New construction starts moved 5% lower in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $774.1 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. This marks the second consecutive monthly decline in construction starts. Details here. 

Women of Asphalt (WofA) has announced the appointment of 11 women to serve as its first Board of Directors. These accomplished women come from all facets of the asphalt industry and represent the wide range of positions and responsibilities women hold in the asphalt industry. Details here. 

Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval has stepped down as chair of the state’s transportation committee amid an FBI probe into construction fraud and corruption.

In the search for a solution to the federal government’s slow progress towards a comprehensive infrastructure package, many states have passed infrastructure bills of their own. And there are more in progress—Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker pitched a $18 billion transportation spending bill to legislators last week.

This weekend, the $85 million, 18-story Hard Rock Hotel project under construction in New Orleans, Louisiana, collapsed, killing two workers on-site and injuring 30 more people on the jobsite or in the area. Another worker is still missing four days later, and one of the bodies of the two victims has yet to be recovered.

Saudi Arabia’s new public sector procurement law, Government Tenders & Procurement Law (GTPL), will go into effect Nov. 29, 2019, covers all government projects and aims to streamline procurement and promote the use of local companies on public sector works. Details here. 

Equipment and software investment growth decelerated during the second consecutive quarter and is expected to moderate at 3.9%, according to the Q4 Update to the 2019 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook just released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Overall, the economy is expected to expand 2.2%, down from the previous estimate of 2.5%, with growth driven primarily by consumer spending. Details here.