colorado Department of Transportation has completed the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass near Larkspur, one of North America’s largest wildlife bridges, spanning six lanes of traffic and reconnecting 39,000 acres of habitat between Larkspur and Monument. Supported by 76 girders and finished in under a year on time and on budget, the vegetated overpass is designed for big game such as elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, bear, and mountain lions, as well as smaller animals. The project was made possible through a multi-agency partnership and a federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program grant that covered most of the cost.
