Author: Jeanie Clapp

All across the nation, highway constructors are pulling for motorists to take it easy in their work zones – and coming up with ways to make it happen BY AMY DREW THOMPSON He didn’t have to help me, this guy. No one else did. But as he was coming out of the Wawa, a local convenience store, he saw me struggling with the air hose in the corner of the parking lot, and he stopped. It was early. Painfully so. The sun hadn’t even come up yet. But folks were already on their way to work. I was, too, but…

BY KEYAN ZANDYCEO, SKILES GROUP In the demanding world of the construction industry, finding stability between work and life can seem almost impossible. Known for its relentless demands — long hours, design and financial constraints, and unwavering deadlines — the construction industry presents a distinct set of obstacles to achieving a harmonious work-life balance. However, the rewards of achieving this equilibrium are vast. It not only boosts our morale and job fulfillment but also amplifies our efficiency, making us more productive and effective in our roles. As — an industry — we strive to deliver peak performance, ward off burnout…

BY ELWYN MCLACHLANSECTOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR TRIMBLE CIVIL SOLUTIONSA MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS Every successful project requires a coordinated blend of people, processes and tools—when any one of those components breaks down, safety risks increase, and accidents can happen. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), accidents and injuries are rising. The organization notes construction laborers accounted for almost a third of all fatal injuries in construction and extraction occupations in 2020, the highest proportion since 2016. Slips, trips and falls account for as much or more than 35.3% of workplace deaths. Looking at how technology can keep…

Sundt’s innovative safety program wins first place at the 2024 AGC Autodesk Innovation Awards program, for an initiative that goes far beyond traditional rules-based compliance programs. BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT STCKY stands for S#*! That Can Kill You – a mindset for all construction companies and their employees to pay attention to, said Paul Levin, Sundt Construction’s vice president and corporate director of health, safety and environment. The construction industry – “an industry we’ve devoted our lives to” – has data showing that even though contractors have been successful in driving down the recordable injury rate, the fatality rate has not…

This complex, impactful project took home the 2024 Construction Risk Partners Build America Grand Award BY CHRISTINE PREUSLER In the history of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), one effort stands as a colossus among its peers: the Central 70 Project. The public-private partnership (P3) between CDOT and Kiewit Infrastructure Co., a member of multiple AGC chapters, reconstructed an 11-mile stretch of I-70 — once a bottleneck for Denver’s bustling community — from six lanes to 10. The design-build-finance-operate-maintain project also included adding new express and general-purpose lanes in each direction, removing and replacing bridges, removing a half-century-old viaduct, lowering…

BY JAMES GALLAGHERPRINCIPAL, RESOLUTION MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTSAN ASSOCIATED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS OF NEW JERSEY MEMBER Design-bid-build has been a traditional format for managing construction projects. In its simplest form, it is a process where a designer designs the project, then prospective contractors bid on constructing the design and ultimately, the design is built by the contractor(s). Typically, each of these three steps is accomplished by the party in charge of that step, with little engagement or input by the other parties until the project moves to their step or until problems arise from issues resulting from a previous step. Over the last…

BY JAMIE BOLLINGER STRATEGIC ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE  CONSTRUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY AEROTEK, A MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS Constructing anything requires a lot of labor. Many think of this labor as the individuals doing the actual construction work, like the carpenters, electricians and masons. But construction managers — while not always the most visible — are equally important. They’re the ones responsible for keeping all the workers focused on the same goal, and organization is key. Construction management skills are important because they trickle down to the workers. A good manager knows the roles of their employees, their strengths and weaknesses…

Security monitoring trailers, combined with advanced back-end monitoring centers, proved the holy grail for construction site security BY GREG RANKIN The cost of building materials has skyrocketed. At the same time, vandalism and theft at construction sites are at an all-time high; now costing the industry more than a billion dollars per year. Due to these factors, among others, the need to secure commercial construction sites has never been greater. To combat the issue, much of the focus has long been on the first line of defense. Items like physical barriers, access control points and closed-circuit TV cameras have been…

Founded in 1902, Turner Construction Company, a member of multiple AGC chapters, has charged a path for advancement in construction. At the turn of the century, the company pioneered the use of steel-reinforced concrete to create safer, stronger and more efficient buildings. In the decades since, Turner has built a reputation for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation and embracing emerging technologies. One project that put Turner’s innovative spirit to the test was the Seattle Aquarium’s $160 million Ocean Pavilion expansion. The project includes the creation of three large habitats with essentially no straight edges, including a main habitat consisting…

Those in the construction industry know the importance of safety: physical, mental, emotional. Many firms contribute resources – financial and otherwise – to implement programs to ensure that each of their workers go home at the end of the day in the same condition they arrived at its start. But the idea of safety reaches far beyond physical and mental wellness. Psychological safety has entered the construction scene, an initiative that helps to ensure employees are comfortable at their workplace and can express themselves without fear of backlash. Columbia Construction, an AGC of Massachusetts member, is a third generation construction…