'Buy America' deal between Harper and Obama "very close."

A deal is imminent that will exempt Canada from the controversial Buy American provision included in the U.S. stimulus package. During Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit with U.S. President Barack Obama last week, Harper again made a pitch for an exclusion for Canada - the third time he has raised the issue face-to-face. Developing...

Toronto suffers another road collapse

When the road collapsed in late July hours after a heavy rainstorm, a couple of sinkholes resulted that were big and deep enough to swallow a four-storey building – or nine Chevy Impalas. Residents are being told now that repairs won't be completed until the end of next month.

St. John, New Brunswick gets water system makeover

The city of Saint John, N.B. is embarking on the first phase of a complete overhaul of the city’s water system. It’s the first step in a water revitalization project that will culminate in the construction of a new water storage and treatment plant over a period of 10 years at a projected cost of between $150 and $215-million.

Alberta launches borrowing plan for infrastructure projects

Debt-free Alberta moved ahead with a promise to borrow money to pay for infrastructure projects. The Progressive Conservative government issued $600-million in provincial bonds. Within minutes of the deal reaching capital markets, the issue had been fully subscribed.

Lakeshore, Ontario trades in cast-iron for PVC watermains

Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain smiles when he recalls showing taxpayers a cutaway from an old cast iron pipe — part of the town’s aged water system — thick with encrusted rust. That seemed to seal the deal with ratepayers who had balked when they learned they would pay an additional charge to dig up the average 60 year old lines and replace them with gleaming new PVC pipe.

P3 Canada issues call for projects

Canada’s federal public-private partnerships office has issued its first call for project submissions to be funded from the $1.2 billion P3 Canada Fund. The eligible projects under the P3 Canada Fund include construction, renewal or material enhancement of public infrastructure within several sectors.

Bridge made of recycled plastic supports 70-ton tank

The M1 Abrams is one of the heaviest main battle tanks - and therefore one of the heaviest ground vehicles - in current service, with modern examples generally tipping the scales at over 70 tons.

The recyclothermoplast material comes from makers Axion International, who developed it in cooperation with boffins at Rutgers University. The firm sees it as taking on many structural and building tasks in coming years, replacing "last-generation materials, such as wood, steel or concrete".