A rainstorm, a flood, children trapped in a minivan. Rushing water sweeps a senior citizen into a sewer. The shocking nature of the deaths belie the bigger issues involving neglected urban infrastructure and the potential liability of engineering consultants.Personal injury attorneys often file lawsuits that engineering companies and engineers consider frivolous. These "shotgun" lawsuits really are attempts to intimidate the engineers into a settlement, insurance broker Jeffrey Cavignac wrote years ago, because the cost of defending against the lawsuits can easily surpass any fees earned on the project and it's cheaper to give in.How does a long-neglected piece of urban
Related Links: Pa. Turnpike Commission Grand Jury Report Despite the use of contract award procedures that in theory were objective, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission executives working with key political allies in the state's Democratic party routinely made selections of engineers and contractors based on gifts and political contributions, according to a state grand jury report released March 13.Seated in 2009, the Harrisburg grand jury over the years consulted dozens of witnesses and documents. It charged former Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chief Executive Joseph Brimmeier with violating the state ethics law. He was arraigned before a state judge in Harrisburg March 14 for
Saying that it recognized revenue from change orders on demolition work too soon, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. is restating its financial results for 2012, negotiating with lenders after breaching its credit agreements and parting ways with Bruce Biemeck, its president and chief operating officer, the company said.Biemeck’s departure “was not for cause,” said Jonathan Berger, the company’s chief executive, during a teleconference March 15 with stock analysts who follow the company.William Steckel, who replaced Bruce Biemeck as chief financial officer in August 2012, remains with the company.Great Lakes (GLDD-NASDAQ) says it is the biggest dredging contractor in the
Related Links: Redesign Required For $4.1-billion Project's Pontoons Robynne Parkinson's blog post on the pontoon problems A poorly implemented project-delivery process that combined design-build and conventional design-bid-build created confusion that opened the door to faulty design work on the first four pontoons for Seattle's new Lake Washington floating bridge project, according to an internal analysis of the problems prepared for the Washington State Dept. of Transportation.The errors could add millions in costs and extend the project deadline, state officials say, compromising anticipated savings from the use of design-build to speed the overall project completion. Replacing the bridge is a priority
Related Links: Dayton Daily News Story on Sturgill's Heat Stroke Citations A Dayton, Ohio-based roofing contractor is contesting U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration citations after a 60-year-old worker died last August from complications caused by heat stroke on an 82-degree F day.The temporary employee of A.H. Sturgill Roofing Inc. had been working in direct sunlight on a commercial flat roof in Miamisburg, throwing rubber roofing material into a dump truck on the ground, according to OSHA. The employee, who was not named, had to be hospitalized Aug. 1 and died 21 days later.The two serious violations are for failing
DPR Construction, the California-based building contractor and construction manager that has built itself into a $2-billion-a-year business on high-tech construction and a push for innovation, is making moves to expand its footprint. And the company’s first step in that direction is starting in the Southeast. Photo: NY Focus Photography DPR Construction built the Max Planck Florida Institute project, located in Jupiter, Fla. Related Links: California-based DPR is Set to Buy Hardin Construction In its first major purchase, DPR announced last month that it plans to buy Hardin Construction Co. LLC, the Atlanta-based general contractor. DPR, based in Redwood City, plans
Related Links: How DPR Construction Pushes Innovation and Industry Change-ENR Contractor Business Quarterly DPR Construction, the building contractor and construction manager that has built itself into a $2-billion-a-year business on high-tech construction and a push for innovation, appears to be trying something else relatively new—a big acquisition.In its first major purchase, DPR announced Jan. 18 that it plans to buy Hardin Construction Co. LLC, the Atlanta-based general contractor that would further boost the Calfornia firm's national scope.DPR, based in Redwood City, plans to buy 100% of Hardin shares from its manager-owners in a move that expedites regional growth.DPR ranks at
Baybutt.com Nantucket Memorial Airport was one of the first projects on which Baybutt Construction Co. was terminated. This photo is from a gallery of project photos on Baybutt's website. Clients are cutting ties to Baybutt Construction Corp., the Keene, N.H.-based general contractor that has been doing business in New England since 1964. Most of the contracts are small but the apparent failure of Baybutt may signal another, more perilous year for recession-weakened construction companies, say people familiar with contracting and Baybutt's troubles.Commissioners of the Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts voted to terminate Baybutt Dec. 11 from a $4.5-million contract to
Hoping to make itself a key player in high-voltage transmission and substation contracting, Granite Construction Inc. announced Dec. 28th an agreement to acquire Kenny Construction Co. for $130 million.
