Feb 17, 2020

Q1 Tech Report

Driving Toward the Future: Intelligent Vehicles Seek Intelligent Infrastructure

Aileen Cho

February 12, 2020

No Comments

Emerging technologies, including autonomous vehicles, are transforming traditional infrastructure roles

Global Market Risk

Economic Impacts Growing Amid China Coronavirus Scare

February 16, 2020

Global construction markets watch for recovery signs from the outbreak, now called Covid-19, with domestic industry impacts seen and a government infrastructure boost likely this year.

Nation's Infrastructure

Trump Floats $1-Trillion Infrastructure Plan, But FY21 Budget Has Some Cuts

Tom Ichniowski

February 10, 2020

One Comment

Plan's centerpiece is $810-billion highway-transit reauthorization, not fully funded.

Company Focus

AECOM First-Quarter Results Leave Investors Hopeful

The company is quiet on construction asset sale, CEO change and possible WSP merger deal

Debra K. Rubin

February 4, 2020

No Comments

Design giant sees revenue drop, noting "large" claim on storm cleanup work, but cites positive earnings; CEO is quiet on reported WSP merger talks and his successor.

At World of Concrete 2020, PCA Economic Forecast Sees Continued Growth

Steady demand expected to offset possible economic shocks

Jeff Rubenstone

February 6, 2020

No Comments

Alongside swarms of contractors and others pouring in to the annual World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas, the Portland Cement Association released a relatively rosy economic forecast for 2020 into 2021.

States Hope to Reset the Climate Dial Before It's Too Late

Pam McFarland

February 12, 2020

No Comments

Despite partisan rancor over climate change at the national level, state energy officials recognize the need to be proactive in developing and implementing plans to address it.

Labor

Former Indiana Iron Workers Union Officials Plead Guilty to Violent Extortion

Jeff Yoders

February 4, 2020

No Comments

Local's former president and ex-business agent plead guilty to extortion in 2016 of nonunion construction crew working on a church project.

Former Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval

Public Works and Ethics

Ex-Ill. State Senator Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge As Probe Expands

Investigation shifts to include recycled material used in asphalt pavement

Jeff Yoders

February 4, 2020

No Comments

Federal officials now are looking into former senator's influence in policy encouraging use of recycled shingles in pavement.

SNC-Lavalin Shuffles C-Suite and Board in Corporate Reboot

Debra K. Rubin

Scott Van Voorhis

February 12, 2020

No Comments

Bechtel veteran Keith Sibley now is running contractor's revamped NYC ops; city transit veteran takes senior role at HNTB.

Crews Complete Wuhan Hospital in 10 Days, Near Finish on Second Coronavirus Facility

China hospital adds 1,000 beds and isolation wards for patients infected with coronavirus.

Scott Blair

February 3, 2020

4 Comments

A second China hospital to isolate patients with the virus is under way, using extreme modular construction.

Canada's Trans Mountain Pipeline Wins in Court, But Costs Shoot Up

Scott Van Voorhis

February 11, 2020

No Comments

Government-owned oil carrier beats First Nations' lawsuit but design changes and delays double project price to at least $9.5B.

Mary B. Powers

February 12, 2020

No Comments

Plaintiffs seek $2 billion in damages from feds, residential developer and consulting firm over alleged site cleanup flaws.

Disaster Response

UK Contractor Laing O'Rourke To Manage Australia Fire Cleanup

Debra K. Rubin

January 31, 2020

No Comments

Federal government and New South Wales will split cleanup cost of devastating bushfires, estimated at least in the "hundreds of millions," officials say.

Construction Disputes

Solution Over Modular Project Problems Leads to Surety Lawsuit

A Boston apartment project ends up in litigation

Scott Van Voorhis

February 5, 2020

No Comments

The problem involves a Boston apartment project constructed by a subsidiary of Tocci Building Corp.

Rebar-Tying Robots Draw Crowds at World of Concrete

Jeff Rubenstone

February 12, 2020

No Comments

Standing before a crowd of curious onlookers at a corner of the show floor at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas, Advanced Construction Robotics president and cofounder Jeremy Searock made a sales pitch for TyBot, his company’s rebar-tying robot.