Author: Jeanie Clapp

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES AT RISK BY LISA KOPOCHINSKI As the world reopens and construction projects ramp up following two years of a worldwide pandemic, vehicular accidents in work zones are increasing. A recent study conducted by AGC of America and HCSS reveals that 64% of highway contractors experienced crashes into their work zones during the past year, (an uptick from 60% in last year’s survey). In addition, an overwhelming majority, 97% percent, report that highway work zones are either as dangerous, or more dangerous, than they were a year ago. This is not an industry-only problem.…

BY STEVEN H. MILLER Construction on water is a significant challenge. Factor in a fast- moving river and a waterfall producing high-velocity currents on the downstream side and you’ve complicated the project tenfold. To repair the Willamette Falls Fishway, Advanced American Construction met those challenges with ingenuity and innovation and won the 2022 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award in the category of Environmental Enhancement. Willamette Falls is situated in the midst of the Willamette River in Oregon, between Oregon City and West Linn, about 30 miles upstream from Portland. The falls— about 1,500 feet long with an elevation change…

IT WAS THE STATE OF MICHIGAN’S FIRST MASS TIMBER PROJECT, ONE THAT TRANSFORMED MSU’S AGING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT INTO WHAT WILL BE A LASTING HUB OF LEARNING AND ROLLED OVER ITS MANY CHALLENGES — INCLUDING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC — LIKE THE SPARTANS’ DEFENSE. BY A.D. THOMPSON It’s lean and green and — like the Michigan State University football team on game day — unabashedly mean in the best ways, cut- ting a graceful silhouette as it welcomes undergrads in this nearly 170-year-old institution’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs into a brand-new collaborative space, built in part by an impressive…

AGC LEADS THE WAY TOWARD BUILDING A GREENER FUTURE BY AUTUMN CAFIERO GIUSTI Understanding the industry’s role with climate change has become a top priority in construction. With the federal government im- posing new climate change policies and exploring limitations on high-carbon building materials, commercial contractors are looking at their carbon footprint while contributing to building improvements into the nation’s infrastructure. Industry leaders are banding together to develop strategies that construction companies can implement — from exploring electric vehicles and equipment to sustainable building practices. Meanwhile, discussions are taking place on the national level to identify steps the industry can…

AGC HANDS OUT TWO NEW AWARDS HONORING INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS BY NICK FORTUNA For more than three decades now, AGC has recognized member companies that exemplify a true commitment to safety through the Construction Safety Excellence Awards. This year, however, individual accolades were on the line, as AGC expanded its awards program to honor safety and health professionals and front-line supervisors and field personnel. Sponsored by Milwaukee Tool, the two new awards recognize individual employees who have helped member companies achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence. The awards were presented at the annual AGC Construction Safety & Health…

AGC ADVOCATES FOR EXTENDING THE EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT Contractors that have struggled over the past two years due to the pandemic shutdowns and project delays because of supply chain shortages can seek relief with the federal Employee Retention Credit. This and other federal and state tax incentives can help contractors substantially, experts say. EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT When the pandemic began, Congress moved quickly to create two incentive programs for businesses — the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), says Jay Woods, founder and president of Omega Accounting Solutions based in Laguna Niguel, California.…

NO MATTER THE PROJECT LOCATION, A ROBUST SAFETY, STORM AND DISASTER READINESS PLAN IS A MUST BY LISA KOPOCHINSKI Whoever said that life, death and taxes are the three things in life that are certain forgot to include weather as the fourth. Just ask anyone in the construction industry, and they’ll tell you that Mother Nature has her own ideas. This is why disaster preparedness is more vital than ever especially if you live and work in an area prone to hurricanes, floods and flash floods. EXTREME WEATHER Christopher Diaz is vice president of environmental, health, and safety for Balfour…

STREET SMARTS AND CAREFUL PLANNING CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESSFUL PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS BY STEVEN H. MILLER The first riddle you ever heard, very likely, was about a chicken crossing the road. Traffic’s incompatibility with pedestrians has led to the invention of traffic cops, stop signs, traffic lights and various other methods of temporarily halting the road. But in cases where the traffic can’t be stopped, there are ways around it, either below or above. Pedestrian tunnels under roadways have been common for decades, and increasingly, walkways have been built overhead. These walkways and bridges for bipeds present interesting challenges in construction A…

AGC MEMBERS SHARE STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING TOMORROW’S CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE BY NICK FORTUNA When recruiters from Crane Industry Services (CIS), an AGC Georgia member, show up to a job fair, they know that their company’s booth will be among the most popular at the event. That’s because several dozen young jobseekers typically signed up the day before for a 10-minute session on one of the company’s construction equipment simulators, giving them a realistic snapshot of life at a jobsite. Amid a stubborn labor shortage, recruiting and retaining workers is serious business, but that isn’t stopping CIS from appealing to the kid…

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT Contractors are far more upbeat about this year than they were at the start of 2021 — though tough challenges still exist. AGC experts, contractors and vendors, on a January webinar and in interviews with Constructor, share their insights on the opportunities as well as challenges for 2022. “Contractors are overall very optimistic about the outlook for the year,” says Steve Sandherr, CEO, AGC of America. “They expect demand for most types of projects to increase, and as a result, most firms plan to add staff. Contractors also continue to invest…