By Lori LovelyCEG CORRESPONDENT

Construction on the NationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministration’s (NOAA)Integrated Water ResourcesScience and Services (aka theNational Water Center) began inSpring 2012 on the University ofAlabama (UA) campus inTuscaloosa. The project will resultin a first-of-its-kind facility thatwill combine hydrological fore-casting operations and researchunder one roof to support fieldoperations, improve joint agencycoordination and address emergingstakeholder needs.“Water resource issues are com-

plex, multi-disciplinary and grow-ing, as we’ve seen with this year’sfloods in the northeast and theMississippi, Missouri and Ohiorivers and the prolonged droughtacross much of the South,” saidNOAA Administrator Dr. JaneLubchenco. “The necessaryexpertise and capabilities toaddress these cross-boundaryissues rarely reside within oneagency or organization. There is anincreasing need for close partner-ships among federal agencies andlocal, state and regional entities;the National Water Center pro-vides a focal point to address thisnational need.”The new national hydrologic

operations center is intended toenhance water forecasting capabil-ities by facilitating collaborationbetween NOAA and other federalagencies that share water responsi-bilities, enabling it to better servethe nation by addressing complex

water problems related to scarcity,flood and climate change. It alsowill improve the nation’s ability tomanage water resources, preparefor water disasters and respond toincreasing water challenges, aswell as provide various supportservices and perform administra-tive functions of NOAA’s NationalWeather Service.Among other functions, the cen-

ter will include a water resourcesforecasting operations center, anapplied water resources researchand development laboratory, ageo-intelligence laboratory and adistance learning center.

Watering HoleNOAA, established in 1807,

uses cutting-edge research andhigh-tech instrumentation to pro-vide citizens, planners, emergencymanagers and others with reliableweather information, from dailyweather forecasts and storm warn-ings to climate monitoring andcoastal restoration and marinecommerce. An international leaderin scientific and environmentalmatters, its services affect morethan one-third of the country’sgross domestic product.The National Water Center is

part of NOAA’s commitment to

create a weather-ready nation, inwhich the country is able to pre-pare for and respond to environ-mental events that affect safety,health, the environment, the econ-omy and homeland security. Thecenter will be a cornerstone of thiseffort by providing emergencymanagers with detailed maps thatexplicitly show forecasted loca-tions and effects of flooding, sothey can direct their evacuationand mitigation measures moreeffectively. New forecasts of watersupply and availability will helpplan for uncertain water futures,build more resilient communities

and create new business opportuni-ties.Currently, there are 122 local

Weather Forecast Offices support-ed by the agency’s 13 regionalRiver Forecast Centers and nation-al forecast offices, including theHydrometeorological PredictionCenter and Climate PredictionCenter. “This will be the central nerve

center,” said Don Cline, chief,Hydrology Lab, Office ofHydrologic Development,National Weather Service, NOAA.“Other national centers do otherthings; this is the first in the waterrealm.”He went on to explain that his

department in Washington D.C.currently sends information to the122 weather forecast offices, ratherthan replicate the technology to runsophisticated models in each loca-tion. The 13 water offices run localmodels. “There are no large-scale mod-

els for them,” Cline said.Many critical decisions that save

lives and enhance the economyrely on timely, reliable water infor-mation. NOAA forecasts soilmoisture, snow pack and rain on aweekly, monthly or annual basis.They provide precipitation andevaporation information vital tocreating a water budget and usedas a guideline for agriculture, theconstruction trade, water resourcemanagers and the river transporta-tion industry.The new National Water Center

will strengthen the nation’s waterforecast capabilities not only byassisting NOAA to provide moreinformation about flooding, but

Enhancing Forecasting Abilities…

National Water Center Goes to College in Tuscaloosa

ALABAMA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

see NOAA page 2

Construction on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Integrated WaterResources Science and Services (aka the National Water Center) began in spring 2012 on theUniversity of Alabama (UA) campus in Tuscaloosa.

September 192012

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Page 2 • September 19, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

also by broadening their mission,allowing them to track droughtsand regions where the flow is toolow for ecosystems. “We’ve never had the capability

to provide this information before.This facility is the first of its kindand we’ll be doing new stuff,”Cline stated.The building will be used as a

consortium of cutting-edge waterresource integrated services withcomplementary operational mis-sions in water science, observation,prediction and management. Tocomplement the work of the agen-cies, the National Water Centerintends to create a reciprocal rela-tionship with UA and plans for thenew facility to provide avenues ofhydrological research to UA stu-dents and staff.“The research conducted at the

National Water Center at theUniversity of Alabama will be crit-ical to gaining an increased under-standing of our vital waterresources,” said Alabama Sen.Richard Shelby, on hand for thegroundbreaking ceremony. “ThisCenter will allow us as a nation tobetter predict and manage variouswater-related ecological problemswhile fostering nationwide collab-oration on water issues.”

Head Waters —Headquarters

When the new facility is com-pleted in May 2013, Cline esti-

mates nearly 200 staff will beonsite, with additional relation-ships across campus augmentingefforts. The initiative will seeIntegrated Water ResourcesScience and Services, the Corps ofEngineers and the U.S. GeologicalSurvey work together in the samelocation. “They identified the need for a

physical presence where the threeagencies work together. It savesmoney,” explained Cline. According to a NOAA press

release, “The growing need anddemand for better and timely waterforecast information and servicesrequires close partnerships amongfederal ‘water’ agencies, becauseeach brings a unique set of com-plementary tools and informationto the table. The necessary expert-ise and capabilities to addressincreasingly complex, multi-disci-plinary water resource issuesreside in more than 20 federalagencies and academia.”The new facility is owned by

NOAA, Cline said, although locat-ed on the UA campus. Fundingearmarked in 2009-2010 directedthem to build on campus, heexplained. “It’s an opportunity to have the

facility joined with students andfaculty related to water.” He also said that the unique

location provides opportunities fortraining experience and enablesthem to be “cutting edge” with

regard to R&D, although he saysthey will remain “mostly opera-tional, monitoring and forecastingthe nation’s resources.”However, locating the building

on Alabama’s oldest public univer-sity posed construction challenges. “Campus guidelines are nar-

row,” Cline noted. “The challengeis to fit the look of a pre-Civil Warcampus.”The University of Alabama is a

student-centered research universi-ty founded in 1831 as the state’sfirst public college, established byconstitutional provision understatutory mandates and authoriza-tions. In 1865 Union troops sparedonly seven of the buildings on thecampus. Of the principal buildingsremaining, the President’sMansion and its outbuildings stillserve as the president’s on-campusresidence. Other buildings havenew uses: Gorgas House, at differ-ent times the dining hall, facultyresidence, and campus hotel, nowserves as a museum. TheRoundhouse, originally a sentrybox for cadets, later a place forrecords storage, is a campus histor-ical landmark. The Observatory,now Maxwell Hall, is home to theComputer-Based Honors Program.Building footprint limitations

require a two-story structure with apartial basement. The steel struc-ture will feature a brick veneerfaçade with limestone columns, inkeeping with the period look, Clineindicated.

BuildingBudgeted at $18 million, the

63,000-sq.-ft. (52,676 sq. m) struc-ture will reflect sustainable designprinciples and meet the U.S. GreenBuilding Council’s Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design(LEED) Gold certification. Clinesaid water conservation and waterretention for irrigation are the tar-geted areas.Triune-Beck, Joint Venture V of

Dallas, won last year’s public bidon the design/build, fast-track proj-ect. Preliminary work has begun,Cline indicated. Site prep includeddemolition of a small building tomake way for the state-of-the-artfacility. Crews will be incorporating a

cut-and-fill technique on the rela-tively flat campus. “They’re not removing a lot of

dirt,” Cline said. “They’re doing alittle grade leveling, but it’s prettylevel, with only a four-foot slightgrade.” Dirt removed for the partial

basement will be incorporated in a“landscaping element,” he noted.Crews are currently working on

relocating the crisscrossing utili-ties. When the building is com-plete, it will tie in to the universi-ty’s utilities.Despite its 19th-century façade,

the new Center will feature mod-ern amenities, such as a high ener-gy-efficient cooling system anddaylight harvesting.

“It will have an open office styleinside, with clerestory windowsletting in light. Its triangular shapewill showcase a rotunda with a 12-ft. skylight. In addition, a large sky-light on a gable in the front of thebuilding lets in a lot of light,” Clineadded.The Water Center isn’t the only

construction project on the UAcampus. “The campus is growing and

upgrading — refurbishing,” Clinestates. “There are three or fourother buildings under construction.They’re very active in constructionright now.”This is one building that NOAA

staff “knew we needed,” Clinebelieves. “It’s an informationgame: where the water is, what it’sdoing and how long it will bethere.” The new facility will provide the

nation with consistent waterresources monitoring and forecastinformation, integrating and com-bining the capabilities of multiplefederal water partners to expandand improve river and flood fore-casting, enhance water resourcemanagement, accelerate the appli-cation of research to real-worlduses and provide a single portal forwater resources information.

(This story also can be foundon Construction EquipmentGuide’s Web site at www.con-structionequipmentguide.com.)CEG

Despite its 19th-century façade, the new Center will feature modern amenities, such as a highenergy-efficient cooling system and daylight harvesting.

NOAA Building First-of-Its-Kind Facility in TuscaloosaNOAA from page 1

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 19, 2012 • Page 3

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Page 4 • September 19, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 19, 2012 • Page 5

Page 4 • September 19, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 19, 2012 • Page 5

Page 6 • September 19, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

The Alabama State Department of Transportationreceived bids for transportation-related improvementprojects.Following is a list of some of the projects let.

County: JeffersonContract ID: IM-IMD-I020(325) and IM-I020(329)Project: Pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation on I-20 from I-59 in Birmingham to SR-4 (U.S. 78) in Leeds.Distance: 9.81 mi.Contractors And Bid Amounts:

• Dunn Construction Company Inc./Apac Mid-SouthInc. JV — $38,557,835

• Good Hope Contracting Company Inc. —$38,763,506

County: CoffeeContract ID:NHF-0012(544)Project:Additional lanes (partial grade and drain andpavement) on SR-12 (U.S.-84) from west of SR-141 toCR-362/SR-203 in Elba.Distance: 5.58 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• W. S. Newell & Sons Inc. — $14,787,502• McInnis Construction LLC — $15,349,925• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. —

$15,429,633

County: JacksonContract ID: BRF-0035(504)Project: Partial bridge replacement and approaches on SR-35 (SBR) over the Tennessee River.Distance: 1.39 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• HRI Bridge Corp. — $19,999,777• Scott Bridge Company Inc. — $20,395,993

County: DallasContract ID:HSIP-0008(566) and 99-306-245-008-202Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-8(U.S.-80) from east of SR-41 (MP 87.876) to west ofSoapstone Creek (MP 94.189) south of Selma.Distance: 6.31 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $4,316,904• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $4,899,781

County: PickensContract ID: EB-0006(542)Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-6(U.S.-82) from MP 16.822 in Reform to west of HollyCreek (MP 22.000).Distance: 5.17 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Apac Mid-South Inc. — $1,596,331• S. T. Bunn Construction Company Inc. — $1,695,003

County: LawrenceContract ID:NH-0020(514)Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-20

(U.S.-72 ALT) from west of SR-33 (MP 50.430) to east ofCR-383 (MP 56.700) in Hillsboro.Distance: 6.27 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $2,627,000• Reed Contracting Services Inc. — $2,689,736• Rogers Group Inc. — $2,700,208

County: FranklinContract ID:NH-0024(506)Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-24from 0.4 mi. east of SR-13 (U.S.-43) (MP 27.100) inRussellville to 0.2 mi. east of CR-83 (MP 32.700).Distance: 5.52 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Rogers Group Inc. — $2,792,249• Apac Mid-South Inc. — $2,969,226• Joe Keenum Excavation & Const. Inc. — $3,450,994

County: LimestoneContract ID:NH-HSIP-0002(554)Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-2(U.S.-72) from the Elk River Bridges (MP 59.657) to nearAthens (MP 72.300).Distance: 12.50 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Reed Contracting Services Inc. — $6,027,327• Joe Keenum Excavation & Const. Inc. — $6,887,867• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $7,121,933

County: EtowahContract ID: STPOA-0025(518) and STPAA-0025(526)

Project: Base, pave, partial grade and drain and resurfac-ing on the new location of SR-25 (U.S.-411) from theexisting four lanes in Gadsden to Turkeytown and on theexisting SR-25.Distance: 14.47 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Good Hope Contracting Company Inc. —$18,463,000

• McCartney Construction Company Inc. —$18,639,872

County: MarengoContract ID: EB-HSIP-0025(531)Project: Planing, resurfacing and traffic stripe on SR-25from the Meridian and Bigbee Railroad in Thomaston (MP21.020) to south of CR-12 (MP 30.354).Distance: 9.33 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Hosea O. Weaver & Sons Inc. — $1,885,098• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $2,166,920• Mobile Asphalt Company LLC — $2,200,000

County: BullockContract ID: STPOA-0623(200) and STPOA-0600(204)Project: Resurfacing and traffic stripe on CR-14 from CR-7 to SR-223 at Halls Crossroads and on CR-37 from theMontgomery County Line to SR-82Distance: 15.96 mi.Contractors and Bid Amounts:

• Asphalt Contractors Inc. — $1,640,670• Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. — $1,687,522

Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega • Calhoun • Russell • Walker • Lawrence • Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Morgan • Shelby• Bibb •Hale • Fayette • Marion • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • St. Clair• Chilton • Escambia• Montgomery • Jefferson • Russell • Fayette • Conecuh • Coffee • Geneva • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega •Bibb • Coffee • Calhoun • Russell • • Walker• Lawrence• Dekalb • Morgan • St. Clair • Tuscaloosa • Bibb• Hale • Fayette • Monroe •Clarke • Winston • Cullman • Shelby • Chilton • Chambers • Covington • Baldwin • Clarke • Monroe • Montgomery • Jefferson • Talladega

Alabama…

‘The Yellowhammer State’ Highway Project Lettings

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 19, 2012 • Page 7

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Page 8 • September 19, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide