Some 25 states around the U.S. are teaming up with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve signage, pavement markings, and lighting on dangerous roadways. Officials say the effort is already saving lives in South Carolina, where deadly accidents were on the rise. The FHWA hired a private company to install the low-cost…(Read More)
Some may think the construction industry is a harsh place to work, but there is heart among those who make their living in the field. The human interest stories featured in this post include the rescue of a kitten from a tree, the gathering of 2,000 loose coins from an antique collection, and the…(Read More)
Three companies have received “Contractor Safety Awards” from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) Transportation Development Foundation. ARBTA.org reports the initiative promotes worker safety and health as core values of the transportation design and construction industry. Judges evaluated the entries based on corporate safety culture, operational safety plans and worker training…(Read More)
Project delays and cost overruns are common in the construction industry, and now a report from McGraw Hill Construction delves into the causes, remedies and solutions. The company’s new SmartMarket Report features input from some 3,000 U.S. owners, architects and contractors, as well as commentary from an advisory panel of seven leading…(Read More)
The jobs outlook for the rest of 2014 is more in line with pre-recession forecasts. That’s according to Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder, who adds that employers are casting a greater vote of confidence in permanent and seasonal hiring. “What’s also encouraging is that recruitment plans for small businesses with more than…(Read More)
It’s a mini-boom in plant construction. A 12.6 percent increase in new and expanding factories (and other non-residential construction) is sparking economic growth, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. USAToday.com reports that after years of factory closings diminished the nation’s industrial footprint, the uptick is welcome news. “An…(Read More)
Engineers at Tufts University in Boston, MA are using wireless sensors and flying robots that could eventually be utilized by authorities to monitor the condition of bridges in real time. That’s according to Jean-Pierre Joosting’s article in Electronics-eetimes.com. He says that with rising maintenance and inspection costs, automated preventative technology…(Read More)
Cabinet officials met recently in Washington, DC to encourage creativity that will increase private investment in highways, bridges, and other infrastructure. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew led the brainstorming summit, and shared details on public-private-partnership projects that are getting underway in Florida and Pennsylvania. Lew says the…(Read More)
Road work—especially on highways—is an ongoing problem for firefighters and many other emergency responders. Are construction companies aware of how traffic, detours, and broken up road surfaces challenge emergency crews in life and death situations? This story from Fort Worth, TX offers insights from the other side. http://www.betterroads.com/highway…(Read More)
Construction companies continue the struggle to fully staff projects. The skilled labor shortage is giving workers the edge in busy markets such as Houston, but quieter areas are also short-staffed. How bad is it? Camden Property Trust, a Houston-based apartment developer has recently started putting guards on job sites to keep its workers…(Read More)
