| Description | The story of the Transcontinental Railroad: its builders, and how the tunnels, trestles, and tracks of its 1,776 mile alignment were built, stands as one of the most important chapters in civil engineering history. Structures would have to be completed in remote and sometimes hostile areas, at unprecedented elevations, under extreme conditions, all while advancing armies of workers ever closer and closer to the roads final meeting point in Promontory, Utah. Completed 150 years ago in 1869; this presentation will explain how the right men, machines, and methods came together to build a railroad of unprecedented challenges. Raymond “Paul” Giroux received his BS in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University. He has worked for Kiewit Corporation for the past four decades and has been involved in building several civil engineering mega-projects throughout the United States. Paul serves on the Iowa State Civil Engineering Advisory Board, the TRB, and several national ASCE committees. Paul played a key role in the anniversary celebrations of the; Brooklyn Bridge, Hoover Dam, Golden Gate Bridge, Panama Canal, Grand Coulee Dam, and Transcontinental Railroad. Paul has presented over 300 lectures and seminars at over 65 engineering schools, and other professional venues. Paul’s awards include the ASCE; History and Heritage Award, the G. Brooks Earnest Award, and the Roebling Award. dditionally, Paul was awarded the AAES’s Norm Augustine Award in 2015. In 2016 Paul was elected as a Distinguished Member of ASCE and in 2017 he received the ASCE Roebling Award. Free pizza will be provided afterwards. |
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