The Colorado Dept. of Transportation begins work in mid-March on its first continuous flow intersection (CFI) project at the U.S. 160/550 west intersection near Durango. Map courtesy of CDOT The CFI reconfigures the highway by allowing vehicles to cross to the left side of the highway before the intersection. CFIs reduce congestion and increase safety at high-traffic intersections, based on other CFIs constructed nationwide. The first CFI in Colorado was built in 2010 by the city of Loveland on Madison Avenue for access onto Eisenhower Blvd./U.S. 34. The one near Durango is the first CFI on a Colorado state highway.“This

Hispanic Contractors of Colorado presented its major awards to two Latina leaders at the association’s 24th Annual Banquet on March 8 at the Denver Grand Hyatt. Photo courtesy of HCC Judy Montero (right), Denver City Council, District 9, is presented with the Public Achievement Award by HCC 2014 President Lloyd Herrera, HCL Engineering & Surveying; and Maja Rosenquist, vice president and general manager of Denvers Mortenson Construction. Photo courtesy of HCC Angie Rivera-Malpiede (right), RTD director, District C, was presented with the Community Advocate Award by HCC 2014 President Lloyd Herrera, HCL Engineering & Surveying; and Maja Rosenquist, vice president

Gains in the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Confidence Index (CCI) indicate that contractor confidence expanded as 2013 wound to a close, particularly with respect to near-term industry profit margins and staffing levels. The CCI measures construction prospects along three dimensions—revenues, profit margins and hiring. All three indices remained above the threshold value of 50, which indicates growth, and each is up on a year-over-year basis, as follows:• Sales expectations rose from 63 to 63.2.• Profit margin expectations surged from 55.3 to 57.5.• Staffing level intentions grew from 60 to 62.2.“Brutal winter has wrought havoc upon many major markets and

Denver-based developer Continuum Partners, one of the master developers of Union Station, is planning a high-profile, mixed-use development that will be a key piece of Denver’s new Union Station neighborhood. Rendering by Semple Brown Design and BOKA Powell, courtesy of Continuum Partners A view of the new development from 16th Street shows both the hotel (left) and the office building. Rendering by Semple Brown Design and BOKA Powell, courtesy of Continuum Partners View from the Union Station: The Kimpton-operated hotel is the taller building on the right, with the office building and ground-floor retail and restaurants on the left. The

Nearly 2,800 people attended the Associated General Contractors of America convention in Las Vegas in early March. Here are some of the highlights. Photo by The HorvathGroup, courtesy of AGC AGC of Americas 2014 president is Alan Landes, president/CEO of rail and heavy/highway firm Herzog Contracting Corp., St. Joseph, Mo. Photo by The HorvathGroup, courtesy of AGC AGCs annual community project, Horses 4 Heroes, offers riding and animal care programs to veterans, first responders and their families. New Leadership, InitiativesBoosting infrastructure spending will be part of the agenda for incoming AGC President Alan Landes, president/CEO of rail and heavy/highway firm

The Associated General Contractors of America awarded Littleton-based LONG Building Technologies Inc. a national community service award at the association’s 2014 national convention in early March. LONG was honored for donating time and money to a Denver homeless shelter. As a result, the construction firm was one of 10 organizations nationwide to win the AGC in the Community Award from Charities Inc., the charitable arm of AGC. LONG’s employees have been donating time and money for years to the Denver Rescue Mission, which provides meals, rehabilitation, mentoring and housing to thousands of people each year.In 2013 the company provided $10,000

The Colorado Chapter of Society for Marketing Professional Services presented its 2014 Marketing Excellence Awards on February 13. The annual competition is the longest-standing awards program recognizing excellence in marketing and communications by professional services firms in Colorado’s design and building industry. The following members were recipients of individual awards:• Leonardo Award: Amy Hopkins, Espy Marketing
The Leonardo Award is given by SMPS Colorado to honor achievement at the highest level the A/E/C industry marketing and business development. This year’s winner, Hopkins, is a veteran executive-level strategic marketer with 25 years of experience in the technical services field. She specializes in

The Associated General Contractors of America recently honored Salt Lake City’s Airport Light Rail extension as the most significant construction project of 2013. The project’s contractors, Stacy and Witbeck and Kiewit Western, won the Grand Award at the Alliant Build America Awards at AGC’s national convention in Las Vegas in early March. Photo courtesy of UTA The 6.2-mile light rail extension connects Salt Lake International Airport with downtown Salt Lake City. The project also earned a merit award in the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category and was recognized as an AGC in the Community Award winner.The Utah Transit Authority

The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) hit a post-recession high in the fourth quarter of 2013, growing from 8.2 months to 8.3 months (1.3%). Compared to a year ago, CBI is 3.9% higher—up from 8 months at the end of 2012. The CBI is a leading indicator that reflects the amount of construction work under contract but not yet completed. A lengthening backlog implies expanding demand for construction services.“CBI indicates that the final three quarters of 2013 were a period of progress for nonresidential construction,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Although other indicators have not been

The $51-million upgrade and expansion of the 40-year-old University of Colorado Boulder Recreation Center has been a real workout for contractors, led by Centennial, Colo.-based Saunders Construction Inc. Crews gutted the original 235,242-sq-ft building on the Boulder campus and are replacing electrical and mechanical systems as well as adding 70,000 sq ft of new space. The project's mechanical upgrades include one of the most sophisticated, sustainable air-displacement systems ever used in a university rec center. Working as the project's general contractor, Saunders is building the project to net-zero LEED Platinum standards and says it expects to achieve the Platinum rating.