Construction Bulletin articles from January 2005

Construction Bulletin archives from January 2005

MSP Airport Report.(Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport)
January 7, 2005... Staff The decision by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) on whether to go ahead with the first phase of an $862-million expansion at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been delayed until later this month. The...

Congressional Inaction Costly.(highway construction)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2005... Staff Inaction by the U.S. Congress has resulted in delays to a pair of major Twin Cities metropolitan area highway construction projects. Because Congress has failed to reauthorize the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century...

The Real Question.(highway construction)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2005... Staff The value of construction work performed on U.S. highway and bridge projects should reach $69 billion in fiscal year 2005, up from $66 billion in fiscal year 2004, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders...

Bonding Bill.
January 7, 2005... Dave Aeikens, St. Cloud Times Kathy Zavala is eager to see state lawmakers make quick work of a bill authorizing building projects. Zavala is executive director of the Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council. Her agency is part of...

Editor's Report.(transportation)
January 7, 2005... By George Rekela Anyone who operates a vehicle traveling on the highways and streets of the Twin Cities metropolitan area knows that we spend way too much time sitting in traffic. Congestion, especially during rush-hour times, impedes...

Forecast 2005.(construction activities)
January 7, 2005... Staff Lack of a Minnesota bonding bill combined with Congress' inaction on TEA-21 reauthorization cloud the year's outlook Similar to the recent presidential election race, the volume of 2004 construction contract awards in the states...

Slow Growth Anticipated.(Portland Cement Association, construction industry )
January 7, 2005... By Ed Sullivan, Chief Economist, Portland Cement Association Three key considerations factor into construction industry outlook for 2005 Higher oil prices will slow overall U.S. economic activity, delaying a recovery in non-residential...

Thrive Or Dive?(construction industry forecasts)(Industry Overview)
January 7, 2005... By Kenneth Simonson, Chief Economist, Associated General Contractors of America The construction industry may be on the upswing, but the picture isn't as rosy as the outlook may suggest The construction industry has played a powerful...

Contract Award Totals.(construction industry )
January 14, 2005... Staff Weak December totals drive 2004 contract awards below results achieved in 2003 A somewhat surprisingly slow December for construction contract awards in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota saw award totals for...

People.(David Rettner joins American Engineering Testing Inc., Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. appointed Glenn Schreiner, Michael Kramer and Nicolas Muller, Elaine Erickson appointed as board of directors of the American Subcontractors Association)
January 14, 2005... Staff David Rettner has joined American Engineering Testing (AET), Inc. as principal engineer for the firm's St. Paul office. AET is an employee-owned company. The firm and its affiliate, American Petrographic Services, Inc. specialize in...

Pawlenty's Plan.(Governor Tim Pawlenty)
January 21, 2005... Staff Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has announced he is proposing a transportation package for the state to accelerate highway and transit projects through (1) a combination of constitutionally dedicating all of the motor vehicle sales...

Quick Response.(Lano Equipment, Inc.'s employees did rescue work in a building explosion)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Staff Employees of Lano Equipment, Inc., Ramsey, Minn., were credited for their quick and unselfish response to a building explosion that leveled a small office building located across U.S. Hwy. 10 from the construction equipment...

November Slump.(home construction)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Staff According to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, new home construction in the metropolitan market slowed in November. November of 2004 saw a total of 816 permits issued for 1,449 planned units at a value of $264 million....

Bonding Outlook.
January 21, 2005... Grant Thornton LLP, Minneapolis The volatile surety market of the past several years has had contractors wondering if capacity is still available. While the outlook for securing surety bonds may seem gloomy, light is beginning to glow...

South Dakota Road And Bridge Construction.(South Dakota Department of Transportation)
January 21, 2005... Staff 2005 South Dakota construction program depends on reauthorization of federal transportation bill According to the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD/DOT), the state has 83,609 miles of highways, roads and streets, but...

Risky Business.(surety bonds)
January 21, 2005... Staff Project owners can't afford to gamble on contractors who may be unable to provide evidence of a solid track record. The Minnesota Surety Association is a voluntary, non-profit association of surety-related companies with a vested...

Positive Construction Outlook.
January 21, 2005... Staff AGC Of Minnesota reports on the results of its annual survey A survey of construction professionals conducted by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Minnesota has revealed evidence of considerable optimism for 2005. ...

Twin Cities Construction Industry Outlook.
January 21, 2005... By Craig Kronholm, Vice President, Bor-Son Construction, Inc. Major construction company executive indicates that things are looking up in 2005 After a relatively flat 2004 that only began to turn upward late in the year, the outlook...

Expanding The Vision.(Community centers to meet the tribal needs)
January 28, 2005... Staff Architect's plan meets community needs while articulating tribal values The recently constructed Lower Sioux Indian Tribe's community and wellness center near Redwood Falls, Minn., has become a place that not only meets the...

Taking A Leadership Role.(Ridgewater College)(training for heavy equipment operators)
January 28, 2005... Staff Unique highway construction partnership provides training for tomorrow's heavy equipment operators Construction-related courses are currently under way in western Minnesota as part of a unique Upper Midwest effort that includes...