The article “Rising Above” in the November 2018 issue of the magazine by The American Society of Civil Engineers features historical and modern information on the Bayonne Bridge, which originally opened in 1931. Stretching across Staten Island, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey, the bridge was once the largest steel arch bridge in the world with a span of 1,675 feet, and its significance led to its designation as an ASCE historic civil engineering landmark in 1985.

The Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Project was tasked with expanding the bridge’s height to accommodate newer, taller ships. According to the article, the notable undertaking started with a feasibility study “that addressed and documented 41 options that were evaluated for technical feasibility, constructability, environmental impact, schedule, and cost.” A tunnel was initially considered as a different option, but the Port Authority decided not to demolish the landmark and update it as it stands instead.

​Design began in 2011, when civil engineers began working to rehabilitate and strengthen the arch, planning for new roadways, and thinking of ways to stage construction that still allowed commuters to continue using the bridge during the project. The roadway project was completed in February of 2017 and it received the American Council of Engineering Companies 2018 Grand Conceptor Award in April of 2018 for the project’s economic benefit, scale, and complexity. Workers are still putting up the final touches on the bridge, with completion projected for mid-2019.
More details and pictures of this impressive project, as well as the complete article, are available here at the ACSE website.

In a publication by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a study takes a look at ways to expand housing opportunities through inclusionary zoning (IZ). The study, conducted by the Urban Institute in 2012, focused on two counties in Maryland and Virginia to examine the effectiveness of IZ programs.

Inclusionary zoning requires builders of new residential developments to set aside a certain percentage of housing units for low-income residents. The Urban Institute found that counties implementing inclusionary zoning had stronger housing markets as long as programs are kept up to date with affordability levels and unit requirements. Research into housing agencies’ and nonprofit organizations’ use of IZ-produced units can help developers understand how to sustain and extend IZ affordability in other counties.

Although the study concludes more research is necessary to evaluate the costs and benefits of IZ programs, it shows that IZ programs provide important aid to those who need it. If more regions choose to implement IZ practices, the benefits of high-quality school districts and employment opportunities will become more easily accessible to residents who rely on affordable housing availability.  

To learn more, check out the complete report, "Expanding Housing Opportunities Through Inclusionary Zoning: Lessons from Two Counties."