October 2, 2023

Check out the October 2, 2023 edition of ENR, featuring part four of our Rugged Construction Series detailing the construction of a decades-long dam project in northern British Columbia, workforce professional development, the 3Q Cost Report, news and more!

Contractors Battle Bitter Winters at $11.8B Site C Hydro Project in Canada

Jonathan Keller

Scott Blair

September 27, 2023

3 Comments

Despite harsh elements and a remote site, an army of workers reach critical milestones on decade-long dam project in British Columbia.

US Supreme Court to Review Agencies' Ability to Interpret Law

Pam McFarland

September 28, 2023

No Comments

At the start of its 2023-2024 session on Oct. 2, the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet set a date to hear arguments in a major case that could reevaluate the authority federal agencies have to interpret ambiguous language in U.S. law in rulemaking.

Transit

Clark-Stacy and Witbeck Team Wins First Contract for $6B Baltimore Amtrak Tunnel

James Leggate

September 13, 2023

No Comments

Amtrak selected the joint venture for a construction package covering the tunnel's southern approach and reconstruction of a station.

Military Projects

BL Harbert Wins $210M Contract for Air Force Nuclear Weapon Facility in Louisiana

James Leggate

September 15, 2023

No Comments

The Barksdale Air Force Base weapons generation facility would consolidate activities for the base's nuclear-capable B-52 bombers.

Environmental Protection

EPA Updates Rule on State Water Reviews of Projects

James Leggate

September 14, 2023

No Comments

EPA seemed to respond to some, but not all, concerns raised by construction industry leaders around changes to its Clean Water Act Section 401 rule.

An aerial view shows green treetops and fields with blue-topped rectangular structures in rows. The land is set along a blue waterway.

Clean Energy Manufacturing

Work Starts on $2B West Virginia Hydrogen Plant to Power Data Megasite

Mary B. Powers

September 20, 2023

No Comments

Mountaineer GigaSystem would produce blue hydrogen from natural gas and store CO2 emissions underground on state-owned property, with its first phase to open in 2028.

Natural Disasters

Causes Weighed of Catastrophic Libya Dam Failures

Pam McFarland

September 14, 2023

3 Comments

Torrential rain brought by Storm Daniel and poor maintenance of two aging, clay-core embankment dams near Derna, a coastal city, are key factors, experts say.

GAO: Trump Border Wall Caused ‘Irreparable’ Damage

Daniel Tyson

Debra K. Rubin

September 13, 2023

One Comment

Trump administration waiver of environmental rules in pushing wall construction damaged federal lands, disrupted natural water flow and wildlife migration and destroyed sacred tribal areas, U.S. Government Accountability Office audit claims.

Power Construction

Study: Permits, Cost Allocation Block Starts of Transmission Projects Worth $64B

Mary B. Powers

Debra K. Rubin

September 16, 2023

No Comments

Work to add higher-voltage capacity and 10,000 miles of new lines faces key issues in siting, cost allocation and regulatory tension, says transmission sector consultant Grid Strategies in Sept. 13 report.

Passenger Rail

Amtrak Details Ambitious Plans to Triple Capital Spending in Next Two Years

Scott Blair

September 19, 2023

No Comments

Major programs include $1B Sawtooth Bridges Replacement in New Jersey, needed to support Gateway mega-program to add rail tunnels under the Hudson River.

Cultural Centers

Long-Awaited WTC Performing Arts Center in NYC Debuts

Nadine M. Post

September 13, 2023

No Comments

Punch-listing and testing acoustics and movable parts at the World Trade Center venue, with three flexible halls that have more than 60 configurations, was like fine-tuning a Swiss watch.

ENR NY/NJ Infrastructure Forum

Federal Funding Buoys Infrastructure Work in New York, New Jersey

September 19, 2023

Now set to augment transportation construction projects underway across New York and New Jersey, officials are fast developing programs to expand infrastructure to meet climate change, resilience and sustainability needs, fueled by billions in more recent federal funding.

NY-NJ Industry Leaders See Reward, Risk in Transformational Infrastructure

September 19, 2023

Energy and resilience megaprojects starting and planned in New York and New Jersey pose big logistical challenges but will generate economic and quality of life benefits, said public and private industry experts at Sept. 15 ENR forum in New York City.

Transportation Infrastructure

Buttigieg to House Committee: Infrastructure Act Funds Are Moving Along

Tom Ichniowski

September 21, 2023

No Comments

Cost increases were a major concern of the Committee, as well as some still-unresolved details of Buy America provisions.

Railroads

US DOT Awards $1.4B in Grants to Rail Infrastructure Projects

Tom Ichniowski

September 25, 2023

No Comments

FRA receives $6B in grant applications, four times the funds available.

Energy Construction

FERC: Infrastructure Fixes Seen in Preventing Power Grid Failures

Commissioners also approved natural gas projects, including a proposed $13B expansion of the Port Arthur, Texas LNG plant

Mary B. Powers

September 23, 2023

No Comments

Analysis noted near shutdown by utlity Con Ed in NYC, as federal energy regulator also okayed four natural gas projects but left a controversial climate change measure undecided.

Clean Energy

Giant Airport Solar Energy Projects Take Off in Missouri, Virginia

Jim Parsons

September 14, 2023

No Comments

Facilities that could generate triple-digit megawatts of solar power are set to start construction at Kansas City International Airport and Dulles International Airport.

Development

Tampa Bay Rays Announce Plans for a $1.3B Ballpark in St. Petersburg

The long-awaited facility would anchor a $6.5-billion mini-city

Derek Lacey

September 19, 2023

No Comments

Plans call for 8 million sq ft of mixed-use development to revitalize the city's Historic Gas Plant District.

Codes and Standards

DOE Offers $400M to Support State Energy Codes for Commercial Buildings

James Leggate

September 19, 2023

No Comments

The funding is part of DOE's efforts to reduce buildings-sector energy use and costs, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

Keller (left) and Blair (right) visit with Javier Garcia Ruiz

Update

ENR Data Editor Visits Remote Canada Site for Project Update

Richard Korman

September 28, 2023

No Comments

Jon Keller’s official title at ENR is associate editor, surveys and rankings, and he collects and interprets much of the global construction sector data that pours into ENR.

wooden people-like figures and an up arrow

Workforce

Wanted: Core Skills to Take AEC Sector Employees to the Top

Debra K. Rubin

September 27, 2023

No Comments

Schools and industry employers boost employee professional development—from communication to team dynamics—as pandemic-altered learning and work environments impact real-world skills engagement.

2023 3Q Cost Report

Prices Level Off for Used Machines as Manufacturers Sort Out Supply Chain Issues

Pandemic-era shortages appear to have been mostly addressed

Jeff Rubenstone

September 27, 2023

No Comments

While shopping around for a used piece of construction equipment through the usual channels has taken some creative sourcing in recent years, this summer has seen prices stabilize for the most part.

2023 3Q Cost Report

Craftworker Wages Continue to Rise Amid Labor Shortages

Both open shop and union compensation levels are up with workers in high demand

Bruce Buckley

September 27, 2023

No Comments

Labor shortages and inflationary pressures continue to push up craftworker wages with recent settlements trending toward levels not seen in decades.

2023 3Q Cost Report

3Q Confidence Index: Positivity Grows Among Construction Executives

Concerns remain, but execs are hoping for a soft landing

Jonathan Keller

September 27, 2023

No Comments

ENR’s Construction Industry Confidence Index rose this quarter to its highest rating since Q1 of 2022, up six points to a nearly stable 46 rating.

2023 3Q Cost Report

High Interest Rates, Labor Woes Persist in Third Quarter

Supply chain issues have lessened as the year-end approaches

Alisa Zevin

September 27, 2023

No Comments

As the construction industry continues to grapple with the difficulties of the last several years, some sectors have fared better than others, and experts predict there is still some time to come before these issues have been settled.

Viewpoint

Future Army Corps Rulings on Streams and Wetlands: Changes and Delays Ahead

Mark Sudol

September 27, 2023

No Comments

New regulations published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dramatically reduce federal protections of previously regulated streams and wetlands.

Construction Technology

Procore Launches Payment Service, Expands Offerings at Groundbreak

Tech provider formally launches its Pay service, announces acquisition of GIS platform

James Leggate

September 22, 2023

No Comments

The construction tech firm announced a slate of new and planned offerings, including an AI-based assistant still under development.

Pulse for the Week of October 2, 2023

September 27, 2023

No Comments

Information from Pulse is derived from the Dodge Construction Network, the most powerful source of information, insights, and connections in the commercial construction industry.

Construction Economics for October 2, 2023

September 27, 2023

No Comments

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

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Our Publications

ENR

Cover Story

Contractors Battle Bitter Winters at $11.8B Site C Hydro Project in Canada

News

US Supreme Court to Review Agencies' Ability to Interpret Law

Clark-Stacy and Witbeck Team Wins First Contract for $6B Baltimore Amtrak Tunnel

BL Harbert Wins $210M Contract for Air Force Nuclear Weapon Facility in Louisiana

EPA Updates Rule on State Water Reviews of Projects

Work Starts on $2B West Virginia Hydrogen Plant to Power Data Megasite

Causes Weighed of Catastrophic Libya Dam Failures

GAO: Trump Border Wall Caused ‘Irreparable’ Damage

Study: Permits, Cost Allocation Block Starts of Transmission Projects Worth $64B

Amtrak Details Ambitious Plans to Triple Capital Spending in Next Two Years

Long-Awaited WTC Performing Arts Center in NYC Debuts

Federal Funding Buoys Infrastructure Work in New York, New Jersey

NY-NJ Industry Leaders See Reward, Risk in Transformational Infrastructure

Buttigieg to House Committee: Infrastructure Act Funds Are Moving Along

US DOT Awards $1.4B in Grants to Rail Infrastructure Projects

FERC: Infrastructure Fixes Seen in Preventing Power Grid Failures

Giant Airport Solar Energy Projects Take Off in Missouri, Virginia

Tampa Bay Rays Announce Plans for a $1.3B Ballpark in St. Petersburg

DOE Offers $400M to Support State Energy Codes for Commercial Buildings

ENR Data Editor Visits Remote Canada Site for Project Update

Feature

Wanted: Core Skills to Take AEC Sector Employees to the Top

3rd Quarter Cost Report

Prices Level Off for Used Machines as Manufacturers Sort Out Supply Chain Issues

Craftworker Wages Continue to Rise Amid Labor Shortages

3Q Confidence Index: Positivity Grows Among Construction Executives

High Interest Rates, Labor Woes Persist in Third Quarter

Departments

Future Army Corps Rulings on Streams and Wetlands: Changes and Delays Ahead

Procore Launches Payment Service, Expands Offerings at Groundbreak

Pulse for the Week of October 2, 2023

Construction Economics

Construction Economics for October 2, 2023

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