Biweekly #93

• Basic Construction Inspection Webinar Series (Six One-Hour Sessions), Tuesday–Thursday, 4/23–4/25 at 12:00 – This webinar series covers roadway-related construction inspection. It will consist of six sessions that focus on an overview of various subjects. The remaining three subjects include communication and roles/responsibilities on the construction site, safety on the construction site, and basics of construction survey. You can attend as many of the sessions as you would like, but registration is required to attend any. More details about the sessions and registration can be found here.

Biweekly #93

• Excavation Safety Workshops, Wednesday, 4/24 (Webster City); Thursday, 4/25 (Independence); Tuesday 4/30 (Atlantic); Wednesday, 5/1 (Indianola); and Thursday, 5/2 (Fairfield) – The workshop explains the hazards of excavation and trenching, how accidents happen, and how worker protective measures should be applied. It’s a great way to inform new employees of safety protocol or to update more experienced employees on new safety information. The workshop covers: critical definitions and context for excavation safety; soils analysis: testing soils and handling testing equipment; and shoring options: a walk-through of all the basic systems – sloping, shoring, and shielding. For more information and to register, please go here.
• Accessible Sidewalks and Curb Ramps: Design to Installation, Tuesday, 4/30 (Ames) – This workshop will benefit state and local professionals who plan, design, inspect, and construct Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-related facilities within the public right-of-way. State and local agency staff, consultants, and contractors are encouraged to attend. NOTE: This workshop will not cover changes that have recently occurred to the national Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) until any alterations that may be needed are approved for publishing within the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specification (SUDAS) and/or the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Design Manual. For more information and to register, please go here.
• Motor Grader Operator Workshops, Tuesday, 5/14 (Cherokee); Wednesday, 5/15 (Clarion); Thursday, 5/16 (Independence); Tuesday, 5/21 (Atlantic); Wednesday, 5/22 (Indianola); and Thursday, 5/23 (Ainsworth) – Motor Grader Operator (MoGO) training is a one- or two-day program led by experienced operators who teach others efficient and safe operating practices. The classroom session primarily focuses on blading techniques for different tasks, roadway/roadside cross section elements, safety, and equipment. Participants are often from several cities or counties, which promotes discussion and exchange of ideas and techniques. The optional field session for new operators attending a classroom session in 2024 is expected to occur the week of 7/29–8/2 at the Iowa Army National Guard Base, Camp Dodge in Johnston. Participants will learn the basic operation of a grader including moldboard pitch, blade angle, articulation, adjustments needed for proper roadway crown, shoulder work, aggressive blading techniques, and the importance of pre-trip inspections. Details for the field session are still in development and more information concerning it will be sent to all cities and counties that have participants registered for a classroom session. More information and registration for the classroom portion of this training can be found here.
• Iowa DOT Culvert and Bridge Backwater Program Workshop, Wednesdays, 5/15 (Ames), 5/22 (Hiawatha), and 5/29 (Harlan) – This workshop will cover basic principles the Iowa DOT uses in the selection of bridge and culvert replacement structures. The discussion will include a wide variety of concerns that are addressed during the concept stage of project development, typical deliverables that are completed during the concept phase, and the development of preliminary hydrology and hydraulics needed to appropriately specify the type and size of bridge or culvert to be constructed. During the hydraulic review for each sample problem, the workshop will cover the use of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) StreamStats program for estimating design discharges, the use of the Iowa DOT Annual Exceedance-Probability Discharges (AEPD) spreadsheet for calculating and comparing peak discharges using other methodologies, and the Iowa DOT Culvert and Bridge Backwater programs. Waiting Lists: Attendance limitations exist for these workshops, and attendees will need to bring a mobile device capable of running the software. Please go here for more information. If the session you want is full, contact Keith Knapp (kknapp@iastate.edu) to be put on a waiting list. Space may open up, and/or we may add additional days in the future to serve the need.

Biweekly #93

Iowa Build a Better Mousetrap Competition – Applications Being Accepted! Each year, Iowa LTAP sponsors a statewide Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Competition. It is the people on the front lines who often discover the latest and best practices, whether through new gadgets that improve the quality and safety of a project or innovative processes that reduce costs and improves efficiency. Iowa’s BABM Competition provides a great opportunity to share your new ideas with others! We are looking for submissions from Iowa’s local public agencies (e.g., cities and counties) that have created different solutions to problems or found better ways of doing things. The top three winners are recognized statewide and are offered free workshop registrations. The application deadline is 5/10. For more information and to apply online, please go here.

Biweekly #93

• Concrete Lunch and Learn: Adapting to Changes in Concrete Materials and Mixtures (CP Tech Center), Tuesday 4/23 (Ankeny); Friday, 4/26 (Iowa City); Tuesday 4/30 (Cedar Rapids), and Tuesday, 5/7 (virtual) at 12:00 PM. The cement and concrete industries in Iowa and around the country have seen some significant changes in the last few years. Some of these changes include the widespread adoption of portland limestone cement, new mixture specifications prioritizing durability, and increasing prioritization of sustainability by both the public and private sector. Join us to catch up on how the industry is adapting to these changes so far, what we’ve learned in the process, and for a preview of where things are going next. Registration for this event can be found here.
• Grant Writing 101 (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach), Thursday 4/25 (Sac City). This workshop helps beginners learn how to identify funding sources, effectively project plan, and write successful grant applications. Register for the workshop here.
• Lighting and the Environment (FHWA), Thursday, 4/25 at 12:00 PM – Adequate lighting is a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) proven safety countermeasure that can improve safety for all road users. Improperly designed and managed roadway lighting can have a negative impact on the environment. Lighting can change the behavior of animals, crop growth patterns and the night sky based on timing and lighting intensity levels. This webinar will discuss these issues and provide insight on approaches to mitigation. Registration information can be found here.