North Carolina contractors saw a 50% increase in the value of new construction contracts during March, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The company estimated the state’s new contracts at nearly $1.5 billion, well ahead of the year-ago figure of $990 million. Related Links: In Florida, March Sees Building Markets Soar, Infrastructure Sour Nuclear Project Boosts Georgia Contracts Total Again in March All three construction categories posted solid gains. Most notable was the nonresidential sector, which totaled $528.4 million for the month—or more than double the amount tallied last March.Nonbuilding—which includes infrastructure projects—jumped 47% during the month, for an estimated total of

Two Florida high-school teams won the world championships of robotics engineering at an international competition held April 25-28 in St. Louis, Mo. The competition is sponsored by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an organization founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen. Related Links: Blog: Robotics Engineering's World Championships ENR's Workforce News A team comprised mostly of engineering students from Middleton High School in Tampa, Fla., won the division in which robots were required to collect balls, place them into crates and then elevate them as high as possible. The Hillsborough County engineering magnet school is a certified

Despite strong improvement in Florida’s building markets, the state’s March total for new construction contracts fell 24% overall due to a sharp drop in the pace of infrastructure project starts. McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, publisher of ENR Southeast, estimated the value of new March construction contracts at just over $2 billion. Despite the sizeable decline, builders had plenty to cheer in March. Nonresidential contracts tallied $692.2 million for the month, or 45% better than last March’s $477.8 million. And residential contracts roared to life as well, increasing by 43% to totally nearly $1.1 billion.The nonbuilding sector—which includes infrastructure—dropped considerably, however. March’s

The start of construction at Plants 3 and 4 for Southern Co.’s Vogtle nuclear power plant project boosted Georgia’s contract totals to great heights in March, with McGraw-Hill Construction reporting the state’s latest monthly total at more than $9.3 billion. Related Links: In Florida, March Sees Building Markets Soar, Infrastructure Sour As a result, McGraw-Hill tallied Georgia’s nonbuilding category—which includes energy and infrastructure projects—ended up at nearly $8.6 billion for the month. A year ago, the nonbuilding sector recorded $123.5 million in new projects. (McGraw-Hill Construction previously reported $1.5 billion of Vogtle-related site work as starting last October.)The other two

McGraw-Hill Construction estimates that the value of new Georgia construction contracts tallied more than $867.6 million during February, a 19% gain compared to the same period of a year ago. Related Links: Florida Contracts Pick Up the Pace in February The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure and energy contracts, recorded an estimated $163.2 million in new contracts during February, a 44% gain compared to a year ago. Residential contracts totaled $351.9 million during the month, a 34% improvement. Nonresidential recorded the highest total of the three categories for February. However, its $352.5 million total was flat compared to last February.Through

A significant improvement in the residential category pushed North Carolina’s February total for new construction contracts to a 24% monthly gain, compared to the same period of a year ago. McGraw-Hill Construction estimated the value of all February contracts at nearly $1.2 billion. Related Links: Florida Contracts Pick Up the Pace in February Georgia Contracts Up 19% in February Housing contracts tallied $646.2 million in February, a 69% jump compared to last year. The nonbuilding category, which includes infrastructure projects, eked out a 3% increase for the month with about $218.2 million in new contracts. The nonresidential market fell 14%,

A surge in the value of new building contracts pushed South Carolina’s February total for new contracts to a 39% overall improvement for the month, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The company estimated the state’s new contracts at about $743.3 million for the month. Related Links: Florida Contracts Pick Up the Pace in February Georgia Contracts Gain 19% in February Residential Drives North Carolina Contracts to 24% February Gain Nonresidential contracts increased the most, jumping by 88% to total nearly $304.2 million. Residential projects provided another boost, improving by 55% for the month for $351.7 million in new work. The nonbuilding

The value of new Florida construction contracts improved by 25% in February, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. The company estimated the value of new contracts at nearly $1.7 billion; last February, Florida registered roughly $1.3 billion in new projects. All three broad construction categories experienced increases during February. Residential contracts jumped the highest on a percentage basis, increasing by 36% to total more than $868.8 million for the month. The nonbuilding category, which includes infrastructure projects, improved by 29% for a $409.3 million total. And the nonresidential category recorded $408.1 million in new contracts, or 6% better

Eugene A. "Gene" Conti Jr., secretary of the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation since 2009, is fighting the battle for transportation funding on multiple fronts, including a role in a Federal Highway Administration pilot program that could enable tolls on the state's 182-mile stretch of Interstate 95 as a way to pay for upgrades. Photo courtesy North Carolina DOT North Carolina DOT Secretary Gene Conti is leading the state in an effort to widen its entire stretch of I-95 and paying for it with tolls. Related Links: Owner of the Year: North Carolina DOT The state already is building a