| Engineering News-Record

Growing labor shortages continue to plague the construction industry, while trade schools and job training programs report their current enrollment won’t make up for a wave of retiring skilled workers.

Transportation

$1.66B Honolulu Light Rail Line Extension Awarded to Tutor Perini

Tim Newcomb

August 16, 2024

The extension will include six rail stations and roughly three miles of elevated rail guideway east through downtown Honolulu.

Transportation

Jacobs Tapped for Team Developing Saudi Arabia Mega-Airport Masterplan

C.J. Schexnayder

August 20, 2024

The expanded King Salman International Airport would cover 22 sq miles and include six parallel runways. Saudi officials say the airport would be able to accommodate 100 million passengers by 2030.

Photo shows aerial view of lock construction on the water with land covered in green grass on either side

$320M Second Phase of Louisiana Navigation Canal Lock Complex Moves Ahead

Nick Vaccaro

August 14, 2024

Sealevel Construction Inc., Thibodaux, La., is the project general contractor, with targeted completion in 2028.

Advanced Nuclear Power

Burns & McDonnell Joins Effort to Develop Remote Site Microreactors

Doug Puppel

August 7, 2024

Firm will handle detailed engineering, preconstruction and nuclear supply chain development for technology firm's 50-MW thermal power facility eyed to support industrial facilities, data centers and other users in Wyoming.

Technology

Feds Make $800M Available For Low-Carbon Materials In Transportation Projects

Aileen Cho

August 27, 2024

Agencies and government units other than state DOTs can now apply for funds.

Risk

Reports Highlight Compounding Impacts, Costs of Extreme Weather

Pam McFarland

August 22, 2024

With multiplying effects of more frequent and intense storms, infrastructure investments—despite recent historic funding—must take into account how to get the most bang for the buck, say climate change experts.

Clean Energy Construction

Massachusetts $300M Offshore Wind Terminal Starts as Key Sector Boost

Crowley Maritime is port facility CM with D.W. White and J.F. White named contractors and AECOM as designer

Johanna Knapschaefer

August 19, 2024

Second state marshaling port would propel growth of the market as it recovers from financial woes and the July accident that suspended work at the $3-billion Vineyard Wind site.

Manufacturing

Battery Firm's $1.4B Carolina Sodium-Ion 'Gigafactory' Is First in US

August 16, 2024

Planned 1.2-million-sq-ft plant in Edgecombe County, N.C., which would have 24-GW capacity to produce batteries favored for microgrids and data centers, would be the first large domestic producer of the alternative technology to lithium-ion.

Healthcare

After a 10-Alarm Electrical Fire, a Massachusetts Hospital Nears Full Service

The $90-million Brockton Hospital renovation team reimagined the hospital while replacing switchgears

Justin Rice

August 14, 2024

Recovering from a catastrophic fire required creative thinking and brought a rare opportunity to update and refurbish a critical health care facility for the region.

Digital Transformation Takes Center Stage at CII Conference

Scott Blair

August 29, 2024

A research team comprised of academics and industry professionals rolled out a new tool to assist firms with maximizing the value of their digital transformation on capital projects.

Transportation

Settlement Issues Bog Down Louisiana Bridge Project, Resulting in Daily $10K Fines

Jim Parsons

August 16, 2024

While the extent of settling is still being evaluated, it's enough to require the replacement of bridge approaches, pushing the completion of the project from April 2024 into 2025.

Chip Manufacturing

Feds Offer Texas Instruments $1.6B to Support Construction of Three Fabs

August 19, 2024

Texas Instruments says it is investing $18 billion on the plants in Texas and Utah.

2024 Election

Harris Accepts Democratic Bid for President, Notes Only Broad Policy Goals

Pam McFarland

August 23, 2024

Addressing delegates at the party nominating convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris touched on energy and immigration issues but did not air specific policy changes to the existing platform outlined by President Joe Biden.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Gannett Fleming Buys TranSystems in $1.3B Transport Design Deal

Cash purchase transaction with former private equity firm owner bolsters combined entity's position in bridge, highway, mass transit and rail work

Emell D. Adolphus

August 15, 2024

TranSystems CEO Tim Rock and Gannett Fleming President and CFO Jim Nevada become co-presidents and co-chief operating officers of the combined entity, with a new chief to be named and possible new corporate name.

Acquisitions

Design Giant WSP to Buy Power Engineers Inc. in $1.8B Cash Deal

August 13, 2024

Purchase of leading power and transmission design firm that would boost intended parent's stake in energy transition market is set to wrap up in the fourth quarter.

Utilities

Illinois Court Reverses Building OK for Chunk of $7B Transmission Project

August 12, 2024

Invenergy Transmission plans to appeal the decision and is working to start construction next year on a separate portion of the total 800-mile line that is located in Kansas and Missouri.

Washington_Bridge_westbound_lanes,_Interstate_195.jpg

Rhode Island Sues 13 Industry Firms Over Flawed Interstate Bridge

Deteriorated westbound structure of 56-year-old Providence span carrying I-195 has been shut since December

Richard Korman

August 23, 2024

Defendants include a contractor now at work to replace a deteriorated section of the 56-year-old Providence span carrying I-195 that has been shut since December

Denver 16th St. Mall Project Reimagines Iconic I.M. Pei Design

August 29, 2024

PCL Construction is soon to complete the $149-million 16th Street Mall makeover project in downtown Denver, part of a $937-million spending package to elevate infrastructure across the city.

Federal Judge Strikes Down US Agency Non-Compete Agreement Ban

Biden administration had championed the rule

Richard Korman

August 21, 2024

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Associated Builders and Contractors challenged the agreement ban, but it was supported by building trades unions.

Transportation

AECOM Wins PM Contract for $8.2B Portal Project in San Francisco

Aileen Cho

August 22, 2024

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority seeks ways to fill a $2.7B funding gap to build the Downtown Rail Extension in San Francisco.

Three US Hydrogen Hubs Gain First Tranche of DOE Funding Millions

August 28, 2024

Cleaner hydrogen production hubs in California, the Pacific NW and the Appalachian region—of seven DOE picked last year to negotiate hundreds of millions of dollars in federal project support—are the first to receive initial funding awards.

Transportation

NY Cuomo Bridge Lawsuit Focuses on Stay Cable Anchors

Jim Parsons

August 23, 2024

NY State Thruway Authority is suing the Fluor-led bridge construction consortium for at least $6 million.

Road Safety

FHWA Releases Implementation Plan for Highway Connectivity Technology

Tom Ichniowski

August 16, 2024

The Federal Highway Administration has released a extensive blueprint for implementing the use of vehicle-to-everything, or V2X, connectivity through 2036.

Update

Editor Jan Tuchman, Research Director Scott Lewis Retire

Scott Blair

August 29, 2024

Two stalwart, long-time editors of ENR retired recently: Events Executive Editor Jan Tuchman and Research and Associate Editor Scott Lewis.

ENR History

Project Plowshare: Nuclear Bombs as Potential Construction Tools

Scott Lewis

August 29, 2024

During the 1950s and 60s, engineers and scientists sought ways to use nuclear weapons for major construction projects such as harbors, roads and even alternative routes for the Panama Canal.

Construction History

From the ENR Archive: August 31, 1944

Scott Lewis

August 30, 2024

This cover photo shows Chinese engineers constructing a hand-made wooden bridge across the Tanai Hka River in Myanmar, then known as Burma.

Construction Technology

Ediphi Creates Platform for Cloud-Based Precon Estimates

Jeff Yoders

August 29, 2024

While cloud computing and the abundant project data it provides have transformed everything from construction management to conceptual design, preconstruction estimating remains stubbornly unchanged

Viewpoint

How a Bankrupt Theater Chain Stiffing Contractor Graycor Led to Pay Protections For Subcontractors

A commentary on Massachusetts' prompt-pay law

Richard Korman

August 14, 2024

The pandemic drove a theater chain into bankruptcy, leaving the prime contractor with unpaid invoices.

Pulse for the Week of September 2, 2024

August 29, 2024

Information from Pulse is derived from the Dodge Construction Network, the most powerful source of information, insights, and connections in the commercial construction industry.

Construction Economics for September 2, 2024

August 29, 2024