Welcome to our Construction Industry News page, where we bring you the latest updates on mergers and acquisitions, key new hires, and significant industry shifts. Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth reporting to keep up with the fast-paced changes shaping the construction business.

UTRECHT, The Netherlands (May 15, 2014) - Mammoet, a provider of solutions for lifting, transporting, installing and decommissioning large and heavy structures, has relocated a century-old railway bridge 8 kilometers in the northern suburbs of Chicago, helping it start a second life as a cycle path.

The association is encouraging industry professionals to participate in upcoming Washington, D.C. fly-ins to push for adequate, long-term federal funding of highways, roads and bridges.

(May 12, 2014) - The current Highway Bill expires Sept. 30, and the Highway Trust Fund is almost out of money. The time to act is now, says the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

AEM is offering a special travel incentive for industry professionals to participate in upcoming Washington, D.C. fly-ins to push for adequate, long-term federal funding of highways, roads and bridges.

WASHINGTON (May 13, 2014) – Leaders of America’s design and construction industry, along with building owners and operators, for the first time have agreed to promote resilience in contemporary planning, building materials, design, construction and operational techniques as the solution to making the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure.

WASHINGTON (May 7, 2014) — Nearly two dozen representatives from Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) member companies, along with SFAA staff, met with members of Congress, mostly in the Senate, May 7 as part of SFAA’s annual Congressional Action Day.

Partnership aligns dealership needs for qualified Komatsu technicians with opportunities for NDSCS students.

FARGO, N.D. (May 7, 2014) — Representatives from North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), Komatsu America Corp. General Equipment & Supplies Inc. and Road Machinery & Supplies Co. have announced an educational partnership resulting in the addition of a Diesel Technology - Komatsu program to the NDSCS Diesel Technology department.

WASHINGTON (May 5, 2014) – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced the winners of its National Craft Championships and the Craft Instructor of the Year and Craft Professional of the Year during the Careers in Construction awards ceremony in Birmingham, Ala. The ceremony took place May 2, at the conclusion of ABC’s Workforce Development Conference.

Payrolls rise by 32,000 jobs in April to 6 million, the highest level since June 2009.

(May 2, 2014) - The unemployment rate in construction dropped to the lowest April level in seven years as contractors added 32,000 workers to payrolls in April, bringing industry employment to 6.0 million, the highest level since June 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials warned that it is essential to revive and expand training opportunities before the industry runs short of workers.

Housing and private nonresidential categories rise, but public outlays drop to seven-year low.

(May 1, 2014) - Total construction spending remained in a holding pattern in March as strong gains in apartment construction and modest growth in homebuilding and private nonresidential activity offset falling public outlays, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

Company expands business in Brazil.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (April 30, 2014) — Capital Safety, home of the DBI-SALA and PROTECTA brands, has acquired Altiseg Equipamentos de Seguranca de Trabalho Ltda. – EPP (Altiseg), a fall protection company in Brazil. Capital Safety is a global designer and manufacturer of fall protection and height safety equipment and plays a significant role in the fall protection industry in South America.

The changes in plumbing codes are intended to reduce hot water waste and save Americans time and money.

WASHINGTON (April 30, 2014) – Plumbing inspectors, manufacturers, engineers, contractors, labor representatives and other industry technical experts in Las Vegas voted April 29 to make a change to plumbing codes that will ensure hot water pipes in new homes and commercial buildings are insulated. Overall, insulation of hot water pipes will shorten the amount of time spent waiting for hot water at showers and faucets and cut hot water waste by 15 to 30 percent.

Despite growth in employment, AGC officials say construction jobs could be at risk if Congress allows billions in highway funding to come to a halt this summer when the federal Highway Trust Fund is expected to reach a zero balance.

(April 28, 2014) - Construction employment expanded in 197 metro areas, declined in 87 and was stagnant in 55 between March 2013 and March 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that construction employment stands to suffer if Congress allows federal highway funding to stop this summer.

Online state market briefs promote information transparency with LEED green building data and activity.

WASHINGTON (April 23, 2014) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched its new online data visualization resource that highlights real-time green building data for each state in the U.S. and Washington, D.C. The enhanced state market briefs—highlighting LEED projects, LEED-credentialed professionals and USGBC membership in each state—provide green building advocates and the general public a look into LEED’s impact within any state.

(April 21, 2014) - On April 19, the U.S. State Department announced it is delaying the Keystone XL pipeline’s National Interest Determination (NID) phase due to the “uncertainty” created by a Nebraska judge’s February decision to invalidate a state law permitting the governor to authorize the project’s construction in the Cornhusker state.

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) software provider Tekla has acquired SVS Innovations’ (SVSi) construction software business and its Field3D mobile technology. The acquisition further strengthens Tekla’s position in mobile BIM applications development.

Field3D is a 3D collaboration software solution for BIM that works on mobile devices, enabling stakeholders in a construction work flow to access complete 3D model information for an entire building on smartphones and tablets.

The NDA urges local governments and agencies to pre-qualify demolition contractors now in order to provide immediate and effective response.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (April 17, 2014) – The recent swarm of earthquakes in the Los Angeles area is another reminder to local and state governments and agencies responsible for emergency management to include demolition contractors on their disaster response teams, said Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker Inc. in Fresno, Calif., and president of the National Demolition Association.

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2014) – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the April 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $827 billion equipment finance sector.

The Senate has reached an agreement on a new multiyear highway bill.

Washington, DC (April 10, 2014) - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Committee, Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, held a press conference to make a major announcement regarding the reauthorization of the transportation bill, entitled Moving Ahead for Progress in the