Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many municipal challenges. It’s an opportunity to make a community a vibrant destination for residents and visitors – a place where people don’t just live and work but an environment where everyone can appreciate the outdoors. Understanding bicycling and walking activity, preferences, and trends is critical…
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As we’ve transitioned into Spring, you probably have noticed more construction signs and orange traffic barrels along the roadway. April 26 marks the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). It is an annual campaign to spread awareness for work zone safety and to encourage safe driving. This year’s theme for NWZAW is “Drive Safe. Work…
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Did you know that pavement markings are not as simple as you might think? Pavement markings are used to convey many different messages to the driver, signaling which part of the road to use and where passing is allowed. Pavement markings use two primary indicators – color and line style – to relay information to…
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Sain provides Construction Engineering & Inspection (CE&I) services for roadway projects, including bridges, resurfacing, widening, signals, drainage, and sidewalks. Over the last several years, Sain has helped cities with their CE&I duties as they hire contractors to build new bridges. Our CE&I staff is experienced with bridge inspections and construction administration, having worked on over…
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In last week’s blog, we looked at several factors that may be contributing to an increase in fatality rates per miles driven since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It’s important to think about what we can do to reduce the risk of death or serious injury in road crashes. How can safety professionals address the “new…
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For several months, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended everyday routines and greatly impacted our health and economy. Typically, as economic activity declines, travel decreases, and the risk of being involved in a road collision also decreases. However, recent data from the National Safety Council (NSC) shows otherwise – emptier but riskier roads. Preliminary estimates from…
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“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are…
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The beginning of spring signals the start of road construction’s busy season. Road construction crews will begin popping up around the state to repair streets, roads, highways, and bridges. Although work zones play a critical role in providing a safe area for workers, they can be a major cause of congestion. In some instances, many…
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Engineers and planners face a variety of challenges when planning and designing new roadways. Although many of these challenges apply to the widening and expansion of existing roads, certain obstacles are unique to roadways along new alignments. When planning for roadway design projects, it’s helpful to have a general understanding of potential barriers so delays,…
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The Greater Birmingham Regional Planning Commission hosted the Federal Highway Administration’s Designing Streets for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Workshop on February 20th and 21st. I had the opportunity to attend as a representative of Sain Associates, along with other consultants and individuals from local municipalities and organizations. The two-day workshop was centered on bicycle and…
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