Construction Industry News

Caltrans has released its SB 1 Annual Efficiencies Report for fiscal year 2018-2019 to the California Transportation Commission, noting that its efficiency measures saved nearly $233 million—more than double the statutory goal of $100 million per year—which will be reinvested to maintain and rehabilitate state highways. Details here.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has released the October 2019 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 51.4, a decrease from the September index of 54.7.  Details here. 

With a focus on empowering people to build their future, Build Your Future Arizona (BYF Arizona) was established through a private-sector, industry-driven campaign of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation in partnership with the national Build Your Future (BYF) initiative. BYF Arizona showcases the incredible opportunities available for people to find fulfilling, high-paying careers in the construction professions—careers that can be started right out of high school, with minimum training, and allow for earning money while you learn. Details here. 

Restoration Builders Inc. announced the company has completed the asset purchase of Elbert Construction LLC. The company projects that their consolidated companies together will achieve approximately $100 million in revenue for 2019. Details here. 

Rosendin, the electrical contracting industry’s largest employee-owned firm, has announced Matt Lamb as its new chief information officer (CIO), to replace Sam Lamonica, who will retire December 2019. Details on the CIO role, Lamb and Lamonica here. 

New construction starts moved 5% lower in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $774.1 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. This marks the second consecutive monthly decline in construction starts. Details here. 

Women of Asphalt (WofA) has announced the appointment of 11 women to serve as its first Board of Directors. These accomplished women come from all facets of the asphalt industry and represent the wide range of positions and responsibilities women hold in the asphalt industry. Details here. 

Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval has stepped down as chair of the state’s transportation committee amid an FBI probe into construction fraud and corruption.

In the search for a solution to the federal government’s slow progress towards a comprehensive infrastructure package, many states have passed infrastructure bills of their own. And there are more in progress—Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker pitched a $18 billion transportation spending bill to legislators last week.

This weekend, the $85 million, 18-story Hard Rock Hotel project under construction in New Orleans, Louisiana, collapsed, killing two workers on-site and injuring 30 more people on the jobsite or in the area. Another worker is still missing four days later, and one of the bodies of the two victims has yet to be recovered.

Saudi Arabia’s new public sector procurement law, Government Tenders & Procurement Law (GTPL), will go into effect Nov. 29, 2019, covers all government projects and aims to streamline procurement and promote the use of local companies on public sector works. Details here. 

Equipment and software investment growth decelerated during the second consecutive quarter and is expected to moderate at 3.9%, according to the Q4 Update to the 2019 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook just released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Overall, the economy is expected to expand 2.2%, down from the previous estimate of 2.5%, with growth driven primarily by consumer spending. Details here. 

The Las Vegas Monorail Company secured long-term financing needed to help fund construction of a new station at Sands Avenue and to replace a short-term loan facility. The new station will provide a direct connection to the Sands Expo Center, The Venetian and The Palazzo Resorts, and to the MSG Sphere (the 18,000-seat entertainment venue currently under construction). Details here. 

Oct. 9, 2019, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Graepel North America hosted Congressman Don Bacon  as he, took a tour of Graepel’s facility, and discussed the public policies issues creating the biggest challenges for Graepel and many in the equipment manufacturing industry during a town hall style discussion. Details here. 

Dodge Data & Analytics will hold its 81st annual Dodge Construction Outlook Conference on Oct. 30-31, 2019, at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, where the company will unveil the construction industry outlook for 2020. Details here. 

Hino Trucks is stepping into the National Football League (NFL) arena again to announce an additional partnership with an NFL team—the Los Angeles Rams. As the “Official Commercial Truck of the Los Angeles Rams,” Hino will work with the Rams to carry out their mutual goal of creating an authentic experience for their fan bases in southern California. Details here. 

Hexagon’s Geosystems division has announced plans to further cooperate with Procore, a provider of construction management software, to bring more efficiencies to the building construction industry. The developing relationship between the two organizations focuses on linking Hexagon’s reality capture, measurement and digital construction positioning solutions and Procore’s suite of construction management solutions. These integrations will result in increased efficiency and productivity across building construction projects. Details here. 

Rosendin has been honored with 3 industry awards (2019 Safety Excellence Award from National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC, Women in Construction of the Year 2019 Award, and The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association's 2019 Luna Award for Business Advocate of the Year in Austin) for their efforts to further inclusion and diversity in construction, as they celebrate 100 years in business. Details here. 

The Engineering Contractors' Association (ECA), has chosen John Hakel of the Southern California Partnership for Jobs (SCPFJ) as their 32nd annual dignity, integrity and generosity (DIG) Award recipient. The DIG Award is specific to the construction industry. Hakel serves as the executive director at SCPFJ, a group whose mission is to engage elected officials and educate the public on the need for continued infrastructure funding that creates thousands of jobs in construction within the region. Details here. 

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) hasannounced the winners of the 2019 John P. Gleason Jr. Leadership Awards, honoring PCA members who have exhibited leadership in advancing industry programs and initiatives. Details here.