Superstorm Sandy was behind the faulty electrical wiring that caused the Sept. 12 wind-swept blaze that destroyed part of the Jersey Shore's iconic boardwalk last week, officials say. Ocean County investigators have made that connection and determined that the fire was accidental, Joseph D. Coronato, Ocean County prosecutor, said in a Sept. 17 press conference aired in part on the Internet. The blaze originated in Seaside Park underneath a structure that housed the Biscayne Candies and Kohr's Frozen Custard shops and then spread to Seaside Heights, destroying more than 50 businesses. The team of 27 investigators and four accelerant-detection K9

As the investigation continues into the cause of last week's fire at N.J.'s Seaside Park and Seaside Heights's famous boardwalk, Gov. Chris Christie announced plans to tap Superstorm Sandy funds to help in recovery efforts from the devastating wind-swept blaze. The governor says the state will act "swiftly and aggressively" in the rebuilding effort for victims including the boardwalk businesses that took a direct blow from Sandy 11 months ago. Photo by Tim Larsen/Governor's Office Starting Over: Gov. Christie says the state will act "swiftly and aggressively" in the rebuilding effort for victims of the Sept. 12 Seaside Park and

The newly formed Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ), Edison, the state chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, plans to tackle about six legislative initiatives in the next year that will help create jobs and funding streams for industry, says Jack Kocsis, Jr., CEO. He declined to identify those initiatives but says they are among several others aimed at helping to grow New Jersey's economy. Photo Courtesy of ACCNJ New Board: From left to right, first row: Torcivia; Hall; Earp; Weeks; and (slightly behind) Creamer. Second row: Blanchard; Epifano; Natoli; and Ferreira. Third row: Parry; Prisco;

Federal regulators dealt a blow recently to Williams Partners L.P. in putting off a decision for six months on whether the firm's plans to build a 3.17-mile natural gas pipeline extension off the coast of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens is approved. Rendering Courtesy of Williams Partners L.P. Hanging On: The project includes building the meter and regulator stations inside one of the historic hangar buildings at Floyd Bennett Field and restoring the facade to that structure. Williams had planned to start work on the $182-million Rockaway Delivery Lateral Project this month but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said

Related Links: Rerouted Keystone Pipeline Path Back for Another Round The US Shale Boom Is Termed Globally Unique, But With Worldwide Impacts Williams Partners L.P. will have to wait six months to learn whether federal regulators will approve its proposed 3.17-mile natural-gas pipeline project off the coast of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens. Williams had planned to start work on the $182-million Rockaway Delivery Lateral Project this month. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said in August that it would complete the project's final environmental impact statement on Feb. 28, 2014, with a 90-day authorization decision deadline slated for

Joe Crupi spent a recent morning standing between two sites where several long trenches had been dug to make way for installing part of the water distribution system to the Manhattan leg of Water Tunnel No. 3. Within one of the trenches, tangles of rusted pipes had already been lifted over wooden crossbeams and moved aside to make way for a new 48-in.-dia trunk main below. On this particular section of the project on this particular summer day, some of the old-pipe relocation work was done; crews were navigating the rest of the job. Related Links: Long Road: Tunnels bored

Daytime television gained some viewers during the recession, which was not such a bad thing for some specialty contracting firms, says Zach McGuire, MasTec Inc. advanced technology group president.

Related Links: Climate Change Plan Offers Opportunities for Innovation Two U.S. Offshore Wind Teams Deploy Lidar Units Connecticut is developing a road map for other states to follow with the recent launch of the nation's first statewide microgrid pilot program, analysts say. The program, part of Gov. Dannel Malloy's (D) plan to harden infrastructure against future storms, aims to maintain electricity delivery to critical government services and businesses during large-scale power outages, such as the one that struck the state last October as a result of Superstorm Sandy.The initiative has secured $18 million in funding, primarily through the state's Dept.

A new study on New York City's institutional construction starts proves what most industry firms already knew: The "meds and eds" sector helped keep many firms afloat during the recession. Related Links: Higher-Ed Pipeline Sprouting Leaks? Groups Sue City for Approving NYU Expansion Plan Urban Upgrades: NYC's Universities Embark on Robust Capital Programs Progress Report: Renzo Piano's New Whitney Museum Weill Cornell Medical Research Building Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Renovation and Expansion The city's public and private institutions initiated $14.8 billion in construction work from June 2008 through May 2013, with the educational and health care sectors accounting for

The Associated General Contractors of New Jersey (AGCNJ) plans to merge soon with its sister group, the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey (BCANJ), says Thomas J. DiGangi Jr., AGCNJ executive director. Both groups, part of the AGC of America, are based in Edison. AGCNJ focuses on the marine, roads and bridges, utility and other heavy industry sectors. BCANJ serves the non-residential and residential building side and says it is the largest general building contractor and construction management organization in New Jersey.Jack Kocsis Jr., CEO of both groups, will take the helm of the merged group, which will be called