| November 3, 2009 | News for contractors and the construction industry |
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- California bridge may need more repairs, officials say
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge may need to close again for permanent repairs, according to state engineers who have daily inspections planned. The bridge reopened on Monday, and repairs include reinforced parts that reduce friction and control vibration, officials said. "We've taken care of what we believe are the big issues that led to this failure," California DOT Chief Engineer Rick Land said. Still, officials noted that they hope to create a long-term strategy that won't require day-to-day inspections. Google/The Associated Press
(11/3)
      
- Remote location is key obstacle for pipeline
The remote route of a crude-oil pipeline would pose personnel challenges during construction, project managers said. Access to medical facilities during construction of the TransCanada Keystone pipeline, which will run through western South Dakota, is the key concern, they noted, adding that housing would be difficult as well. South Dakota's Public Utilities Commission this week began a formal hearing on the company's permit application for the project. Google/The Associated Press
(11/2)
- New Jersey, Delaware sue to stop Army Corps' river project
New Jersey officials believe the plan to deepen the Delaware River devised by the Army Corps of Engineers could expose residents to pollution, and they have filed a lawsuit to block the project. In its lawsuit, New Jersey said the Corps must sample the sediment and secure a state permit before it starts the project. Delaware filed a similar lawsuit last week. Reuters
(11/2)
- New York wants up-front payment from Aqueduct contractor
The six companies bidding to redevelop New York State's Aqueduct racetrack must provide the state with proof that they can pay $200 million to the state within 30 days if they are selected. The request by Gov. David Paterson is the second change in the bidding rules in the past three months and is expected to eliminate bidders from the competition. Crain's New York Business
(11/2)
- Fontainebleau developer to appeal legal decisions
Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC will appeal a court decision rejecting its request for lenders to turn over funding that would allow it to restart construction on a Las Vegas resort. The developer will also appeal a ruling that would move the lawsuit out of bankruptcy court and into federal district court. Las Vegas Sun
(11/2)
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- Sandherr: Business conditions remain dire for contractors
Data released by the federal government suggests no signs of an upcoming recovery for the construction industry, industry officials say. The Census Bureau found that construction investments fell by 20.6% between September 2008 and September 2009. "These figures show just how dire business conditions are for the nation's contractors and their 6 million-plus employees," Stephen Sandherr, AGC's CEO, said. "The only green shoots contractors are seeing are the weeds sprouting around their idle construction equipment." Building Design + Construction (free registration)
(11/2)
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Construction spending posts gains in September: An uptick in public construction helped construction spending post its biggest gain in a year in September, according to data released by the Commerce Department. Spending on construction projects climbed 0.8% to $940.3 billion. Analysts expected spending to decline 0.2% in September. Reuters
(11/2)
- Panel considers ways to create jobs
A White House advisory panel on jobs creation has proposed ways to spur jobs creation but acknowledges it is reluctant to spend government funds to promote job growth because of concerns about the growing national debt. Proposals include boosting overseas sales as a percentage of gross domestic product and creating a national infrastructure bank. The Wall Street Journal
(11/3)
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- OSHA lists top 10 workplace safety violations
Scaffolding violations topped the list of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's preliminary list of the top 10 most frequent safety violations for 2009. Fall protection violations and hazard communication violations came in second and third place, respectively. OSHA noted that the number of most common violations rose 30% in 2009 from year-ago levels. Today's Facility Manager/Facility Blog
(11/2009)
- Surface transportation funding extended for 7 weeks
Washington lawmakers late last week extended surface transportation funding for an additional seven weeks. However, some state transportation officials note that the states' contract authority is lower than it was in a similar period a year ago. The extension is the second since the previous five-year spending program expired at the end of September. Logistics Management (free registration)
(11/2)
- $8 billion boost for high-speed passenger-rail services
The Federal Railroad Administration will hand out $8 billion in stimulus spending to state applicants to spur the development of high-speed passenger services. The money will probably start to flow in January, a few months later than originally planned. "This is a transformational time for passenger rail," said FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo. "We're taking a few more months to make sure the $8 billion is clearly invested in the right places." The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires
(11/2)
- EPA will discuss climate bill with Senate committee
Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., will allow Environmental Protection Agency officials to answer questions about a proposed climate-change bill today. Boxer hopes the EPA's participation will bring Republican lawmakers back into the negotiations. Republican lawmakers have said they want a "complete analysis" of the bill before it moves ahead. They have until 5 p.m. today to submit suggested changes to the legislation. EENews.net (subscription required)
(11/3)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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Interested in learning more about advertising in the AGC SmartBrief? Contact Jim Pataki at (202) 737-5500 x273 or jpataki@smartbrief.com.
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