After issuing an executive order to freeze all state contracts for projects in the planning and development stage, Ill. Gov. Rauner has authorized the Illinois State Tollway Authority (ISTA) to proceed with more than $1 billion in projects this year. The freeze, issued Jan. 12, Rauner's first day as governor, applied to all executive branch agencies, ISTA included. Because ISTA projects are financed by tolls, they do not impact massive state deficit Rauner has vowed to address. The decision clears the way for ISTA to execute $1.6 billion in project this year, including $840 million in bridge and road work

Cincinnati officials and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are investigating the cause of an overhead exit ramp collapse that killed a construction worker and injured a semi truck driver on Interstate 75 (I-75), five miles north of the Ohio River.  The collapse occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday as crews were preparing to demolish the ramp as part of a project to increase capacity on I-75. The collapse, which killed 35-year-old Brandon William Carl, an Augusta, Ky., native, left southbound lanes of the interstate littered with several hundred tons of concrete and steel. “Our teams are surveying the situation

Chicago-based Golub & Co. and Los Angeles-based co-developer CIM Group have broken ground on a 41-story, 397-unit apartment tower in Chicago's South Loop, fueling a boom some analysts predict could add nearly 9,000 residences to downtown Chicago by year-end 2016. Earlier this year, CIM broke ground on a 34-story, 690-unit apartment tower atop a four-story mall in Chicago's Loop, the largest such project to rise in the district in years. Both projects join new fewer than 17 residential developments under construction in downtown Chicago, including a 402-unit tower undertaken by Chicago-based developer John Buck Co. and a 498-unit project by

After five consecutive months of growth, demand for design services declined in the Midwest in November, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects. AIA's Architecture Billings Index, reflecting the nine- to 12-month lead time between billings and construction spending, reported a near five point slide for the region, from 54.4 to 49.8, between October and November. Scores above 50 denote an increase in billings. By comparison, the South extended its growth streak to six months, though billings dipped modestly, from 58.4 to 57.9, for the same period. The West likewise logged its six consecutive month of

On the heels of news that Chicago-based Magellan Development Group is joint-venturing with a Chinese firm to construct an 89-story residential structure that will stand as Chicago's third tallest, the city's planning commission has approved plans by developer Related Midwest, Chicago, to construct  a 67-story residential tower just blocks away in the city's Streeterville neighborhood. When completed, the 2.2-acre project, designed by New York City-based architect Robert A.M. Stern, will house 250 apartments and 100 condominiums, scaling back plans that originally called for a 67-story structure containing 400 apartments and 100 condominiums. The redesign was prompted by concerns about increased

Illinois added 12,000 construction jobs in November, placing it among the nation's top five gaining states for a third consecutive month, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Texas (47.300 jobs), California (40,800 jobs), Florida (34,900 jobs) and Washington (12,800 jobs) posted stronger showings for the same period, AGC data indicate.In October, Illinois added 14,800 construction jobs, the fourth largest gain among states in year-over-year comparisons. The state added 11,700 jobs in September, placing it third among states. On a percentage basis, Illinois (6.2%) placed 10th among job-gaining states in year-over-year comparisons,

Amid rumors that costs for a planned event center near Chicago's McCormick Place had skyrocketed 75%, the city's Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier) on Tuesday awarded a $164-million contract for the facility, about 17% greater than originally budgeted. The contract, awarded to a team led by Clark Construction Group, Chicago, also calls for construction of a $391-million hotel in efforts to transform the area into an entertainment district and boost prospects for McCormick Place, the city's premier convention center. Among other uses, the 10,000-seat event center will host basketball games for DePaul University's Blue Demons.The center, designed by New

Illinois added 14,800 construction jobs in October, the fourth largest gain among states in year-over-year comparisons, according to data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Florida (38,900 jobs), Texas (38,500) and California (34,300 jobs) made stronger showings for the same period, AGC data indicate. Illinois additionally logged the fourth-largest percentage increase (7.8%) among states in October, followed by neighboring Wisconsin (7,000 jobs 7.2%).Other Midwest states, including Michigan (4,300 jobs, 3/3%), Indiana (3,500 jobs, 2.8%) and Missouri (1,700 1.6%), also added jobs in October, with only Ohio, (1,000, -0.5%) posting declines for the same period.In all,

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he intends to use $49.3 million in tax incremental financing (TIF) to extend a proposed 2.1-mile street car line and finance infrastructure alterations for the $123.9-million project. Subject to approval by Milwaukee's Common Council and Redevelopment Authority, funds would finance a 0.4-mile lakefront extension added to original plans and, if required, the cost of relocating utility lines for the project. Earlier this week, Milwaukee sued the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, seeking to reverse a  commission ruling requiring the city to finance the relocations rather than utilities and their ratepayers. The suit, filed with Milwaukee County

Midwest construction backlogs continued to rebound in the third quarter, rising from 6.42 months to 6.92 months – a 7.9% increase – in quarter-to-quarter comparisons, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based Associated Builders and Contractors. Midwest backlogs additionally rose by 12.7% in quarter-over-quarter comparisons. Strong showings in the Midwest, West and Northeast propelled national backlogs to 8.8 months in the third quarter, an all time high, eclipsing the previous record of 8.5 months in the second quarter of 2014.“Recent data regarding nonresidential construction and employment has shown only sporadic gains, which is consistent with the less optimistic backlog readings