Officials don't want COVID-19 to sidetrack a key economic driver, but western megaproject sites are sending workers home. Confirmed cases rose on March 22 to 1,302 from 1,099 a day earlier.
Exceptions for construction work are broadly defined in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin coronavirus orders, Michigan's is narrower
Construction in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin is seen as essential infrastructure, so work continues on most sites in those states. Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas's orders broadly exempt outdoor activities. Michigan's order includes public works construction as essential.
Thousands of state construction sites will close for an indefinite time. California also ordered residents home, but it's unclear if construction is included; NY's expanded offsite rule exempts industry firms.
Projects continue for now even as COVID-19 drops ridership and the future is cloudy, but agencies prepare planned jobs to be ready for anticipated federal stimulus.
Confusion grew in California as businesses struggled to understand locally issued shelter-in-place and other COVID-19 related directives and orders that onsite work could continue only at “essential” or vital services, which make exceptions for certain construction.