public works

Commentary on Civic Activism

The Taxes That Made Seattle The City It Is Today

Two contrasting lives related to a growing metropolis and Washington State

Richard Korman

December 11, 2019

No Comments

A look at two contrasting lives and what they say about a growing city and its state voters.

Public Sector Work Will Lead Market in 2020, Industry Economists Say

Alisa Zevin

November 20, 2019

No Comments

Experts foresee enough construction work to hold off recession fears in the coming year, particularly in transportation.

New Details Revealed in Va. Public Works Shooting

Jim Parsons

September 28, 2019

No Comments

Engineer shooter's motive still not certain in May 31 rampage that killed 11 agency employees and a contractor.

Commentary: The American Way of Building

How a Badly Needed New Firehouse Proved the Danger of Low Bids

A construction project with no pre-qualification process burns through money

Thomas C. Schleifer PhD

July 4, 2018

10 Comments

How accepting a low bid sent a firehouse project out of control.

Risk Management

Some Companies Are Shut Out of Minneapolis Light-Rail Extension

Contractors and designers complain about missing the construction phase as new bids are due soon

Scott Van Voorhis

November 28, 2017

No Comments

A bid using a company that worked on the design or planning phase will be classed as 'non-responsive.'

The American Infrastructure

Trump's Border Wall Has Many Concepts, Few Big Bidders

A torrent of futuristic schemes for an unusual federal public works construction project

Scott Van Voorhis

April 28, 2017

2 Comments

Will the president's late April pullback on 2017 funding delay the controversial project?

Trump-Frastructure

The Perils of President Trump's Coming Federal Public Works

Read the score sheet of risks associated with the new Trump Administration

Richard Korman

November 17, 2016

2 Comments

If you are anticipating the new Trump Administration's federal public works program, here are some worries.

Court Halts 'Blacklisting' Rule for Federal Contractors

Pam Hunter McFarland

November 2, 2016

No Comments

An Obama administration rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to disclose past labor-law violations puts the contractor groups and organized labor at odds.

Work Re-Starts on Troubled Indiana I-69 P3

September 28, 2016

No Comments

The problems have been piling up for Section 5 of I-69 in Indiana, a segment that involves 21 miles of upgrades to existing state Highway 37 from Bloomington to Martinsville.