A 61% jump in the value of new residential projects couldn’t overcome sharp declines in the nonresidential and infrastructure categories, as the overall value of new Georgia contracts fell 11% in April, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. In all, the company estimated the state’s April contracts at roughly $718.3 million. Related Links: Florida Contracts Keep Building Momentum in April Nuclear Project Boosts Georgia's March Total for New Contracts During April, Georgia contractors gained $443.2 million of new residential work, well ahead of the year-ago volume of $275.8 million. But the nonresidential market fell by 51% to deliver just $199.8 million in

All three of Florida’s construction categories improved in April, combining for a 17% overall gain in the value of new contracts, compared to a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. In total, Florida contractors gained nearly $2.4 billion in new business during the month. Related Links: In March, Florida's Building Markets Soared, But Infrastructure Soured More ENR Southeast News The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure projects, jumped 27% and was the largest category for new work in April, with just over $1 billion in new contracts moving forward.At roughly half the volume, Florida’s nonresidential market generated an estimated $503.1 million

A 41% drop in the value of new nonresidential contracts pulled down North Carolina’s April total for new projects by 13% overall, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. In all, the company estimated the Tar Heel State delivered nearly $851.4 million in new contracts during the month. Related Links: Florida Contracts Keep Building Momentum in April Despite Housing Bump, Georgia Contracts Tumble 11% in April The nonresidential sector was the leading culprit for the state’s April decline. Its 41% drop resulted in nearly $196.8 million in new work, compared to the $335.4 million reported a year ago.North Carolina’s nonbuilding sector, which includes

An $8.5-billion nuclear powerplant project in Jenkinsville greatly boosted South Carolina’s April construction contracts total to nearly $9.4 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. By comparison, the monthly figure beat the state’s entire total for 2011, which had been estimated at $7.8 billion. (McGraw-Hill reports the full value of new contracts at the start of construction.) Related Links: North Carolina's Nonresidential Slump Continues in April Despite Housing Bump, Georgia Contracts Tumble in April Florida Contracts Keep Building Momentum in April Other infrastructure projects added more than $200 million to the nonbuilding category's total, for a final April tally of more than

In filing a motion on May 16 for a new trial against HDR Engineering over cracks at its Lithia, Fla., reservoir, Tampa Bay Water attorneys asserted judicial errors involving the exclusion of evidence and the failure to allow a jury site visit of the facility. Related Links: Jury Verdict for HDR Delivers Setback for Tampa Bay Water Slideshow: The Case HDR Made at Trial In a May 17 memo to the utility’s board of directors, Tampa Bay Water general counsel Barrie S. Buenaventura stated: “We believe Tampa Bay Water should be granted a new trial because the jury’s verdict is

A new law signed May 1 by Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) banning state and local governments from hiring firms with business activity in Cuba or Syria has put Odebrecht's Coral Gables office in the spotlight over its work in the Caribbean nation. Image courtesy Odebrecht Odebrecht is the developer and builder for the estimated $800-million Airport City project at Miami International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently reviewing plans for the mixed-use development. Image courtesy Odebrecht Airport City will include two hotels and office space, along with retail. Odebrecht's responsibilities include financing for the project. No public funding

E. Richard Capps Jr. was promoted to senior vice president for STV in Charlotte, N.C. Capps will continue as Southeast regional manager for the firm's transportation and infrastructure division. He has more than 20 years of experience in roadway design and construction. Related Links: More Southeast People News ENR Southeast's 'Top 20 Under 40' Also in Charlotte, Mark Robbins was promoted to vice president. He will continue as manager of STV's construction services group for the Southeast transportation and infrastructure division. Robbins has more than 20 years of experience managing bridge and roadway design projects.  GAMBLEDerek Gamble was promoted to

A Georgia-based prime contractor with offices in Alabama has defaulted and requested help from its surety for projects in Newnan, Ga., and Shelby County, Ala. Photo from www.newnancentre.com D. Dean & Associates helped celebrate the groundbreaking of the Newnan Convention Center project in Newnan, Ga. Now, the company has apparently defaulted on its work at the project. Related Links: Alabama Contractor Cries Foul After Termination by DOT More ENR Finance News Stories Columbus, Ga.-based D. Dean & Associates Inc. also had an office in Birmingham. Founder and President Danny Dean could not be reached for comment, but his company has

Reacting to regulators' concerns over new sinkhole activity near Tampa Bay Water's regional reservoir, utility general manager Gerald Seeber has advised the agency board that he is moving to cancel the planned $42-million expansion of the facility. The pending $121-million renovation of the existing 15.5-billion gallon reservoir may still proceed, although the schedule will likely be delayed. Image courtesy Tampa Bay Water A team of Kiewit Infrastructure Group and Gannett Fleming is design-builder of the planned $121-million renovation of Tampa Bay Water's 15.5-billion gallon C.W. "Bill" Young Regional Reservoir. Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Water Tampa Bay Water's $121-million "permanent fix"

The value of contracts in two of South Carolina’s three broad construction categories declined sharply in March, resulting in a 40% overall monthly decline in activity, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. Related Links: Tar Heel State Contracts Kick Up in March Nuclear Project Boosts Georgia Contracts Total Again in March In Florida, March Sees Building Markets Soar, Infrastructure Sour Overall, projects totaling about $462.4 million moved ahead in March. Residential proved the only positive sector for the month, as housing contracts totaled $344.5 million, or 17% better than the previous March.Nonresidential fell 81% in March. This category’s