Jan/Feb 2021 Editor’s Note for American Infrastructure Magazine

Hello Readers in print and online, 

Welcome to 2021 (and good riddance to 2020). We are delighted to show you our January/February issue of American Infrastructure Magazine! With the new year we bring a sense of optimism and determination — ready to progress some of what wasn’t accomplished in the previous year due to the pandemic. 

In this issue, many of our industry experts say that now is the time to act. With a new Congress, government officials must work together to create bipartisan national infrastructure legislation. 

The nation needs an impactful infrastructure bill that can help address aging roads, bridges, water infrastructure and more that have to be repaired or even replaced. APWA President and City of Ventura, Calif. Deputy Public Works Director Mary Joyce Ivers, share what Congress must do in the next year to help public works move forward in 2021. 

Charles Stevens, the Water Environment Federation chair of the government affairs committee, also highlights the need of focusing on water infrastructure. “The coronavirus pandemic is having a severe impact on water and wastewater utilities across the country, with some systems suffering pandemic-induced revenue losses of millions of dollars, or more than 15%,” says Stevens. 

At the state and local level, governors and city officials continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on various sectors of the industry. Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, stresses that broadband access is a priority in her state, since the pandemic highlighted the need for access to reliable, high speed internet. Meanwhile, Mayor Jim Kenny of Philadelphia highlights his Vision Zero Action Plan 2025, which will lead to how the city will address transportation and infrastructure locally.

This month we also carry the theme of notable bridges and roads. Hence, we feature the Dublin Link, the longest single tower “S” shaped suspension bridge in the world. Located in Dublin, Ohio this pedestrian bridge serves as an important connector for many buildings in the city as it allows bicyclists and pedestrians to go across the Scioto River. 

Another bridge that is featured this month is the Manning Crevice Bridge in Riggins, Idaho. The Manning Crevice Bridge serves as an essential replacement to the previous bridge which was created back in 1934. 

With the year just beginning, there’s so much left in store. If you know about any upcoming projects, you can send me a message at sophia@builder.media and let us know more about it. Your feature might just be what we cover next, and may be even on our next magazine cover! 

Best, 

Sophia Acevedo