January 31, 2022

The ENR community came out in droves to participate in the annual Year in Construction Photo Contest: as photographers and submitters, and even helping to select the gatefold cover.

Industry Leads for the Week of January 31, 2022

January 27, 2022

Information is derived from Industrial Reports, a market intelligence firm specializing in industrial construction.

Pulse: Project News for the Week of January 31, 2022

January 27, 2022

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Power Tools

Hilti Standardizes Cordless Tools on Nuron, Its New 22V Battery Platform

Initial launch includes 70 tools compatible with the redesigned batteries

Jeff Rubenstone

January 12, 2022

The 22V Nuron battery platform will be compatible with 70 new Hilti tools, from the lightest to the most-demanding applications.

Tech Startups

Wetlands Documentation App Ecobot Nets $2.8M in New Funding Round

Jeff Rubenstone

January 27, 2022

Wetlands documentation and compliance app maker Ecobot secured a $2.81-million funding round earlier this month, a sign construction tech investors see value in targeted solutions to specific workflow problems.

Hill International Former CEO Takes New Exec Role at Bureau Veritas

January 27, 2022

David Richter, who had led global cost and PM consultant, is new infrastructure project management COO at France-based testing, inspection and certification giant.

Facing Flood Cost Fallout, Canada Explores Insurance Changes

Scott Van Voorhis

January 27, 2022

Massive flooding that paralyzed British Columbia in November caught the province unprepared in more ways than one, with under insurance emerging as a major issue.

Oil and Gas Construction

Big Energy Projects Draw More Workers to Small Alberta Town

Scott Van Voorhis

January 16, 2022

Work near Edson on the $10B Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion, $1.8B expanded NGTL gas line and $1.2B Cascade Energy power plant has brought at least 2,500 workers to town, with housing scarce.

Whittaker_Federal_Courthouse_Kansas_City_MO_ENRwebready.jpg

Legal Issues

Kansas Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Veteran, Minority Ownership Fraud Scheme

January 11, 2022

One Comment

Matthew C. McPherson forfeited $5.5 million and was sentenced to more than two years in prison without parole.

Safety

The Unseen Fatal Demolition Accidents of 2021

Unplanned jobsite collapses and accidental falls continue to kill workers

Richard Korman

Jonathan Barnes

January 17, 2022

Many fatal demolition accidents recorded by OSHA involved sudden losses of support.

Materials

US Steel, Nucor Build Major Mills Amid Steelmakers' Modernization

Autumn Cafiero Giusti

January 14, 2022

The steelmakers chose Arkansas and West Virginia for their EAF mills.

Workforce

SCOTUS Hears Feds' Suit Over State Workers' Comp Law for DOE Nuke Site

January 13, 2022

High court will decide Biden challenge to Washington state's coverage expansion for Hanford contractor workers related to illnesses claimed from exposure to major toxics

COVID-19 and Construction

DOJ Defends Federal Contractor Vaccine Order to Atlanta Appeals Court

January 19, 2022

One Comment

Attorneys tell court in Jan. 18 brief that mandate is legal under US procurement law to insure "economical and efficient" contracting, but Cincinnati appeals court panel rejected argument on Jan. 5, despite strong dissent from Chief Justice. That court also is weighing merits of OSHA vaccine rule for large contractors, not in effect now under new US Supreme Court order.

Coronavirus and Construction

Court Moves Shift Focus to Federal Workers, Military in COVID-19 Vaccine Battle

January 22, 2022

Judge enjoins federal worker mandate over its reach, immediately appealed by U.S. Justice Dept., citing Biden's “constitutional authority to act as CEO of the executive branch,” while dispute over military vaccinations heats up.

Fire Safety

UK Building Owners Face Fire Safety Cladding Replacement Deadline

Peter Reina

January 14, 2022

Industry has until March to develop a plan and funding to replace on mid-height buildings the type of cladding linked to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London that caused 72 deaths.

Transit Construction

Stalled Maryland Light-Rail P3 Won't Open Until 2026, With Cost Up $1.4B

Jim Parsons

January 13, 2022

Purple Line's new JV contractor Dragados-OHL will start in spring as state approves its contract on Jan. 26. Construction tab now is $3.4B, with opening four years past original estimate, say officials.

Offsite Construction

First Modular Standards Aim at Consistency in Design, Construction, Regulation

Nadine M. Post

January 27, 2022

Salt Lake City adopted the nation’s first two consensus standards that address offsite construction last March, six months in advance of their publication by the International Code Council and the Modular Building Institute. Though ICC and MBI expect other jurisdictions to follow suit, to date there have been no other takers.

Equipment and Materials

Contractors Seek Out Latest Machines at World of Concrete

Jeff Rubenstone

Scott Blair

January 27, 2022

After a few uncertain years and a truncated event in 2021, the World of Concrete trade show brought together tens of thousands of contractors and construction equipment gearheads in Las Vegas on Jan. 18 to 21.

Infrastructure Act

IIJA Rollout Picks Up More Steam

States gain $5.3B for bridge program, with locks and dams, Everglades restoration and power transmission set for funding

January 27, 2022

As the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act moves into its third month on the books, the Biden administration is stepping up project spending.

Aerial view of coal ash waste spreading into an adjacent waterway on the photo's right side

Toxic Cleanup

EPA Coal Ash Cleanup Rule Changes Send Utilities, Agencies Back to Drawing Board

Corinne Grinapol

January 18, 2022

Agency said it will deny three utility extensions for unlined pond compliance over groundwater pollution risks, as part of larger agency push to strengthen regulation of power plant residuals disposal and facilities with improper storage.

Dams

Collaboration Yields Funds for Dam Safety and Upgrades

Groups often at cross-purposes find common ground in funding hydropower projects

Pam McFarland

January 24, 2022

Hydropower sector participants usually at odds—industry firms, dam safety groups and environmental advocates—now are finding common ground in project funding and new legislation.

Manufacturing

Intel's $20B 'Mega-Site' Is Latest Effort to Boost US Chip-Making

Jim Parsons

January 24, 2022

One Comment

Company estimates a $100-billion full build-out of the 1,000-acre site near Columbus, Ohio.

Power Construction

US Court Questions 102-Mile Transmission Project Over River Crossing

January 20, 2022

Federal judge allows construction for now on $492M Wisconsin-to-Iowa line in opponent challenge, but chides utilities and agencies over Mississippi River crossing permit flaws. Project, set to carry western renewable energy to markets, has support from one Wisconsin non-profit.

Government

NY Gov. Sets Industry Advisory Council to Fix Public Contracts Process

Panel, to include contractors and labor, will recommend revised rules on retainage, MWBE, other issues

January 21, 2022

Contractor, labor and other members will be named in 60 days, with recommended changes due in one year in four specific areas of state public contracting.

Construction Economics

Contractors' 2022 Outlook Turns Positive Despite Challenges, AGC Survey Shows

January 12, 2022

Associated General Contractors latest outlook is more positive for this year across most building segments.

Editorial

Public Works Serve as Symbols of Public Life

Richard Korman

January 27, 2022

Whether you consider California to be paradise, dystopia or both, the state is certain to be the beneficiary of the largest share of federal funding from the $1.2-trillion infrastructure act, about $45 billion.

Construction Economics for January 31, 2022

January 27, 2022