The Texas Department of Transportation has started 2026 with various infrastructure projects, including the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project in Austin, the RM 2243 expansion in Williamson County, and the Grand Parkway widening in Houston. Other initiatives include safety improvements in Wimberley, a $125 million I-20 expansion in Taylor County, and ADA enhancements in Amarillo.

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Lane Construction has secured a $389 million design-build contract from the Virginia Department of Transportation to modernize a seven-mile stretch of Interstate 64 Hampton Roads Express Lanes in Norfolk. The project, set for completion in 2029, will convert existing lanes into managed lanes to reduce congestion and improve travel efficiency. The project also calls for widening or rehabilitating 19 bridges and replacing two others.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded Capital Paving & Construction a $104 million contract to expand Interstate 70 between Boonville and Rocheport. The project, designed by Burns & McDonnell, will add a third lane in each direction over 13 miles. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed by late 2028.

The Port of Virginia is nearing a significant milestone in its $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program, which aims to enhance cargo flow by expanding berth space and deepening channels. The port can now accommodate four ultra-large container ships simultaneously and is set to have the deepest shipping channel on the East Coast at 55 feet. The expansion is expected to shift more cargo movement to rail, reducing truck traffic and supporting economic growth in Virginia.

American Electric Power has unveiled plans to build 100 miles of transmission lines through four counties in Oklahoma to improve electric reliability in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. The project, which requires approval from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, has received mixed reactions from landowners.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has awarded a $60 million, six-year design and engineering contract to Parsons Transportation Group for the Claremont Extension of the Metro A Line. This is the first of two major contracts under the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method. The second contract, currently in the request for proposals stage, will be awarded in May. "Parsons has led design teams for each phase of this project for the past 25 years, and we are excited to once again be selected to continue that legacy," says Mark Fialkowski, president of infrastructure for North America at Parsons.

The Hillsborough County, Fla., Aviation Authority has approved the final design of Airside D at Tampa International Airport, a $1.53 billion terminal with 16 gates. Construction is set to begin this year and finish in 2028.

The Freedom Center IV Barracks project at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland is nearing completion, with the East Barracks expected to be finished by the end of February and the West Barracks by mid-March. The project, which began in November 2023, includes two four-story buildings with 95 suites each, providing modern living standards for nearly 380 enlisted service members, primarily those assigned to the National Security Agency.

The telecommunications construction industry is experiencing a significant labor imbalance, with demand for fiber-optic installers surging due to federal funding and the push for universal high-speed internet. This has led to higher wages for fiber workers, with entry-level positions earning up to $60,000 annually. However, the wireless tower construction sector faces a 20-year low in hiring, with many workers facing layoffs as contractors struggle with reduced spending and compressed margins.

DMR Architects and Terminal Construction have won contracts to build a 162,000-square-foot middle school in West New York and a 142,000-square-foot elementary school in Elizabeth, N.J., using the design-build method. The projects, overseen by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, are expected to be completed in 2028. DMR CEO Pradeep Kapoor says that design-build allows for faster project delivery by enabling parallel design and construction.

Working in construction takes a toll physically and mentally through injuries, accidents, stress, behavioral health issues and substance use. Youturn Health and the AGC have partnered together to help employers better support their employees. AGC members now have access to Youturn Health’s program at a discounted rate. The program includes family support, peer support and access to over 450 educational videos and stories that help people understand stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and more. Learn more.

Price escalation, price spikes and supply shortages threaten builders' financial viability in today's construction market. ConsensusDocs, the leader in standard construction contracts, has created the Price Escalation Resource Center, with sample copies of the ConsensusDocs 200.1 Material Price Escalation Amendment. More information is available online at the ConsensusDocs Price Escalation Resource Center.