A timeline of racist incidents on US and Canadian construction sites

Since the spring, Construction Dive has followed reports of graffiti, nooses and other overt forms of discrimination on construction jobsites. Here are the most high-profile incidents this year.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 19, 2020

Report: New York City's annual construction spending projected to drop by $4B

The New York Building Congress predicts that nonresidential construction spending will dip to $16.6 billion in 2020 from $21.2 billion in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

By Construction Dive staff

Jacobs donates $8M to Dallas park expansion project

The construction and engineering firm will name the new green space The Jacobs Lawn.

By Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 16, 2020

Elon Musk's plan for Vegas Loop system one step closer to reality

Following successful tunneling at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Boring Co. is looking to expand its underground transit system to more destinations on the Strip and beyond.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 16, 2020

SBA, Treasury unveil simplified PPP forgiveness documents

The federal government has rolled out a two-page version of its forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program loans of $50,000 or less in an effort to ease the burden for lenders and small businesses.

By Anna Hrushka • Oct. 15, 2020

Florida DOT says Skanska will be on the hook for lost toll revenue following bridge shutdown

Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended tolls on another bridge near the Pensacola Bay Bridge that was damaged by the contractor’s barges during Hurricane Sally.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 15, 2020

Infrastructure investments will be driven by new technology

New innovations and practices will be imperative to stretching public dollars and convincing private investors of above market returns on infrastructure opportunities, writes industry expert Kate Gasparro.

By Kate Gasparro • Oct. 14, 2020

Survey: Firms adapting analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning

However, executives responding to the survey also said social distancing and remote work during the pandemic are hindering productivity.

By Aman Kidwai • Oct. 14, 2020

Labor Department tackles questions about Trump's diversity training limits

The Trump administration's guidance and language are "unusual" compared to what is typically found in nondiscrimination law, an attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 14, 2020

After a brief uptick, commercial construction backlog falls again

New data "indicate that we are in the early stages of a nonresidential construction spending downturn," said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. 

By Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 14, 2020

Lendlease announces $700M Brooklyn waterfront apartment project

The Australian firm said that the 800-unit project, which will increase its development footprint in the U.S. to more than $21.5 billion, aligns with its strategy to grow its business in targeted U.S. cities. 

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 13, 2020

Report: Nearly half of America's deadliest jobs are in construction

Roofers, ironworkers and crane operators are among the top 10 most dangerous occupations, while construction overall continues to be the deadliest field to work in across all U.S. industries. 

By Joe Bousquin • Oct. 13, 2020

Crane watch: 7 mega-billion mixed-use projects

Some megaprojects have suffered coronavirus-related delays but most are ready to begin or continue construction. Here is an update on seven of the most expensive mixed-use developments in the country.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 13, 2020

Top contractors name new corporate execs, board members

Fluor, AECOM, Granite, Gilbane and Jacobs have announced new leadership in recent months while dealing with COVID-19 and diversity challenges.

By Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 12, 2020

Virgin Hyperloop to build certification center in West Virginia

Seventeen other states were in the running to land the project, which will include testing facilities, a training center, manufacturing space and a certification track.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 12, 2020

Google gets green light for multibillion-dollar mixed-use project in San Jose, California

Construction may begin as soon as next year, and will take between 10 to 30 years to fully build out.

By Jennifer Goodman • Updated June 1, 2021

Carpenters form committee to help prevent worker suicides

A Los Angeles-based union has formed the Brotherhood Outreach for Strength and Support to help quash the stigma of mental health in construction and boost resources.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 8, 2020

Hospital CEO demands contractor EllisDon address systemic racism

In an open letter published this week, the head of Michael Garron Hospital told EllisDon CEO Geoff Smith "to be a leader in dismantling systemic racism on this construction site" and in the industry.

By Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 8, 2020

8 'Infrastructure Gamechangers'

From lava-resistant roadways to crowdfunded water treatment systems, these civil projects used technology, innovative delivery methods and creative financing approaches to get the job done.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 7, 2020

Report: Wisconsin prevailing wage repeal yielded lost construction jobs, lower wages

A new study contends that the state's prevailing wage repeal has not yielded the cost savings and other benefits lawmakers promised, but a Wisconsin ABC official said that's not true and that wages have gone up. 

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 7, 2020

Swinerton to enter New York City office market

The San Francisco-based contractor has ambitious plans to target corporate interiors in the Big Apple, despite the uncertainty over the future of offices and urban centers post-pandemic.

By Joe Bousquin • Oct. 7, 2020

Bodies recovered from collapse at Houston Marathon Oil site

After two days of excavation, the bodies of three workers killed when a stairwell collapsed were retrieved by the Houston Fire Department.

By Kim Slowey • Updated Oct. 8, 2020

Report: Crane counts in North American cities drop for first time since 2017

While four cities saw an increase in the number of cranes, others experienced what Rider Levett Bucknall called a “significant decrease” in cranes, dropping by as much as 76%.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 6, 2020

OSHA: Employers have 8 hours to report work-related COVID-19 deaths

The agency also outlined reporting requirements for hospitalizations.

By Kate Tornone • Oct. 6, 2020

New York union boss indicted for racketeering, fraud and bribery

James Cahill, president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, was indicted along with 10 additional officials connected to two other unions.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 5, 2020