Today's Construction Pulse
Poland pushes ahead with $50B nuclear plant EPC talks
Poland is working to secure an engineering, procurement and construction contract with Westinghouse and Bechtel for its first nuclear power plant, a $50 billion, 3.6 GW project. Negotiations have slipped past the original mid‑2025 target as parties discuss construction‑risk allocation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Dalmia Bharat acquires JAL cement assets for $350M
Van Oord’s First Sea-Going USV Makes Multi-Day Offshore Debut
Van Oord’s newly christened sea‑going USV, VO:X Barentsz, completed its first multi‑day offshore operation at the Hollandse Kust West wind farm, supporting monopile and cable installation alongside vessels Boreas, Nexus and Subsea Viking. The 7‑meter autonomous craft is the fifth USV produced through Van Oord’s partnership with DEMCON Unmanned Systems, building on proven hardware while adding new offshore capabilities. Its successful deployment demonstrates that unmanned survey vessels can operate remotely for days, delivering high‑quality data for offshore wind and maritime projects.
Bajel Projects Wins Mega Orders in West Asia and North Africa
Bajel Projects announced it has won two 500 kV overhead transmission line contracts in the Middle East and North Africa, together worth more than ₹400 crore (approximately $48 million). The orders are part of a flagship grid‑reinforcement programme aimed at bolstering the MENA...
UK Robotic Construction Company All3 Raises $25M in Seed Round Funding
All3, a UK‑based construction robotics startup, closed a $25 million seed round led by RTP Global to accelerate its AI‑driven building platform. The company combines site‑specific AI design, off‑site robotic factories, and autonomous on‑site robots—chiefly the four‑legged Mantis—to fabricate and assemble...
The Railway Project Between Oman and the United Arab Emirates Is 40% Complete
Hafeet Rail, a joint venture of Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment, announced that the 238‑kilometre railway linking Oman and the United Arab Emirates is 40% complete. Construction is underway at key nodes such as Al Ain, Al Buraimi, Sohar and...
Helsinki Opens 1.2‑km Car‑Free Pedestrian Bridge, Redefining Island Travel
Helsinki inaugurated the 1,191‑metre Kruunuvuorensilta bridge, one of the world’s longest car‑free pedestrian spans, linking the waterfront district of Kruunuvuorenranta to Korkeasaari island and the city centre. The bridge halves the travel distance between the islands and central Helsinki, offering...
Pantheon Atlas to Build 500MW Solar-Plus-Storage Facility at US$58.5 Billion Croatian Data Centre
Pantheon Atlas LLC announced a $58.5 billion AI data centre in Croatia, featuring a 500 MW on‑site solar plant and a 2 GW/8 GWh battery storage system. The project will begin construction in 2027 with an initial €12 billion ($14 billion) investment and aims for full...
Tender for Signalling on Madrid’s C-5 Commuter Line
Adif announced a €32 million (≈ $35 million) tender to replace signaling equipment on Madrid’s 20.7‑km C‑5 commuter line, covering 11 stations between Embajadores and Móstoles‑El Soto. The upgrade will install LED signals, fiber‑optic cables, new track circuits and the Asfa Digital traffic‑management system,...
European Energy, Mars Sign PPA for Lithuanian Wind Project
European Energy and Mars have signed a long‑term power purchase agreement for the 161 MW Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania, slated for commercial operation in 2028. The wind farm is expected to generate about 490 GWh annually, supplying most of its output...
$10B Meta Indiana Data Center Campus to Create 4,000 Construction Jobs
Meta and Turner Construction have broken ground on a $10 billion, one‑gigawatt data‑center campus in Lebanon, Indiana. Spanning 1,500 acres and four million square feet, the project will eventually house 13 buildings and deliver 1 GW of capacity. At peak construction it...
How Underwriting Can Support South Africa’s Efforts Against Non-Performing Contractors
South Africa’s Minister of Public Works blacklisted 52 construction firms for corruption and poor performance, marking a shift toward stricter accountability. The move highlights the limits of punitive measures alone, as under‑performing contractors can re‑emerge under new entities. Industry experts...
A Major Housing Development Is in the Works for Pickering, but some Are Crying Foul
The City of Pickering will vote on a secondary housing plan that would convert 17 sq km of farmland into a community for more than 70,000 people, part of a broader effort to accommodate a projected rise to 150,000 residents by 2036....
ABB Teams with Alcemy to Deploy AI for Cement Quality and Emissions Cuts
ABB announced a partnership with AI specialist Alcemy to embed artificial intelligence into cement and concrete production. The joint effort combines ABB's automation hardware with Alcemy's real‑time analytics to boost product consistency, cut energy use and lower carbon emissions, a...
Midweek Roundup: Yet Again
Seattle’s transit community saw a flurry of updates, from Jack Valko’s Burke‑Gilman Subway concept to Sound Transit’s monthly maintenance that will replace Link 2 Line trains with buses on the South Bellevue‑Overlake corridor after 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow. Local leaders are pushing...
EPC Contractor Hand-Picked for Southeast Asian LNG Cold Energy Utilization Project
CTCI Thailand, a subsidiary of the CTCI Group, has been awarded a THB 1.8 billion ($55 million) EPC contract to build the Olefins 3 Cold Energy Utilization Project (OCP) in Rayong, Thailand. The project will link PTT Global Chemical’s olefins plant with PE LNG’s regasification...
Marlborough Scoops £200m Southend Roads Maintenance Deal
Southend City Council awarded a £200 million (≈$256 million) highways maintenance contract to Marlborough Highways for up to 14 years. The deal, initially seven years with a possible seven‑year extension, covers road upkeep, flood and coastal protection, lighting, drainage and professional design...
Ocean Winds’ First French Offshore Wind Farm Moves to Full Operation
Ocean Winds, the 50‑50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, has installed the final turbine at the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm, completing construction and moving the 488 MW project into full operation. The farm comprises 61 turbines...
SVAB and TERNA Systems Collaborate to Incorporate TERNA's Advanced Machine Control Into Joysticks
SVAB and TERNA Systems are merging SVAB's ergonomic joystick line with TERNA's TERNA3D machine‑control platform, adding haptic feedback that vibrates when the equipment nears predefined safety zones. The integration lets excavator operators manage the machine directly from the joystick, cutting...
Identity Over Integration
Ken Sinclair reports that a live BIMStorm exercise demonstrated rapid integration of BIM and KNX data using IFC GUID anchors and RDF/Turtle semantics. The teams linked building information models and automation protocols in hours without prior schema alignment or shared...
Using IoT to Enable Predictive Facility Management in Large Enterprises
Predictive facility management is gaining traction among large enterprises as IoT sensors provide real‑time insights into building assets. By continuously monitoring HVAC, electrical, water and air‑quality systems, organizations can shift from reactive repairs to condition‑based interventions. Machine‑learning analytics turn sensor...
Development Feasibility Report — What It Covers and What It Costs
A development feasibility report evaluates a project's viability by examining site conditions, planning permissions, market demand, financial projections, and risks. In the UK, site challenges can add $63,000‑$191,000, while planning permission fees range $6,300‑$25,400. Construction costs average $1,900‑$3,200 per square...
Landmark Properties Expands UK Footprint with Durham Mixed-Use Scheme
Landmark Properties is expanding its UK portfolio with a new 504‑bed purpose‑built student accommodation (PBSA) in Durham city centre. The mixed‑use scheme pairs the student housing block with retail, leisure and community spaces, forming a catalyst for urban regeneration. The...
UK Gets First Marketplace for Second-Hand Steel Bridges
The UK has launched Re‑Bridge, an online catalogue that lists redundant steel bridge components for reuse, aiming to lower material costs and embodied carbon. Asset owners can upload detailed specifications, creating a searchable inventory for engineers, contractors and local authorities....
Knuckleboom Cranes for London Eye
Hiab has delivered and installed two eX.232 HiPro E-5 knuckleboom cranes on the London Eye, replacing the original units that have been in service since the attraction opened in 2000. The installation took five nights in mid‑March, performed on pedestals...
Local Policies to Get Buildings Off Gas Keep Winning in Court
Federal courts across the United States are consistently upholding local policies that require new buildings to be all‑electric, despite the 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down Berkeley, California's gas‑ban ordinance. In six post‑Berkeley lawsuits, judges have rejected the Energy...
ASH’s New CASE Cassette Cracks Australia’s Class 1 Glass Ceiling
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) has introduced CASE, a prefabricated hardwood cassette that bundles structural panel, insulation and Tasmanian Oak lining into a single unit for Class 1 residential walls, floors and ceilings. The system repurposes Australian hardwood fibre that would otherwise...
OYAK Cement Launches Turkiye’s Largest Industrial Solar Power Plant
OYAK Cement has commissioned Turkey’s largest industrial solar power plant in Beypazarı, Ankara, with a peak capacity of 115.5 MW and a grid connection of 97.8 MW. The 150‑hectare site houses 211,000 panels, expected to generate 182 GWh annually, raising the company’s renewable...
Cornerstone Plans 65-Foot 5G Mast In York
Cornerstone Telecoms has submitted a planning application to erect a 65‑foot 5G mast on Hospital Fields Road in York, replacing a previously rejected 57‑foot proposal. The monopole will carry nine antennas, three equipment cabinets, and six remote radio units to...
Cement Exports From Bangladesh Are Booming
Bangladesh’s cement exports surged in the first nine months of FY25‑26, with export earnings climbing 16.2% year‑on‑year to $11.98 million. The nine‑month period also saw month‑on‑month growth, though full‑year FY24‑25 revenue slipped to $14.33 million from $18.42 million the prior year. India’s northeastern...
Minoru Yamasaki's Northwestern National Life Building in Minneapolis to Be Converted Into Hotel
Minoru Yamasaki’s 1960s Northwestern National Life building in downtown Minneapolis will be transformed into a 165‑room hotel, with opening slated for 2028 pending approvals. The adaptive‑reuse plan retains the iconic white‑quartz concrete portico and marble façade while inserting wellness, event...
Bohol-Panglao Airport Begins Phased Reconfiguration Works
Bohol‑Panglao International Airport, the Philippines’ 10th‑busiest airport, has begun a phased reconfiguration led by Aboitiz InfraCapital. The initial phase targets passenger flow, accessibility, layout changes, security measures and new equipment while keeping daily operations running. The upgrades respond to rising...
Bristol Backs 28-Storey Student Tower at Cabot Gate
Bristol City Council has given the green light to Hammerson’s plan to convert underused land beside Cabot Circus into a mixed‑use precinct anchored by a 28‑storey, octagonal student tower. Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the development will feature student...
Construction Is Overlooking Its Most Job-Ready Workforce
The Masonry Association’s Military to Masonry programme converts UK armed‑forces leavers into site‑ready bricklayers in just ten days, guaranteeing employment from day eleven. Launched in March 2026, it has already attracted over 20 applications and will begin its first five‑person...
‘Contractors Need Strong Client Direction to Deliver Sustainable Schools’
The UK Department for Education (DfE) has introduced new design standards that embed net‑zero targets, holistic sustainability principles, and mandatory whole‑life carbon reporting for all school projects. Richard Taylor, the DfE's regional head of construction delivery, highlighted the Little Reddings...
How Demographics Will Reshape the German Housing Market
Germany’s population is set to shrink by 2.5 million by 2040, yet the number of households will stay roughly stable as one‑ and two‑person homes rise. Smaller households drive demand for different sized units, creating a geographic split: cities face shortages...
Construction Insights Point Toward Increased Project Delivery Risk Driven by Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Pressures
A new Pick Everard survey shows construction firms are grappling with heightened delivery risk as inflation, Middle‑East tensions and the Ukraine war drive material and energy costs upward. While only 27% remain optimistic, 40% express concern and 4% are pessimistic,...
Call to Reopen Peak District Railway Now Used as Hiking Trail
A feasibility study for the "Peaks and Dales" line was submitted to the Department for Transport, urging the reinstatement of the former Midland Main Line between Ambergate and Chinley in the Peak District. The report argues that rail is the...
£16M GWR Property Construction Consultancy Framework Tender Issued
First Great Western Railway has launched a £16.1 million ($20.6 million) property construction consultancy framework for the Great Western Railway network. The framework is divided into seven lots—ranging from project design and SISS engineering to cost management and clerk of works—each estimated...
MVRDV Obtains Construction Permit for Low-Carbon Mixed-Use Tour & Taxis Towers in Brussels
Rotterdam‑based MVRDV has secured a construction permit for the Tour & Taxis Towers, a 126‑metre, 58,000‑square‑metre mixed‑use development in Brussels. The twin‑tower scheme combines office space, 199 residential units and public amenities, anchored by a five‑storey plinth. Using its CarbonSpace...
Hormuz Crisis Revives Thailand’s Land Bridge Plan but Business Case Still Lacking
Thailand is reviving its $30 billion land‑bridge plan that would link ports on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, a proposal gaining urgency after Iran’s virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says a special...
Austin Transit Partnership Picks Kiewit JV for Light Rail Facility
Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) selected the Kiewit Austin Partnership, a joint venture between Kiewit Building Group and Austin Commercial, as the design‑build contractor for the light‑rail system’s Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF). Although the contract value was not disclosed, the...
Construction Starts Soon On AI Movie Studio in DFW Metroplex
Construction on a $750 million mixed‑use campus in Mansfield, Texas, will begin in August 2026, featuring an AI‑enabled movie studio. The first phase, budgeted at $50 million, adds four 18,000‑sq‑ft sound stages, production offices and parking, with completion slated for 2027. Over five...
The Contractor's Guide to Bucket ROI
Choosing the right bucket for excavators and wheel loaders is critical to equipment productivity and profitability. The article explains how bucket type, size, and quality must align with material density, site layout, and truck capacity to avoid excess fuel consumption...
ARTBA Helps Lead National Push To Shape, Strengthen America's Transportation Future
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), as co‑chair of the Transportation Construction Coalition, unveiled a set of Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorization to guide the next multi‑year highway and transit funding bill. The plan calls for inflation‑adjusted investment...
TxDOT's Brazos River Bridge Project Advances
TxDOT is advancing a $53.2 million reconstruction of the I‑69 bridge over the Brazos River in Sugar Land, now about 60% complete and slated for delivery in November 2027. The three‑phase project extends the bridge 700 feet north to avoid riverbank erosion caused...
Hepsor AS Consolidated Unaudited Interim Report for Q1 2026
Hepsor AS reported a record construction pace in Q1 2026, with 428 homes under build – up from 152 a year earlier – and total assets rising 6% to €97 million (≈$106 million). Sales revenue slumped 53% to €3.8 million (≈$4.1 million) while the net loss...
Hong Kong Expands Charging Infrastructure Planning for Electric Public Transport
Hong Kong’s government announced expanded charging infrastructure guidelines for electric public transport, requiring new transport interchanges to reserve space and power for fast chargers. The first interchange with ten 100 kW+ chargers opened in March 2026, supporting up to 21 electric buses...
Denver’s Housing Boom Outpaces Growth, Prices Drop
Building housing works. Denver has absorbed 150,000 new residents since 2010, nearly a 25% population increase, yet they built so much housing that prices are actually falling. https://t.co/jbeGFJEaas
Report: Upzoning Spurred More Housing Construction in New York
Upzoning—changing zoning classifications to allow denser development—has been shown to boost housing construction in New York and Philadelphia, according to a new Urban Institute report. In New York, seven neighborhood‑scale upzonings produced roughly 4,000 additional units over four years, while...
Competence Issues and Knowledge Gaps in Temporary Works Persist Despite Its Raised Profile
The construction industry still struggles with basic knowledge gaps in temporary works despite 50 years of guidance since the Bragg Report. Small house‑building contractors often lack dedicated coordinators and formal design procedures, leading to incidents like the HSE‑imposed £100,000 (≈$127,000) fine...
(Sponsored) Australia’s Construction Sector Faces Opportunity and Challenge
Rawlinsons Cost Management’s April Insight report shows Australia’s construction sector operating at record activity levels, with quarterly output reaching roughly $80 billion in Q4 2025. A robust pipeline of housing and multi‑year infrastructure projects fuels the boom, but labour shortages and low...