LAS VEGAS — As oil prices rise and refineries adopt new technologies, industry experts are seeing a direct impact on the costs for states to build and maintain roads and highways. According to the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the lower “initial bid” of asphalt roads has disappeared, yet industry experts say many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have not changed their bidding policies.

   WASHINGTON, D.C. — The ARTBA Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Transportation Development Hall of Fame. The hall honors individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to U.S. transportation development or demonstrated exceptional leadership over their lifetime.

   INDIAN RIVER, DEL. — One lane of southbound traffic on the Indian River Inlet Bridge opened to passenger traffic on Friday, Jan. 20. In the next several days, one northbound lane will be open to vehicular traffic. Demolition work will then begin on the old bridge.

  DENVER — Pueblo’s 4th Street Bridge Project was presented with the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Environmental Excellence Project Award at the monthly meeting of the Colorado Transportation Commission. The new 4th Street Bridge, which crosses over 28 active railroad tracks, the Arkansas River, a pedestrian and bike path, and city street, was constructed adjacent to the 1958 structure it replaced. The construction team used a cast-in-place cantilever method, wetland pad, river barrier, bridge removal decking over the river, onsite dewatering, and other innovative methods to avoid or minimize impacts to the surrounding environment, including wetlands, water quality, historic resources, and migratory birds.

   COLUMBIA, S.C. — Florence & Hutcheson (F&H), a Columbia, S.C.-based engineering firm focused on designing and strengthening America’s civil infrastructure, received an Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina (ACEC/SC) for the US 378 Bridge over Great Pee Dee River Bridge Replacement Project.

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $77 million in grants to 22 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation. The UTCs, which are located throughout the United States, conduct research that directly supports the priorities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

   RICHMOND, VA. — Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the Dominion Boulevard project, a significant transportation improvement to ease congestion and improve safety in Chesapeake, Va., will move forward as a result of financing provided by the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (VTIB).

  URBANA, ILL. — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a grant of $3.5 million to a multi-university consortium led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to establish a rail transportation and engineering research center. Headquartered within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois, the National University Rail (NURail) Center will focus on rail education and research to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability. Particular focus will be on challenges associated with rail corridors in which higher-speed passenger trains share infrastructure with freight trains.