June 29, 2009

News for contractors and the construction industry

§  More contractors sought for New Orleans storm-protection projects
The Army Corps of Engineers intends to announce nearly 40 construction contracts worth about $3 billion over the next few months for New Orleans' levees and other projects designed to protect the city from hurricanes. The move is aimed at boosting the city's readiness for the 2011 hurricane season. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (6/27)

§  Quick construction in Las Vegas comes at a cost, analysts say
Construction projects in Las Vegas are often completed on an accelerated schedule. However, a recent media report links the quick pace of construction to accidents and injuries. Observers also note that building too quickly can lead to design errors that require costly building modifications. The Fontainebleau project, for example, began construction before final designs for major building elements were finished. Two years later, some of the project's final designs still aren't completed. Las Vegas Sun (6/28)

§  Dallas parkway construction delayed as Corps studies sand
Underground sand in the Trinity River could delay the construction of a parkway in Dallas by nearly two years. Army Corps of Engineers officials say they must study the effect of the sand on the city's flood protection system. They are concerned that water could seep through the sand and weaken levees. The Dallas Morning News (6/28)

§  Work starts on new Michigan lock
After more than 20 years of planning, work has begun on Michigan's Soo Lock. Two $1.9 million coffer dams will hold back the St. Mary's River, allowing construction to start on the lock, which will complement the aging Poe Lock. The project could create 15,000 jobs over the next decade, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The Detroit News (6/29)

§  Lawsuit provides insight into collapse of Cowboys' facility
The company that built the practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys that recently collapsed was sued for negligence related to the collapse of a warehouse in Philadelphia. Expert testimony during the lawsuit revealed that Cover-All Building Systems' engineering team made several mistakes of "amazing proportions" that caused the warehouse to collapse. In addition, a consultant employed by the company said he did not review local building codes. The Dallas Morning News (6/28)

§  Wis. to require BIM on large public projects
On July 1, Wisconsin will become the first state to require building information modeling on large public construction projects. Observers note that requiring BIM will prompt many architects to switch to a three-dimensional design. They also note that state officials are experienced with BIM. Thirteen projects that involved BIM were completed during a pilot program launched in 2008. Building Design + Construction (free registration) (6/27)

§  Construction cost index declines with material costs
A decrease in the cost of materials caused the Construction Cost Index calculations to fall 2% in the quarter ending April 2009 from the previous quarter. The index declined by 7.9% on an annualized basis. However, observers note that labor rates continue to increase, despite layoffs in the construction industry. Reed/ACP Construction Data (6/26)

§  Other News

·         Contractors will have more opportunities in El Paso in 2009, 2010, experts say
El Paso Times (Texas) (6/27)

§  Bridge rehabilitation poses unique challenges
The unique design of 105-year-old Riegelsville Bridge over the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey has posed engineering challenges during a $7 million rehabilitation project. The bridge is a Roebling suspension bridge with continuous cables and is under the control of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The bridge rehabilitation is part of a $950 million-plus capital improvement program. The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) (6/28)

§  Engineers questioned strength of bolts on Md.'s Bay Bridge
Federal transportation engineers investigating a crash on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland raised questions about the integrity of the internal U-bolts holding the bridge's barriers. The engineers' e-mails stated that some of the bolts were corroded. However, federal highway officials say the engineers were not heavily involved in the investigation, which was handled by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) (6/28)

Top five news stories selected by AGC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

§  Rebar cage collapses at Nevada airport, five injured (Las Vegas Sun)

§  Missouri construction firms struggle to stay afloat (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

§  Mass. bill would ban some Big Dig contractors from stimulus jobs (SouthCoastToday.com)

§  Fontainebleau general contractor faces two more lawsuits (Las Vegas Sun)

§  Dispute over new Detroit bridge escalates (Crain's Detroit Business)

·         Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

§  New version of LEED standard kicks in next week
New green building standards become effective next week. The revised LEED system requires building owners to submit data each year about how much energy and water their building uses -- or else get re-certified every two years. Observers say the new standards could boost demand for energy-related technology for buildings. The New York Times/GigaOm (6/28) , Earth2Tech (6/28)

§  Other News

·         West Coast port officials push for stronger rail connections
Yahoo!/McClatchy Newspapers (6/28)

§  Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Parts 1,5,6
This book is a must-have for contractors involved in highway construction. The Federal Highway Administration has totally revised the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Parts 1, 5 and 6 Temporary Traffic Control, and contractors are required to know about and meet these new specifications. This manual will help you meet those requirements. Perfect bound, 7" x 9" on 285 pages, 2003 Edition. To purchase copies, visit www.agc.org/bookstore, item #3509.

§  Excavation & Trenching Package
The Excavation & Trenching Training Manual & CD-ROM work very nicely in combination with "In the Trenches: Excavation Safety for Workers" DVD and "Construction Standards for Excavation." Whether you are training to become an Excavation Competent Person or providing jobsite excavation and trenching training, these products work together to provide a complete experience. To purchase copies, visit www.agc.org/bookstore, keyword "Excavation."