Washington plans highway bridge over avalanche snows

The state and federal governments have signed off on a plan to put Interstate 90 on a bridge in Snoqualmie Pass and let avalanches slide underneath it.

By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2013

Is the D.C. apartment building bubble about to pop?

The federal government's sequester spending cuts may impede Washington's "recession-proof" apartment boom.

By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2013

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

U.S. Green Building Council: $271B needed to fix schools, $542B to modernize them

The U.S. Green Building Council figures it will take $271 billion just to cover deferred maintenance at U.S. schools sand a lot more to modernize them.

By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2013

McGraw-Hill's big data launch targets execs' planning needs

A web-based, subscription-required capitalizes on the data McGraw-Hill has in its Dodge subsidiary and is being called Dodge MarketShare.

By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2013

Missouri bumps up sales tax to fund road construction

Everyone is concerned that traditional funding sources for highway and other projects are shrinking in the face of rising fuel economy, and the Missouri Senate has backed a penny sales tax rise.

By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2013

OK City seeks developer to build housing over garage

The Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority thinks a second RFP may do better than its first in getting someone interested in build three floors of housing on top of a 10-story downtown garage.

By Ron Gallagher • March 16, 2013

McCarthy taps up-and-comer as Houston operations VP

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. likes what it found in Ben Johanneman, who became a project director in seven years, and has promoted him to vice president of operations in its Houston office.

By Ron Gallagher • March 15, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: A green Walgreens and federal funds

Here's your weekly short and snappy briefing on our most popular news reads of the last few days.

By Brian Warmoth • March 14, 2013

Wells Fargo subsidiary bullish on construction in 2013

The bank's subsidiary that finances contractors' purchases has an Optimism Quotient that is in positive territory this year.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Jan. boost in highway construction may not pave way for turnaround

Highway construction put in place rose 4% in January from 2012, but the industry is still smarting from a annual decline of 4% for all of 2012.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Report: Green buildings can make more money for real estate investors

The World Green Building Council lays out reasons it believes sustainable, efficient buildings make for better real estate investments.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Feb. materials price increase steepest in almost two years

Soft lumber prices stood 27% above February 2012, offsetting some commodities that were down over the last 12 months, for a 1.3% overall rise.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

How much snowfall can roofs withstand?

Adherence to building codes should result in roofs that can handle recent snows in the Midwest and Northeast.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

Companies must learn how to work with today's talent pool — youth

Younger workers may seem short on loyalty, but your success requires a team, so give them what they need to get what you need.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Ahern Rentals to auction construction machinery mid-bankruptcy

The auction is Friday in Las Vegas, where Ahern is based, but distant bidders can get in live via the Internet.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Recovering economy gives contractors hope — but is it just an illusion?

At AGC's annual meeting, words of encouragement were accompanied by words of caution.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Program financing nursing-facility makeovers may benefit contractors

A new national program by CapitalSource targets nursing facility renovations and repairs in an aging U.S. could bring construction work .

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Iraq contract scheme lands U.S. engineer in jail

After a guilty plea to three of 54 counts of a federal indictment, former Corps of Engineers employee John Alfy Salama Markus will go to prison for rigging Corps contract awards in Iraq.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

How to turn a dingy, old bathroom into a posh, new cafe

It's not a market-making redevelopment, but two entrepreneurs have converted an underground Victorian-era men's lavatory into a London coffee shop.

By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2013

Report: After earthquakes, buildings vulnerable to fires

Worcester Polytech experts showed in a test building at UC San Diego that gaps in walls, jammed doors and elevator chimneys posed dangers even though sprinklers still worked.

By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2013

Oman calls on engineers for new national rail system

Firms are now vying to win a preliminary-design engineering contract for a brand new, 1,000-kilometer railroad and nine freight yards in the sultanate.

By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2013

Senate hopes to restore highway funds

The Senate's version of the "continuing resolution" to fund the government – what the U.S. has come to do instead of passing a budget every year – seeks to protect transportation.

By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2013

GMC, Chevy offer service bonus for truck fleets

For businesses that are replenishing their truck fleets, General Motors is offering a special service package in  hopes of winning their business.

By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2013

What will highway building look like without federal funds?

Politicians do not cut ribbons on repair projects, and the Highway Trust Fund is dwindling, so what might transportation construction might look like down the road (or rail, or bike path).

By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2013

McGraw-Hill study: More evidence green building is mainstream

A new study adds evidence that green building is growing – and growing because it's good business, not just public relations.

By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2013