Call for Public Inquiry Into Handling of Raac Crisis
A petition presented to Parliament is demanding a public inquiry into the 2023 reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) crisis and urging new legislation for a high‑risk building register, mandatory defect reporting, and a 60‑year developer liability period. The Department for Education has pledged to remove Raac from all schools and colleges by the 2029 general election, while hospitals still face remediation delays and costs running into hundreds of millions of pounds (≈$125‑$250 million). The government, however, maintains that existing Building Safety Act provisions are sufficient and has no plans for additional measures. Recent industry efforts, such as the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s Raac Playbook, aim to fill knowledge gaps and standardise remediation approaches.
Additional Black Spot Funding for QLD
The Australian Federal Government has pledged an additional AU$30.2 million (≈US$20 million) to Queensland’s Black Spot Program, earmarking funds for safety upgrades at 44 high‑risk locations. The program, part of a broader AU$150 million (≈US$99 million) annual national road‑safety budget, will finance intersection improvements,...
Suzuki Breaks Ground on Laguna Facility Expansion
Japanese automaker Suzuki Philippines broke ground on a major expansion in Calamba, Laguna, investing roughly ₱900 million (about $16 million). The new integrated facility will house a parts warehouse, service training center, and corporate offices adjacent to its existing plant. Designed to...
Major Housebuilder Cuts Land Buying Plans Amid Global Uncertainty
Barratt Redrow, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, announced it will approve only 7,000‑9,000 land plots this year, down from its earlier 10,000‑12,000 target. The cut reduces projected land spending to £700‑£800 m (about $875‑$1 bn), a modest decline from the prior £800‑£900 m...
WEBINAR: UAE Projects Market 2026
The upcoming MEED webinar on 28 April 2026 will dissect the UAE’s projects market, reviewing 2025 performance and the value of work awarded year‑to‑date in 2026. Organisers will assess how the Iran conflict is reshaping supply chains, material costs, and war‑risk premiums...
PIF Backs Neom
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has officially added Neom to its six strategic ecosystems in the newly approved 2026‑2030 plan, reaffirming support for the $500 bn megaproject after a series of setbacks. The project’s outlook had dimmed following the postponement...
Dizon Pushes Completion of DPWH Projects in Iloilo
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon visited Iloilo on April 15, urging an accelerated finish to several stalled infrastructure projects, including the ₱802‑million Aganan Flyover, the delayed Buhang Flyover, and the two‑year‑late East Timawa Road. He ordered DPWH‑6,...
Will a Ban on Retentions Deliver the Anticipated Benefits for SMEs?
Retention payments of 3‑5% have become standard in UK construction, acting as a cash‑based guarantee against defects. The government now favors an outright ban on retentions, aiming to ease cash‑flow pressures on SMEs and curb insolvency risk. Critics warn that...
Studio RAP to 3D Print Ceramic Columns for Student Housing
Studio RAP has been hired to design and 3D‑print hundreds of custom ceramic tiles that will clad three monumental columns at the Ginkgo Complex, a new student‑housing project in Utrecht. The leaf‑inspired tiles will be glazed in a warm gold...
Five Forces Driving Up Road and Bridge Maintenance Costs
U.S. states confront an $86 billion shortfall in road and bridge maintenance over the next decade, while construction costs have risen roughly 70% since 2020. A Pew analysis identifies five persistent forces—underinvestment, soaring material and labor prices, lengthy regulatory reviews, staffing...
Mammoet Receives World's First Grove Plug-In Hybrid All-Terrain Crane
Mammoet has taken delivery of the world’s first 165‑ton Grove GMK5150L‑1e plug‑in hybrid all‑terrain crane, featuring a 197‑ft main boom and a 160 kWh battery that enables zero‑emission lifting. The crane’s “charge‑while‑driving” capability and on‑board 163 kW generator allow continuous operation without...
Innovative Fix Saves Failing NYC Interceptor
New York City’s Department of Design and Construction repaired a crumbling 1960s‑era interceptor using a trenchless spiral wound lining method. The $29 million project, led by Iyad Marzouq and contractors, finished in just under two years and avoided any street closures or...
Metso Strengthens African Bulk Material Handling Capabilities With Inauguration of New Cape Town Hub
Metso inaugurated a new regional hub in Cape Town on April 15, 2026, expanding its bulk material handling (BMH) network across Africa. The hub adds a 60‑person, same‑time‑zone engineering team and advanced automation capabilities acquired through MRA Automation, promising faster...
Liebherr Tower Cranes, Tenstar Join Forces to Improve Crane Operator Training
At ConExpo 2026, Liebherr and Tenstar sealed a partnership to modernize tower‑crane operator training. The Tenstar simulator delivers a realistic 4D environment that mirrors the control logic of Liebherr’s 370 EC‑B and 620 HC‑L cranes, allowing trainees to practice lift scenarios without risking...
Shirley Contracting Works On Fairfax County Parkway
Shirley Contracting Company is leading a $126 million, three‑phase widening of Fairfax County Parkway (SR 286) between Nomes Court and Route 123. The two‑mile stretch will expand from four to six lanes, adding a new southbound lane and a third left‑turn lane. The...
MaineDOT, Cianbro Corp. Begin Major Bangor I-95 Bridge Replacement Project
MaineDOT started clearing the median between I‑95’s northbound and southbound lanes on April 6 to launch a multi‑year bridge replacement program in Bangor. The plan consolidates two Stillwater Avenue overpasses into a single‑span bridge while maintaining through‑traffic via a median crossover....
MassDOT Celebrates Groundbreaking On Basiliere Bridge Replacement in Haverhill
MassDOT broke ground on the Basiliere Bridge Replacement in Haverhill, funded by $190 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money. The new structure will carry Route 125 over the Merrimack River with four traffic lanes and two shared‑use paths, while preserving the...
Deputy Minister Seitlholo Concerned About Project Delays To Upgrade Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works In Midvaal Local Municipality, Gauteng
Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo warned that the R220 million (≈$12 million) upgrade of the Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works is lagging, with Phase 3 still unfinished. The project, funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation and executed by Rand Water, aims to boost...
Changi Airport Group, Plaza Premium Group to Develop Private Terminal and Lifestyle Hub at Terminal 2
Changi Airport Group and Plaza Premium Group have begun redeveloping the former Commercially Important Persons terminal at Terminal 2 into a private terminal and an expanded Hub & Spoke lifestyle hub. The joint venture will deliver lounges, private suites, dining, wellness and pet‑friendly...
One Million Homes, Not Enough Tradies — Australia Forced to Embrace Prefab
Australia is targeting one million new homes but faces a severe tradespeople shortage, with more than 27,000 workers exiting the sector last year against a government‑estimated deficit of 115,000. Although 85% of house frames already use modern methods, reliance on...
Vectorworks 2026 Update 4 Adds Phasing, Rendering Tools
Vectorworks released Update 4 for its 2026 product line, adding intelligent phasing tools, an enhanced embodied‑carbon calculator, and a live‑render integration with Maxon Redshift. The new phasing system embeds time‑based status directly into BIM models, while the sustainability dashboard now aligns...
Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. & InEight Establish Partnership to Support Efficient Project Delivery in Japan
InEight announced a partnership with Japan‑based Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. (KKE), making KKE an official reseller and implementation partner for InEight’s project information management platform. KKE, a multidisciplinary engineering firm with over 600 professionals, will help Japanese organisations adopt InEight’s...
Sto Corp. Adds Mezzo Colors to StoVentec Fiber Cement Line
Sto Corp. has expanded its StoVentec® Fiber Cement Rainscreen system with the Mezzo color collection, bringing the total palette to three curated collections and 17 color options. The new Mezzo line adds subtle tonal shades from light brown to dark...
Reconstruction of National Highway N-5 Under Pakistan’s Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework Project
The National Highway Authority of Pakistan has issued an International Open Competitive Tender to rebuild the 70‑km Ranipur‑Rohri segment of the N‑5 corridor, part of a US$ 97 million Phase I‑A reconstruction funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Bidders must demonstrate at...
Work Underway on $36M Berth Extension
Construction has begun on a $36 million (≈US$24 million) waterside berth extension at the Port of Newcastle’s Multipurpose Terminal in Mayfield. The new berth will accommodate vessels up to 300 metres, up from the current 220‑metre limit, and is slated for a 15‑month...
Call for National Plan as Population Growth Pressures Mount
Australia is on track to exceed 40 million residents by 2065, intensifying pressure on housing, transport and cost of living. The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) urges the federal government to adopt a National Plan for Growth to coordinate decisions across...
BusyBusy Adds GPS Equipment Location to Combine
BusyBusy, now part of AlignOps, has added GPS equipment tracking to its existing time‑tracking and job‑costing platform. The rugged GPS devices feed real‑time location, engine status, idle time, RPM and fuel level directly into BusyBusy’s web and mobile interface. By...
Mechanism and Crack Research of Sodium Silicate-Slag-Basalt Fiber Ternary Synergistic Solidification of Silty Clay
Researchers developed a green ternary solidification system using sodium silicate, slag and basalt fiber to improve the mechanical performance of silty clay. Using a central composite rotational design, they identified an optimal blend of 7.76 % sodium silicate, 9.96 % slag and...
X3 Tradesmen Launches National Division for Staffing Growth
X3 Tradesmen, a Utah‑based construction staffing firm, announced the launch of a National Division to roll its proprietary Workforcing® model out to contractors across the United States. Founded in 2015, X3 has already supported more than 7,000 projects and places...
Construction Starts on Biggest Battery in Australia’s Most Advanced Renewable Grid
Alinta Energy has broken ground on the Reeves Plains battery, a 250 MW/1,000 MWh facility that will be South Australia’s largest storage asset and the state’s first gigawatt‑scale installation. A second phase is slated to double the capacity, positioning the project among...
AEI: Resilient Building Design in Healthcare
Resilient building design is emerging as a critical strategy for healthcare facilities to maintain operations during extreme weather and natural disasters. A FEMA study confirms that stricter building codes dramatically lower property losses, prompting hospitals to integrate system redundancies, durable...
Luxury Condos Planned At Surfside Collapse Site Fail To Draw Any Buyers
Damac International bought the former Champlain Towers South site in Surfside for $120 million and announced The Delmore, a 15‑story luxury condo with 37 units starting at $15 million. After a soft launch in early 2025, the developer opened a sales gallery...
Images: Most Highly Anticipated New Beltline Stretch Opens—A Year Late
The Atlanta Beltline’s Southeast Trail opened Thursday after a three‑year build that ran a year late, adding a 1.2‑mile multi‑use path from Krog Street Tunnel to Boulevard Southeast. Engineers from Kimley‑Horn and contractor Reeves Young overcame utility conflicts and freezing...
Benue Valley Clay Supports Sustainable Ceramic Production
A study published in Scientific Reports confirms that clay deposits in Benue Valley, northern Cameroon, possess mineralogical and chemical properties suitable for high‑quality ceramic brick production. Laboratory tests showed that firing at 1000‑1100 °C increases bulk density to 2.07 g cm⁻³ and compressive...
Boston City Council Members Float Eliminating Parking Minimums For All Housing Development
Boston City Councilors Sharon Durkan and Henry Santana introduced a 35‑page amendment to eliminate off‑street parking minimums for all new residential construction. The proposal would rewrite the city’s base zoning code and every neighborhood article, aiming to reduce development costs...
Rainier, University of Oklahoma Foundation to Build $1.1 Billion Rock Creek Entertainment District in Norman
Rainier Development Co. has signed a master agreement with the University of Oklahoma Foundation to build the $1.1 billion Rock Creek Entertainment District on 269 acres in Norman, Oklahoma. The mixed‑use project will open in phases, beginning with an 8,000‑seat performance...
Backlog Rebounded in March with Contractors Unphased by Iran War Impacts
Construction backlog rose to 8.6 months in March, rebounding from a four‑year low recorded in January. The increase of 0.5 months over February and 0.1 months year‑over‑year was driven by gains in infrastructure and commercial‑institutional segments, while heavy‑industrial bookings slipped....
Forge Software Platform Uses iPad LiDAR Scanning for Quick Solar Design Proposals
Dominus Foundry has launched Forge, a vertical SaaS platform that uses iPad and iPhone LiDAR to capture roof geometry and instantly generate design proposals. The system replaces fragmented workflows— aerial imagery, separate estimating tools, and office‑side software—with a single end‑to‑end...
Finding the Best Batteries for Electric Off-Highway Machines
Off‑highway sectors such as construction, agriculture and mining are accelerating electrification, with OEMs like Caterpillar, John Deere and Volvo backing the shift. IDTechEx’s updated 2026‑2036 report projects the global off‑highway battery market to expand to over 45 GWh by 2036, driven by...
CASE Expands Small Crawler Dozer Line with Three New N Series Models
CASE Construction Equipment will roll out three new N Series small crawler dozers—650N, 750N and 850N—later in 2026. The models add a refreshed cab with touchscreen controls, heated/ventilated seats, rear‑view camera and keyless ignition, while also offering EcoMode fuel‑saving logic...
Abandoned $9bn+ VC Summer Nuclear Plant in South Carolina Scheduled for Restart Construction
South Carolina’s state‑owned utility Santee Cooper announced that the stalled VC Summer nuclear plant is moving back into a feasibility phase, with Brookfield Asset Management proposing a $2.7 billion buyout to complete the two half‑built reactors. The deal would keep Santee...
McKinsey, ALICE Technologies Partner on Generative AI Scheduling
McKinsey has teamed with ALICE Technologies to deliver generative‑AI scheduling software for large‑scale infrastructure and construction projects. The solution, already deployed with more than 35 clients, can accelerate schedules by up to 20% and, in pilot cases, shave 28 days...
Develon Gets Smart with Series 9 Safety Solution
Develon has equipped its Series 9 crawler excavators, the DX230LC‑9 and DX260LC‑9, with an AI‑powered safety suite that includes an E‑Stop system and a Smart All‑Around Viewing Monitor (SAVM). The E‑Stop automatically halts the machine when a person enters a 4‑meter...
STB Advances LGIR Texas Project
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis issued a Draft Environmental Assessment for Laredo Gateway Industrial Railway’s proposed 2.6‑mile common‑carrier line in Webb County, Texas. LGIR, a Kraus Development subsidiary, has petitioned for an exemption to bypass standard prior‑approval...
Saudi Arabian Railways Extends Service Network
Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) announced five new logistics corridors that connect Gulf ports with central and northern Saudi regions and neighboring countries, serving key dry ports and freight terminals such as Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, Hail and Al‑Qurayyat. The corridors enable...
Fleet Safety as a Business Strategy for Construction Companies
Construction firms face high roadway risk, with vehicle crashes ranking second among causes of worker deaths—75 fatalities in 2020. Multimillion‑dollar jury verdicts and soaring insurance costs make fleet safety a financial imperative. Implementing a written safety policy, driver screening, telematics,...
Larsen Pushes Bipartisan Path for Upcoming Highway Bill
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen (D‑WA) is urging a bipartisan surface‑transportation reauthorization before the September expiration of the current highway authorization. He emphasizes safety, multimodal connectivity and a balanced split between highway and transit funding,...
Solve the Electrification Equation (BOMA 2026 Preview)
The 2026 BOMA International Conference & Expo will host a panel on building electrification, moderated by JLL’s Josh Toothman and featuring leaders from MetLife, Leading Edge Consulting, Southern California Edison, and BXP. Panelists will dissect the financial, regulatory, and technical...
‘Act Now and Invest Wisely’: Inside UKGBC’s Retrofit Recommendations for Decarbonising Commercial Buildings
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has released a set of retrofit recommendations aimed at slashing emissions from the nation’s existing commercial building stock. With buildings responsible for roughly a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse‑gas output, the sector must cut...
Trump Targets ‘Bureaucrat Tax’ to Build More Homes
A new White House analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that cutting state and local zoning, building‑code and affordability mandates could add 13.2 million homes, boosting the U.S. housing stock by roughly 9 %. The report says regulatory compliance—dubbed the...