from Mark Smith, Advocate, California Builders Alliance
Canadian infrastructure firm WSP has made a multibillion-dollar bid to acquire Dallas-based Jacobs, StreetInsider reports. Jacobs has reportedly hired Centerview Partners to review the offer, which is mostly in stock. WSP has a history of aggressive mergers and acquisitions, with recent acquisitions including Ricardo and Lexica in the UK and Power Engineers in the US.
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Full Story: Construction Dive |
The Senate has voted 59-41 to revoke President Donald Trump's emergency tariff powers, a move aimed at restoring congressional control over trade policy amid rising construction material costs. The bipartisan effort, led by Sen. Ron Wyden, faces a tough path in the House and a likely Trump veto, but it highlights the economic strain of tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper, which have led to project delays and increased costs. "Tariffs are taxes; they drive up the costs for things Americans buy every day and make it harder for American businesses to thrive and create more jobs," says Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. "There is a limit to how many price increases the market can absorb before owners put projects on hold," says Associated General Contractors of America CEO Jeffrey Shoaf.
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Full Story: Engineering News-Record (tiered subscription model) |
The Federal Reserve's 25-basis-point interest rate cut has boosted confidence among contractors, with some projects resuming and developers preparing for more favorable financing conditions in early 2026. Robert Brown, president and CEO of GCM Contracting Solutions, notes a steady return of confidence since the first rate cut in September, although factors such as labor and material costs remain challenges. "Most of our clients see this as the start of a sustained easing cycle and are preparing accordingly," Brown says.
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Full Story: Construction Dive |
The US hotel construction pipeline remained stable in Q3, with 6,205 projects and 728,416 rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics. Brand conversions reached a record high, with 1,477 projects and 148,035 rooms. Dallas led in construction activity, while extended-stay projects made up 40% of the pipeline.
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Full Story: Hotel Dive |
The National Institute for Standards and Technology has released a report offering a framework for prioritizing infrastructure projects amid limited funding and increasing extreme weather events. The report, which focuses on seismic hazards and the transportation sector, can be applied to other infrastructure types and hazards. "It's a document that talks about the framework for thinking about how to make investments based on the vulnerabilities within a community," says Jennifer Goupil, chief resilience officer at the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Full Story: Engineering News-Record (tiered subscription model) |
The Department of Transportation has updated guidance on its Disadvantaged Business Enterprises interim final rule, which removes race- and sex-based presumptions of disadvantage. The Oct. 24 guidance clarifies that there are no set deadlines for submitting reevaluation documents or for Unified Certification Programs to complete reevaluations, and it confirms that firms must be reevaluated by their jurisdiction of original certification. However, the guidance does not address standards for evaluating social and economic disadvantage, leaving some uncertainty for stakeholders.
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Full Story: JD Supra |
Humanoid robots could be a transformative solution for the construction industry's labor shortage and productivity issues, according to a report from McKinsey. The report encourages general contractors to start planning for the integration of humanoid robots by identifying areas where they can be most beneficial, such as filling productivity gaps and reducing hazardous risks. The report outlines different adoption strategies, from being first movers to selective deployers, each with its own risks and benefits.
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Full Story: Construction Dive |
The US government has teamed up with Westinghouse Electric, Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management on a $80 billion project to build Westinghouse AP1000 reactors nationwide, an initiative expected to create over 100,000 construction jobs. Officials said the partnership will expand nuclear power capacity, strengthen domestic energy security and boost nuclear technology exports.
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Full Story: Construction Briefing |
The ongoing government shutdown, which has lasted over three weeks, is significantly impacting OSHA's operations, with only about 20% of staff working to address critical safety needs. This disruption may affect OSHA's ability to meet deadlines, such as issuing citations within six months of inspections. Additionally, the shutdown complicates the rulemaking process, including the proposed heat injury and illness standard, which has an October 30 deadline for public comments. Employers are advised to stay vigilant about compliance and deadlines despite the government's closure.
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Full Story: Construction Dive (10/23) |
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, under the leadership of Emily Domenech, is working to keep key infrastructure projects on track during the government shutdown. The council has recalled essential staff and is coordinating with agencies. It has achieved significant progress in permitting mining projects, completing several during the shutdown, and aims to list 50 projects by year-end.
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Full Story: E&E News |
While unpredictable weather is the top disruptor for construction projects, slow payments cause the most severe and lasting delays, according to a study by Mobilization Funding. Seventy-six percent of projects affected by late payments lose at least a week, and 38% lose more than three weeks. The report recommends practices such as securing mobilization funding before work begins and setting payment calendars to reduce delays.
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Full Story: For Construction Pros |
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri, who took over in August 2024, aims to revive the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles high-speed rail project by restructuring the team, optimizing design standards and seeking diverse funding sources, including public-private partnerships and federal loans. Choudri's efforts come amid challenges such as funding constraints, political opposition and the recent termination of $4 billion in grants by the Trump administration.
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Full Story: Smart Cities Dive |
Bechtel and Kiewit have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commerce Department to support Japan's $550 billion investment in US infrastructure, including power, data centers and manufacturing. The deal includes partnerships with Mitsubishi Electric, TDK and Fujikura.
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Full Story: Construction Dive |
The Golden Gate Bridge will undergo a $1 billion seismic retrofit aimed at enhancing earthquake resilience. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has approved the project after decades of planning, and construction is set to begin in 2026, lasting 11 years.
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Full Story: KGO-TV (San Francisco) |
The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously voted to commission a study on the effects of raising the minimum wage for construction workers on mid-sized residential projects from $18 to $32.50 per hour, with an additional $7.65 per hour health care credit. The study will examine alternative rates, economic impacts, and wage trends by construction project type. The council seeks to address wage theft and worker exploitation, while ensuring adequate labor supply for housing needs.
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Full Story: MyNewsLA (Los Angeles) |
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Mark Smith
Advocate
California Builders Alliance
5370 Elvas Avenue ǀ Sacramento, CA 95819
Cell: 916.335.5072
Email: mark.smith@calbuilders.org
Email: mark@smithpolicygroup.com
