October 18, 2021

For the first time since the 2010 housing crisis, total revenue for Top 600 firms decreased. Read the complete report about productivity, costs, bottlenecks—and what executives say.

AEC Sector Top and Bottom Line Bright Spots Seen, But Risks Also

Debra K. Rubin

October 14, 2021

Recent analyst reports for design, construction and equipment firms note signs of recovering demand and still solid profit based on reduced expenses, but also warn on overestimating growth

Pulse: Project News for the Week of October 18, 2021

October 13, 2021

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Dept. is planning to carry out the Gill Street and Railroad Overpass improvement project in Little Rock.

Automation

Gilbane and NeXtera Robotics Form JV to Boost Robots on Jobsites

Plans are set to roll out robots to new sites in coming months

Jeff Rubenstone

October 4, 2021

Contractor will jump from pilots to full deployment of a jobsite robotics platform developed with robotics startup NeXtera.

Clean Energy Construction

NJ Utility PSEG Adds Hundreds of Millions in New Infrastructure Spend

September 30, 2021

Giant power provider's investment in grid clean energy and modernization now nears $17 billion through 2025, its CEO told investors on Sept. 29. Ralph Izzo supports Democrats' controversial Clean Electricity Performance Program, contained in the pending $3.5T reconciliation bill.

Energy Construction

Pennsylvania Developer Officially Tanks 1,000-MW Gas Powerplant

October 10, 2021

Robinson Power Co. cancelled huge Pittsburgh-area facility, which won state permits dating to 2017, after environmental groups challenged it as a “zombie” project that missed construction deadlines and lost grid access.

Connecticut High Court OKs Building $700M Gas-Fired Power Plant

September 30, 2021

Ruling denied opponents' claim that state had to concurrently review impacts of a feeder natural gas line with NTE's 650-MW plant, but two judges did not concur

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Legal Issues

EEOC Sues Whiting-Turner Over Black Worker Treatment at Tennessee Google Project

October 7, 2021

The federal civil rights lawsuit alleges the contractor created a racially hostile work environment and fired employees who complained.

Builder of $2.5B Gas Liquids Pipeline Faces 48 Pa. Criminal Charges

Debra K. Rubin

October 8, 2021

Energy Transfer LP is cited for drilling fluid leaks into groundwater and surface waters on 350-mile Mariner East project, incidents unreported to state regulators; contractors were not charged, but the owner has not commented.

Canada Cites US Treaty in Battle Over Line 5 Pipeline Shutdown

October 6, 2021

Push to end Michigan shutdown of the cross-border oil-gas line comes as owner aims to bid new contract by mid-October to build an estimated $500M replacement tunnel.

Roads and Bridges

Oklahoma DOT Plans $7.7B in Construction Projects Over 8 Years

October 6, 2021

ODOT adds 300 projects worth nearly $2 billion to its eight-year plan.

Public Works

$1.7B Boston Highway Project Takes Big Leap Forward

The highway reconfiguration and redevelopment project involves tearing down a 1960s MassPike viaduct

Scott Van Voorhis

October 3, 2021

Massachusetts transportation officials will pursue plans to tear down a 1960s MassPike viaduct as part of the massive highway reconfiguration and redevelopment project.

Prisons

Alabama to Use $400M in COVID-19 Relief Funds for $1.3B Prison Construction Program

October 4, 2021

Alabama plans to build two 4,000-bed prisons for men and a 1,000-bed prison for women to replace aging facilities federal officials have called unsafe.

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Study: Cost-Benefit Analyses for Projects Are 'Worse than Worthless'

Peter Reina

October 8, 2021

UK researchers find the benefit-cost ratios for various project types are overestimated by between 50% and 200%

Construction Materials

Trade Representative Signals No Thaw in Trade Relations With China, Tariffs to Remain

Tariffs on steel, other goods continue as administration embraces much of predecessor's approach

Jeff Yoders

October 5, 2021

Tariffs on construction materials, other goods, to continue as Biden embraces combative approach.

Rendering of embassy building surrounded by roadways and waterways

Federal Buildings

Pernix Federal Wins $319M Contract for US Consulate in Nigeria

October 7, 2021

Project site is in Eko Atlantic, a city being built on reclaimed land.

Intel Chandler Arizona manufacturing plant

Advanced Manufacturing

Intel $20B Arizona Plant Expansion Aimed at Fixing Microchip Shortage

October 4, 2021

One Comment

Previous projects at Intel facility required special construction considerations to deal with the heat.

Electric Vehicles

Ford Will Spend $11.4B on Tennessee, Kentucky EV Plant Projects

October 1, 2021

Automaker will build electric vehicle assembly and battery plant campus in Tennessee, plus a pair of battery factories in Kentucky.

Lawsuits

NYC Supertall Tower Condo Board Sues Over Alleged Construction, Design 'Defects'

September 29, 2021

Residents of the 1,396-ft-tall 432 Park Avenue in Manhattan seek $250 million in compensation for alleged building flaws.

White House Reverses Trump Administration NEPA Cutbacks

Debra K. Rubin

October 7, 2021

industry groups fear risk of new project delays with Biden-promised rules to restore indirect and cumulative environmental impact review, with comment on new changes due in late November

Amazon Attacks Affordable Housing Crisis Via $2B Loan Fund

Nadine M. Post

October 13, 2021

Amazon’s $2-billion Housing Equity Fund is revving up to help preserve and develop 20,000 affordable housing units by the end of 2025.

Nerves of Steel Needed as Firms Face Volatile Prices, Broken Contracts and Price-Gouging

Inflation and supply-chain issues create numerous conflicts and complications

October 7, 2021

Owners and contractors engage in guessing game over delivery dates and future prices.

Federal Funding

Congress Votes to Avert Shutdown, Adds $29B for Post-Disaster Rebuilds

Biden signs measure into law, hours before deadline

September 30, 2021

Stopgap spending bill extends through Dec. 3.

Federal Funding

House Bill Has Continuing Resolution, $29B for Disaster Relief, but No Highway Stopgap

September 21, 2021

Package also would suspend debt limit, drawing heavy GOP opposition.

Construction Workforce

Construction Adds 22,000 Jobs in Sept., as All Sectors Post Gains

October 8, 2021

All three major construction sectors added jobs in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Collective Bargaining

UPDATE: Wash. State Carpenters Narrowly OK Three-Year Contract

Tim Newcomb

October 12, 2021

Northwest Carpenters Union pact with contractors that includes a 15.43% wage and benefits hike is approved by 54% majority, with a strong online and strike site opposition campaign.

Employee Resource Groups and Immigrants

Viewpoint: Now I Bring My Full Self to Work

Maryam Ghatee

October 13, 2021

Why fitting in at the office isn't the easiest thing for immigrants.

Construction Economics for October 18, 2021

October 13, 2021