Our Publications

The North Carolina Dept. of Labor issued fines to two Charlotte-based companies for safety violations after three workers fell to their deaths and two others were injured in January.

Water Projects

Corps, Utility Reach $1B Deal for Permanent Puerto Rico Dam Fix

Michael Powell

July 7, 2023

Collaboration will propel repairs to the Guajataca Dam, damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017, which supplies drinking water to about 300,000 rssidents..

Companies

Big UK Firm, Reinstated in UAE After Bribe Plea, Wins $700M Award

July 12, 2023

Energy contractor Petrofac, with new CEO Tareq Kawash, will execute contract to expand the large Habshan gas processing complex in Abu Dhabi, one year after its suspension ended in UAE, Iraq and Saudi Arabia related to bribery incidents by former executives.

Transportation

Contractor Covers German Highway in Hamburg to Cut Noise

Peter Reina

July 3, 2023

Hochtief Infrastructure is casting three hefty parallel walls along the highway and roofing them with 4-ft-deep slabs while keeping eight lanes open.

Nuclear Waste Storage

DOE Makes Concessions to New Mexico in WIPP Nuclear Site Permit

Pam McFarland

July 3, 2023

To operate underground Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for waste storage, US Energy Dept. must update public on efforts to identify another nuclear repository site out of state.

Environment

IAEA: Fukushima Nuclear Plant Water Release Meets Safety Standards

Pam McFarland

July 10, 2023

Japan's plan to discharge treated wastewater from the stricken plant into the sea would have "negligible" health and environmental impacts, says International Atomic Energy Agency.

Wastewater

Shimmick Wins $217M Contract for California Water Plant Expansion

July 3, 2023

Contract covers the third phase of an upgrade and expansion project at the Regional Water Reclamation Facility in Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.

Railcar Removal Begins From Montana River After Bridge Collapse

Derailment dumps toxic materials into water, no injuries reported

Jennifer Seward

June 26, 2023

Cleanup efforts continue following the June 24 derailment that sent 10 rail cars of toxic materials into the Yellowstone River.

Global Survey: US Now Is Most Expensive for Construction

Alisa Zevin

June 28, 2023

New York City, San Francisco lead project consultant's latest list for highest global building costs, with six US markets in the top ten of 89 surveyed.

Transportation

Panama Canal Bridge Inches Toward a Restart

Jim Parsons

July 3, 2023

Work on the estimated $1.3B span has launched a restart following an agreement between the Panamanian government and the Chinese joint venture set to build it,

Lower-Carbon Cement Called LC3 Is Promising, Experts Say

Nadine M. Post

July 12, 2023

Boosters for a more sustainably produced cement, which slashes greenhouse gas emissions up to 40% compared to ordinary portland cement production, say the material, called limestone calcined clay cement, is the next best embodied carbon reducer for concrete since portland limestone cement.

Water Infrastructure

Tribes, Alaska Villages to Gain $278M for Water Infrastructure

Pam McFarland

June 29, 2023

U.S. EPA is set to invest appropriated funds for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, PFAS treatment efforts and lead service line replacement.

Transmission

Studies: Speeding Clean Energy Grid Links Can Boost Projects, Jobs

Mary B. Powers

June 30, 2023

PJM Interconnection system could spur $33B in capital investment with simple transmission link process changes, says a new report.

Transportation Infrastructure

US DOT Picks Winners for $2.2B in RAISE Grants

Tom Ichniowski

June 29, 2023

Roadway projects received approximately half of the total funding, with about $1.1 billion.

Transit

Hudson River Rail Tunnel Project Set for Record $6.9B Federal Grant

July 6, 2023

The Federal Transit Administration OKed the NJ-NY crossing to advance to the engineering phase of its Capital Investment Grants program.

Government Projects

Long-Delayed $1B California Great Park Project Starts Anew

Stephanie Loder

July 5, 2023

One Comment

Ambitious makeover of a former World War II-era military base resumes more than two decades after approval by voters.

Transportation

California Approves $4.3B in Funds for Transportation Infrastructure

Greg Aragon

July 5, 2023

The funds are aimed at a battery of transportation needs including congestion relief, freight traffic accommodations and alternative fuels infrastructure.

Acquisitions

SYSTRA Agrees to Buy Atkins' Scandinavian Unit for $102M

Peter Reina

July 10, 2023

Canada-based SNC Lavalin Group, the parent of Atkins, said the sale when completed will further speed the corporate transition to engineering and project management.

Construction Workforce

With 'No Letup in Demand' for Workers, Construction Adds 23,000 Jobs in June

Tom Ichniowski

July 7, 2023

While construction's jobless rate rose to 3.6% in June, economists noted that the industry had 396,000 job openings as of the end of May.

Environment

Administration Wants Stronger Endangered Species Act Rules

July 7, 2023

Proposed federal revisions have raised concerns among construction groups that say changes could lead to expensive delays on projects.

2023 2Q Cost Report

Rising Increases in Compensation Are Set to Remain in 2023 and 2024

Bruce Buckley

July 12, 2023

Pay hikes for construction staff remain at a historically high rate, even as some sectors could see a future slowdown in project starts.

2023 2Q Cost Report

Construction Executive Confidence Falls in Face of Bank Failures

Jonathan Keller

July 12, 2023

ENR’s Construction Industry Confidence Index fell four points this quarter, to a rating of 40. Confidence in the current construction market is virtually unchanged, but execs have become more pessimistic about the short- and medium-term future.

2023 2Q Cost Report

Heavy Equipment Across Categories Shows Signs of Prices Stabilizing

Jeff Rubenstone

July 12, 2023

One Comment

Prices for used construction equipment have continued to show signs of stabilizing over the last few months, a trend also seen in other heavy equipment categories.

2023 2Q Cost Report

Manufacturing, Infrastructure Starts Continue to Lead in Second Quarter

Alisa Zevin

July 12, 2023

Despite inflation, labor shortages and other troubles plaguing the construction industry, some sectors continue to thrive, but others face difficulties as demand for growth slows.

Viewpoint

Forensic Scheduling’s Groundhog Day: Dubious Practices ‘Recommended’ Again

Kurt Rossetti P.E.

July 13, 2023

One Comment

Members can make their voices heard as AACE drafts are released.

Pulse for the Week of July 17, 2023

July 13, 2023

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Trunk Tools Offers Critical Path Incentives for Skilled Trades

Jeff Yoders

July 13, 2023

One of the things that Barton Malow’s wholly owned subsidiary, LiftBuild, sought to learn about its “top-down” construction approach for the Exchange residential project in Detroit was whether the process could be improved by automating workforce scheduling and bonus payments to skilled trades, reducing delays due to spikes in material prices and scheduling mix ups.

Construction Economics for July 17, 2023

July 13, 2023

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

Panasonic Energy's 2.7-million-sq-ft electric vehicle battery assembly plant

2023 Top 500 Sourcebook: Panasonic Boosts Plant Capacity

July 13, 2023

Company says it will need more manufacturing plants to reach targeted EV battery production capacity, as a $4-billion electric vehicle battery assembly plant is advancing in De Soto, Kan.

2023 Top 500 Sourcebook: Oysters Along Highway 98

Corinne Grinapol

July 13, 2023

A coastal 12-mile stretch of highway in Florida's panhandle—a designated hurricane evacuation route prone to erosion—is gaining an innovative fix.

2023 Top 500 Sourcebook: New Jolt for a US Battery Plant

Mary B. Powers

July 13, 2023

Lithium-ion battery developer KORE Power Inc. to supplement cost of $1.25-billion advanced EV battery manufacturing plant underway in Buckeye, Ariz., with $850-million conditional U.S. Energy Dept. loan.

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US Supreme Court Orders All Mountain Valley Gas Line Work to Proceed

July 27, 2023

Developer CEO tells analysts Aug. 1 it will finish last 20 miles of 303-mile natural gas line by year end, after high court reverses lower court halt of just-resumed work on controversial project still being litigated

2023 Top 500 Sourcebook: Going for Green in Transportation

Jim Parsons

July 13, 2023

Cargo transfer operations at the Port of Long Beach are poised to become both greener and more efficient over the next decade with the $1.567-billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.

2023 Top 500 Sourcebook: Bally's Bets on Chicago River

Bruce Buckley

July 13, 2023