May 16, 2022

Selected as rising industry stars, ENR’s 2022 National Top 20 Under 40 have their eyes set on the future and see a sense of urgency to embrace innovative solutions for industry challenges.

Tech Focus

Apps Offer Innovative Sourcing for Materials and Labor

Jeff Yoders

May 11, 2022

Materials supply chain disruptions and the mass retirement of older workers in the skilled trades—a trend that actually began in the 2010s—have forced preconstruction professionals and estimators to be more resourceful than ever.

How Supertall Buildings Lift Us Higher

Richard Korman

May 11, 2022

One Comment

In a world beset by troubles, supertall buildings, which measure from 984 ft to 1,968 ft, would not seem to rate high on a list of priority concerns.

Industry Leads for the Week of May 16, 2022

May 11, 2022

Information derived from Industrial Reports, a market intelligence firm specializing in industrial construction.

Pulse: Project News for the Week of May 16, 2022

May 11, 2022

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Materials

Meta Tests AI-Developed Lower-Carbon Concrete on Data Center Project

April 28, 2022

Facebook's parent company worked with researchers and concrete supplier Ozinga to develop a concrete mix with lower embodied carbon.

Texas Toll Road Tries Satellite Sensing for Maintenance

C.J. Schexnayder

May 11, 2022

A Texas toll road operator has turned to the sky for solutions to a very down-to-earth problem: roadway maintenance.

Bridge Collapse Investigation

NTSB Pittsburgh Bridge Probe Update Sheds Light on Collapse Sequence

Findings on probable cause of failure not expected until 2023

May 5, 2022

One Comment

The report provides additional information about how the collapse proceeded, but does not discuss why the accident occurred.

Santa Clara Inmates training program.jpg

Workforce Development

White House Funding Boosts Job Options for Former Inmates

New federal grants would support work-readiness for pre-apprentice programs

Pam McFarland

April 29, 2022

Biden administration would invest $145 million over the next year for skills training to support job-readiness for pre-apprentice programs and other work re-entry options.

Codes and Standards

Washington First State to Require Electric Heat Pumps

Construction interests oppose change to state's energy code

May 3, 2022

3 Comments

Advocates say the move will reduce carbon emissions from commercial buildings.

Water Infrastructure

Senate Panel Clears Water Resources Bill With $24.7B for Corps' Projects

The largest single allocation is $19B for a Texas storm-protection project

May 4, 2022

The committee cleared the new Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, on May 4, by a 20-0 vote.

Obituaries

Norman Mineta, Former DOT Sec., House Transportation Chairman, Dies At 90

May 3, 2022

First Asian-American to lead DOT was put in internment camp during World War II.

Renewable Energy

Looming Solar Import Tariff Upends Energy-Sector Projects

Mary B. Powers

May 2, 2022

Potential retroactive US surcharge on Asian PV cells will further delay or halt projects, say 22 U.S. Senators, two governors and utilities, who urge quick dispute end to avoid 'massive disruption' in clean energy transition targets; nuclear and coal plant closures in Calif. and Indiana could be pushed back

High-Speed Rail

California High-Speed Rail Connection to Silicon Valley Approved

Greg Aragon

April 29, 2022

One Comment

The California High-Speed Rail Authority approves the first section of the project into Northern California.

Infrastructure Funding

$2.3B in New Energy Dept. Grants Targeted for Power Grid Resilience

April 28, 2022

DOE's five-year program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, would fund state and tribal projects to modernize and harden transmission systems, including in historically underrepresented communities.

Clean Energy

First Interstate Carbon Capture Pipelines Proposed in US

Mary B. Powers

April 28, 2022

Three projects would cost billions to collect CO2 from bio-refineries across upper Midwest states to be sequestered at underground sites in North Dakota and Illinois, but opponents fear big safety risks of compressed gas

I-95 Express Lanes Aerial - New Overpass (2).jpg

Subsurface Issues Push Completion of Va. Express Lanes to Late 2023

Jim Parsons

May 4, 2022

P3 project to extend lanes faces possible $100M cost rise.

Clean Energy Construction

Offshore Wind Energy Sector Has Big Gains, and Growing Pains

May 1, 2022

Leading industry conference in Atlantic City, N.J., doubled attendance last month as project interest grows in Atlantic and California from states, firms, unions and others—but permitting, transmission and staffing remain key expansion barriers.

Financially Distressed Designer EYP Group Seeks Bankruptcy Protection

Richard Korman

May 4, 2022

The Albany, N.Y-based company owes millions to creditors, including numerous staff and retirees.

A worker wearing a white hardhat and orange jacket stands smiling atop a metal floor of an under construction factory

Clean Manufacturing

Biden Administration Makes $3.1B Push to Expand US Battery Production

Corinne Grinapol

May 5, 2022

The U.S. Energy Dept. expects to grant between 17 and 34 awards for domestic investments ranging from $50 million to $400 million for each venture.

Expert Flint Witness Testimony Draws Fire

May 11, 2022

The ethics and standard-of-care witness in the negligence trial of two engineering firms connected to the 2015 Flint, Mich., water crisis said in three days of testimony that both firms failed to act to stop or limit the public danger despite having the knowledge and obligation to alert higher government authorities.

Legal

Court Orders Corps to Halt $80M Everglades Job After Bidder's Protest

May 5, 2022

US judge agreed that agency failed to properly evaluate bid of Thalle Construction, a unit of giant heavy civil contractor Tully Group, in a big canal project award last year to Phillips & Jordan.

Clean Energy Construction

The Rush Is On: Administration's $8 Billion Attracts Lots of US Hydrogen Hub Builders

Mary B. Powers

May 11, 2022

States, utilities, firms and politicians vie for infrastructure law funds to develop networks to produce and use the cleaner gas alternative.

Government

Justice Dept., EPA Ramp Up Environmental Justice Enforcement

Administration to resume use of supplemental environmental projects as an enforcement tool

Pam McFarland

May 6, 2022

Justice Department sets up new office of environmental justice enforcement.

Washington Observer

EPA, Corps Moving Forward on WOTUS Rules Update

May 11, 2022

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to continue to press forward with new rules defining the types of rivers, streams and wetlands that fall under Clean Water Act protections.

LAX People Mover Passes Construction Milestone

Work wraps up on the airport’s train guideway structure

May 11, 2022

Construction of the train guideway structure for the Los Angeles International Airport Automated People Mover has been completed.

Project Finance

European Wind Energy Sector Boosts Project Investor Interest

Peter Reina

May 8, 2022

While total financed capacity fell 11% in 2021, most was for relatively low-cost onshore wind, with the 24.6 GW funded a record for a single year, says trade group WindEurope.

Transportation

Crossrail to Begin Limited Operation in London This Month

Peter Reina

May 6, 2022

Service on London’s much delayed $23.6B Crossrail project is due to start May 24 when the tunneled section through the city opens.

Construction Jobs

Specialty Contractor Workforce Decline Dampens Construction's April Job Numbers

May 6, 2022

Construction's unemployment rate of 4.6% was the lowest ever recorded for the month of April, according to AGC.

ENR Editors Take Home Awards

Scott Blair

May 11, 2022

At the 2022 Jesse H. Neal Awards held April 26 in New York City, ENR’s editorial team walked away with three category wins and were runners up for best in show.

Construction Economics for May 16, 2022

May 11, 2022