Construction Industry News

New construction starts in May climbed 10% from April, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.  The increase continues the double-digit swings that were reported during the previous 2 months, when a 16% hike for total construction starts in March was followed by a 15% decline in April. More information here. 

Virgin Trains announces the introduction of the ‘red spike era’ and the company’s commitment to reinventing passenger rail service in America by providing fast, efficient, hospitality-driven transportation that connects dynamic, complementary cities and congested corridors that are too close to fly and too long to drive.

Effective immediately, 2020 model year Allison transmission-equipped Hino’s include a 5-year, unlimited-mile transmission warranty. Details here. 

Company aims to close the skills gap in construction through local youth with work-based learning. 

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the June 2019 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 $1-trillion equipment finance sector. 

Demand for design services in May remained essentially flat in comparison to the previous month, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). Details here.

Invest in America Act would spur American job creation and investment in U.S. communities, infrastructure and opportunity zones.

Rosendin, the electrical contracting industry’s largest employee-owned firm with a new office in Pflugerville, Texas, sponsored Austin’s first “Construction Camp For Girls” from June 10-14. The week-long camp gave 13 girls heading into 7th, 8th and 9th grades opportunities for hands-on learning and new experiences in an industry most young girls know little about.

More than half of construction workers report being regularly exposed to vapors, gas, dust or fumes twice a week or more at work. The risk for developing an occupation-related disease after a working lifetime in construction is two to six times greater than for non-construction workers.

Expected to open in time for the 2019-2020 school year, the Teen Center of Excellence will offer afterschool and summer programs to youth ages 12-18 in the North St. Louis County area. The 26,856-square-foot, three-level center will provide a safe place for area youth to gather and participate in a variety of activities. Designs for the facility include a nutrition education center, gym, teen lounge, outdoor garden, auditorium, music and art studio, office space, intellectual commons, innovation center, and outdoor basketball and activity court.

The new “Asphalt Pavement Principals” online video series from the Federal Highway Administration highlights the innovation and collaboration that go into modern asphalt pavements. Developed with the cooperation of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), the videos feature engineers, academics and other industry figures discussing best practices for pavement performance.

The goal of "Build Your Future Florida" is to provide a platform for state residents to learn about careers in the construction industry, find necessary training centers, fill the knowledge gap, and both qualify for and gain employment in any chosen craft occupations. Thus, it strives to expand the qualified workforce in the construction industry within the state. Build Your Future Florida is a portal that allows anyone interested in construction-related crafts to find a successful path to becoming a craft professional.

During AGC Georgia’s Annual Convention held in Hilton Head, South Carolina, 39 construction firms were honored for their dedication to safety during the 2018 calendar year. 

Advances in the standard’s content include language on resilience, lifecycle-cost analysis, moisture-control analysis, health and effectiveness, and many other market advances, such as higher-efficiency plumbing fixture specifications and greatly expanded lighting and acoustic comfort sections.

As part of the IPA 2015 Action Program for Albania, the overall objective of the program is to strengthen the capacity and accountability of the state’s administration of the design and implementation of sector programs and major infrastructure projects. This will improve connectivity within the country and the Western Balkan Region in preparation for EU membership.

The Salt Lake City International Airport Terminal project required more than 130 ironworkers and took place on a massive jobsite, making it incredibly tough to manage the crew. The full-steel erection scope included 30,000 tons of steel, 125,000 feet of linear weld and more than 435,000 bolts. The structure itself had a large number of erection challenges and design changes. “It went from around a $26-million job to a little over $32 million with all the change orders,” said Waters. 

United Rentals Inc.is participating in a nationwide series of trench safety educational events during the Trench Safety Stand Down, which takes place June 17-21. These events will help organizations and their workers advance knowledge about trench hazards and safe-work practices in trenching and excavation work.

“Any legislator in New Jersey would tell you that the Edgewater fire in 2015 was a wake-up call to the dire need for better fire safety measures,” says Kevin Lawlor. now, 67% of the state population in New Jersey are represented by counties supporting stronger building codes and noncombustible mid- to high-rise construction.

As one of the winners selected for the large business portion of the DiPSS program, Fluor is eligible to compete on work worth a combined value of approximately $6 billion.

The Dodge Momentum Index fell 1.0% in May to 141.0 (2000=100) from the revised April reading of 142.4. Read the details here.