URS Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., was selected to serve as the back-office toll system operator for the North Carolina Turnpike Authority’s Triangle Expressway project in the Raleigh-Durham area. Related Links: North Carolina Wins $545 Million in Federal Rail Grants North Carolina: 1% December Drop Adds Up to 28% ’09 Decline South Carolina: 18% December Drop = 36% ’09 Decline Carolinas AGC Presents Top Honors to Construction Leaders O’Neal to Construct FitesaFiberweb Expansion in Simpsonville, S.C. South Carolina Leaders Hope for I-73 Stimulus Dollars URS will be responsible for the startup, mobilization and management of the turnpike authority’s all-electronic toll collection

President Obama’s Budget for fiscal 2011 includes more than $4.9 billion in gross discretionary funding for the Civil Works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and about $1.8 billion in construction spending. Related Links: Danis Building Construction Co. Acquires R.N. Rouse & Co. of N.C. Hardin Announces Merger with Mathews Construction of Tampa Coral Gables, Fla.-based MasTec to Acquire Precision Pipeline Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, said the budget focuses on commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. The Army Civil Works program also addresses projects related

Danis Building Construction Co. of Jacksonville, Fla., has expanded its reach into the Carolinas with the acquisition of R.N. Rouse & Co., a commercial construction company headquartered in Goldsboro, N.C. According to Danis, Rouse has 90 employees and an annual revenue of $75 million, with additional offices in Wilmington and Cary, N.C. The company serves health-care, industrial, institutional and corporate clients in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Related Links: Obama’s Budget for USACE Civil Works Totals $4.9 Billion Hardin Announces Merger with Mathews Construction of Tampa Coral Gables, Fla.-based MasTec to Acquire Precision Pipeline According to Danis, the entire

Ajax Building Corp. of Fort Myers has broken ground on an $8.5-million Academic Center and Plaza for New College of Florida, the state honors college for the liberal arts and sciences in Sarasota. Related Links: FPL Halts Work on Nuclear, Modernization Projects $400-Million I-4/Selmon Connector Moves Ahead With Stimulus Funds Florida Contracts: 8% December Drop = 24% ’09 Decline Legoland Florida to Rise at Former Cypress Gardens Construction Starts on Everglades Restoration Project Tamiami Trail Skanska USA Selected as CM for FIU Stempel Complex Stiles to Develop, Build Nova Southeastern Educational Center Contractor to Replace Jet Fuel Tanks for NAVFAC

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that, according to its latest data, the value of new education starts in the four-state region of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas will total about $6.4 billion during 2010. + Image Source: McGraw-Hill Construction That forecast remains essentially unchanged from the company’s earlier prognosis for this sector. For the January Outlook issue of Southeast Construction, McGraw-Hill Construction had predicted roughly the same amount, $6.435 billion. The 2010 forecast of $6.4 billion for new education project starts would be approximately 5% higher than the company’s 2009 estimate for this category, of $6.2 billion. By

Fort Lauderdale-based Stiles has secured acquisition and construction financing to create Nova Southeastern University’s new 75,000-sq-ft Student Educational Center in Palm Beach Gardens. Related Links: FPL Halts Work on Nuclear, Modernization Projects $400-Million I-4/Selmon Connector Moves Ahead With Stimulus Funds Florida Contracts: 8% December Drop = 24% ’09 Decline Legoland Florida to Rise at Former Cypress Gardens Construction Starts on Everglades Restoration Project Tamiami Trail Skanska USA Selected as CM for FIU Stempel Complex Contractor to Replace Jet Fuel Tanks for NAVFAC in Jacksonville Ajax Building Starts New College of Florida Academic Center The company was set to break ground

The Carolinas Associated General Contractors announced the winners of its 2009 Pinnacle Awards for outstanding achievement in the commercial construction industry. The program recognizes both companies and projects. Related Links: North Carolina Wins $545 Million in Federal Rail Grants North Carolina: 1% December Drop Adds Up to 28% ’09 Decline South Carolina: 18% December Drop = 36% ’09 Decline O’Neal to Construct FitesaFiberweb Expansion in Simpsonville, S.C. South Carolina Leaders Hope for I-73 Stimulus Dollars URS to Operate North Carolina’s Triangle Expressway Toll Facility CT Wilson Construction Co. of Durham, N.C., was recognized as the “Best General Contractor.” The competition’s

Coral Gables, Fla.-based specialty contractor MasTec announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Precision Pipeline of Eau Claire, Wis., a natural gas, crude oil and refined products transmission pipeline infrastructure services provider, for approximately $150 million. According to MasTec, the deal is subject to certain purchase price adjustments and an earnout. The transaction is contingent on financing availability on terms and conditions acceptable to MasTec. Related Links: Obama’s Budget for USACE Civil Works Totals $4.9 Billion Danis Building Construction Co. Acquires R.N. Rouse & Co. of N.C. Hardin Announces Merger with Mathews Construction of Tampa Precision specializes

A long-awaited Everglades restoration construction project began in February on the western section of the Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. Related Links: FPL Halts Work on Nuclear, Modernization Projects $400-Million I-4/Selmon Connector Moves Ahead With Stimulus Funds Florida Contracts: 8% December Drop = 24% ’09 Decline Legoland Florida to Rise at Former Cypress Gardens Skanska USA Selected as CM for FIU Stempel Complex Stiles to Develop, Build Nova Southeastern Educational Center Contractor to Replace Jet Fuel Tanks for NAVFAC in Jacksonville Ajax Building Starts New College of Florida Academic Center The Tamiami Trail

Florida’s transition to more efficient and clean energy production hit a speed bump in January when Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL Group said it would immediately halt work on approved nuclear and modernization projects that collectively totaled as much as $20 billion. The sudden move came on the heels of the state Public Service Commission rejecting FPL’s requests for rate hikes totaling more than $1 billion. FPL Group Chairman and CEO Lew Hay cited the decision as evidence of a deteriorating regulatory climate in Florida that “is increasingly hostile to investment. Related Links: $400-Million I-4/Selmon Connector Moves Ahead With Stimulus Funds