Louisiana Breaks Ground On $2.3B I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge
Louisiana broke ground on a $2.3 billion public‑private partnership to replace the aging I‑10 Calcasieu River Bridge. The new structure, built north of the existing span, will carry six 12‑ft lanes, shoulders and electronic tolling, and is slated to open in 2031. Alongside the bridge, 5.5 mi of I‑10 will be rebuilt, a new Sampson Street interchange added, and $10 million earmarked for pedestrian and cyclist paths. Planners project more than 16,000 construction jobs and a $3.29 billion regional economic boost.
New SR 141 Alignment Promises Smoother Travel Through Middle Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is constructing a new 4.3‑mile alignment of State Route 141 to bypass downtown Hartsville, including a 1,710‑foot beam bridge over the Cumberland River. The project, funded entirely by the state with a $99 million budget, began in...
Ill. Tollway Awards More Than $114.1M in Contracts in April
The Illinois Tollway board approved 12 new construction and engineering contracts worth more than $114.1 million in April, bringing the total approved in 2026 to $219.3 million. The contracts fund work on the Move Illinois $15 billion, 16‑year capital program and the $2 billion...
Teran at ConExpo 2026: Strong Traffic, Sustained Demand
Teran Industries sent a seven‑person team to ConExpo‑Con/AGG in Las Vegas, where the booth saw thousands of visitors and nearly 1,000 registered interactions with construction, demolition, mining and excavation firms. The company highlighted its heavy‑equipment attachments, most notably the 992K‑SNR...
APWA Snow Conference Brings Industry Together in Cleveland
The American Public Works Association’s North American Snow Conference 2026 convened public‑works professionals, contractors, and industry leaders in Cleveland from April 26‑29. Over four days, attendees accessed expert‑led education sessions, certification tracks in winter maintenance and fleet management, and a bustling...
USACE Handles Hangar Construction at Fort Riley, Kan.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is overseeing an $83 million construction effort at Fort Riley, Kansas, to build a new two‑story hangar, an attached administration building, and runway upgrades. The facility will accommodate four attack and heavy‑lift helicopters, a...
Making Work Zones Safer
During Work Zone Safety Week (April 20‑24), federal and state officials rolled out new measures to protect highway workers. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Dave McCormick introduced the bipartisan Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act, which would tighten data reporting, mandate safety...
IDOT Transforms I-57 With $325M Expansion
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is investing $325 million to widen a 37‑mile stretch of I‑57 between I‑24 and I‑64, adding three lanes in each direction. The corridor, a key segment of the National Highway Freight Network, carries roughly 40,000 vehicles...
Premier Truck Rental Expands Rental Offerings With Four New Fleet Solutions
Premier Truck Rental (PTR) announced four new fleet solutions to broaden its rental portfolio for utilities and construction customers. The additions include Class 7 crash attenuator trucks, Class 7 2,000‑gallon water trucks, Class 8 4,000‑gallon water trucks, and Class 8 tandem‑axle dump trucks, all...
Carmeuse Selects Caterpillar's Autonomous Hauling Solution to Deploy at Drummond Island Operation
Caterpillar Inc. has signed an agreement with limestone producer Carmeuse to install its autonomous hauling system at the Drummond Island quarry in Michigan. The deployment will integrate Cat MineStar Command across Carmeuse’s fleet of 777 trucks, supported by Fabick CAT and complemented by...
Virnig Introduces New Cold Planer Attachment
Virnig Manufacturing unveiled a cold planer attachment that streamlines asphalt milling and surface removal, especially for operators with limited experience. The plug‑and‑play design integrates with existing joystick controls, allowing single‑button function selection and live status displays. It fits skid and...
Common Ground Alliance Charts Future of Damage Prevention at 2026 Conference & Expo
The Common Ground Alliance concluded its 2026 Conference & Expo in Colorado Springs, drawing more than 1,400 damage‑prevention leaders from utilities, construction, technology and regulators. Speakers highlighted that nearly 200,000 utility strikes each year cost the United States over $30 billion...
N.H. Bill May Help Bridge Housing-Infrastructure Barrier
New Hampshire’s HB 1588, cleared by the House and now before the Senate Housing Committee, would let municipalities form special assessment districts to finance public infrastructure needed for new housing projects. The law requires a two‑thirds council vote, limits assessments to...
Mulch Startup Seizes Opportunity On Micron Megaproject
Mohawk Valley Materials, once a small mulch operation, has grown into a heavy‑civil contractor with a fleet of up to 75 machines and a workforce of 50‑150. The firm is now clearing land and preparing the site for Micron’s $100 billion,...
CTDOT Set to Replace Noise Barriers On I-84 Westbound
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is set to replace deteriorated wooden noise barriers along I‑84 westbound in East Hartford. Two sections—about 1,000 ft near Interchange 56 and roughly 5,500 ft east of the Forbes Street overpass—will receive new concrete or similarly durable barriers...
Portal North Bridge Nears Completion
The Portal North Bridge replacement in New Jersey is now 80% complete, with full service slated for September 2026. The new 50‑ft fixed‑span bridge will eliminate the century‑old swing bridge that has caused frequent delays for the 450‑plus daily Amtrak and...
ROTHA Begins $48M Putnam Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project in Conn.
ROTHA Contracting has been awarded the lead role on a $48 million rehabilitation of the Putnam Memorial Bridge spanning Wethersfield and Glastonbury, Connecticut. Work began on March 16, 2026 and is slated for completion by November 3, 2028. Funding comes from an 80 percent federal and...
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...
Fleet Strategy Helps Oilfield Operator Bolster Productivity
An oilfield service firm operating in the Permian Basin revamped its fleet strategy by integrating rental trucks alongside owned and leased units. Heavy monthly mileage was driving rapid depreciation, tying up $64,000‑$100,000 per truck in capital. Partnering with Premier Truck...
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...
Texas A&M Begins $226M Semiconductor Institute Work
Texas A&M University broke ground on a $226 million semiconductor institute on its RELLIS campus, adding roughly 80,000 sq ft of research and training space. The project is funded by $113.7 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation fund and $48.1 million from Permanent University Fund...
Governor Hochul Announces More Than $30M in Highway, Bridge Construction Projects
Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $30 million in upstate New York highway and bridge projects, targeting aging infrastructure in Franklin, Onondaga and Niagara counties. The $10 million effort will replace three 1928 bridges on U.S. Route 11 in Moira, while an $8.92 million contract will...
CTDOT Announces Milestones, Next Steps for Interchange Project in Meriden
Gov. Ned Lamont announced that phase one of the I‑91/I‑691/Route 15 interchange reconfiguration in Meriden has been completed on schedule and within its $83.7 million budget. Phase two, underway for two years, remains on track for a 2028 finish with $250 million in...
Thompson Equipment, 3R-Machinery Bring Pronar, Screenpod Equipment to New England Contractors
Thompson Equipment has formed a distribution partnership with 3R‑Machinery by Shred‑Tech to bring Pronar shredders and Screenpod dust‑suppression systems to contractors throughout New England. The alliance adds slow‑speed, heavy‑duty shredders capable of handling mixed construction and demolition waste, as well...
SCA Hosts 2026 Slag Cement School in Wilmington, Del.
The Slag Cement Association held its fifth annual Slag Cement School in Wilmington, Delaware, on April 21‑22, 2026. The two‑day program delivered in‑depth technical presentations on slag cement’s properties, ASTM C595 standards, and low‑carbon concrete strategies. Attendees toured Heidelberg Materials’...
New John Deere MB60 Material Boom Helps Operators Place Loads With Precision
John Deere introduced the MB60 material boom, a new attachment for its compact skid steers, track loaders and wheel loaders. The boom offers a 6,000‑lb rated lift capacity and dual hook points for flexible rigging. Serrated steps give operators secure...
M.H. Eby Announces New Truck Body Distributors in Pa., Utah, La.
M.H. Eby Inc. has added three new distributors—Robinson Brothers in Louisiana, John Bonham Road Equipment & Supply in Pennsylvania, and Cowboy Upfitters in Utah—expanding its North American network for aluminum truck‑body solutions. The partnerships aim to improve product availability, technical...
SAKAI America Expands Canadian Footprint With Amaco Equipment
SAKAI America announced Amaco Construction Equipment as its exclusive dealer for Ontario, marking the company’s first dedicated distribution hub in the province. The partnership gives Canadian construction, roadbuilding and municipal customers local access to SAKAI’s vibratory soil compactors and asphalt...
LiuGong Expands Dealer Network With John Woodie in N.C.
LiuGong North America announced that John Woodie Enterprises (JWE) is now an authorized dealer in North Carolina, expanding LiuGong's Southeast dealer network. JWE will sell the full LiuGong construction and material‑handling lineup, including the brand’s new electric models, to customers...
How Westlund Excavating Uses John Deere SmartGrade, 850 X to Finish Jobs Faster
Westlund Excavating, a Minnesota contractor with a 40‑machine fleet, recently added a John Deere 850X crawler dozer equipped with the SmartGrade integrated grade‑control system. The new X‑Tier machine’s E‑Drive electric drivetrain and on‑board SmartGrade reduce the number of grading passes,...
New $582M Contract Strengthens Lane's Role in Florida
Lane Construction Corp., a U.S. subsidiary of Webuild, has been selected as the preferred team to design and build a $582 million modified phased design‑build contract for FDOT’s Moving I‑4 Forward Project 2. The contract covers a 3.1‑mile stretch of I‑4 in...
I-95 Bridges Over Lake Marion Replacement Project Begins
The South Carolina Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation broke ground on a $175 million project to replace the aging northbound and southbound I‑95 bridges over Lake Marion. The new structures will meet modern engineering standards, improve safety, and...
NCDOT's $249M Project Widens NC Hwy. 150
North Carolina DOT has launched a $249 million effort to widen Highway 150 from US 21 to Greenwood Road, replace the I‑77 bridge and build a new Lake Norman crossing. The project introduces reduced‑conflict intersections, upgraded signals, bike lanes and a multi‑use path, aiming...
North Carolina DOT Is Using New Cement Mixture for Highway Project
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is deploying lightweight cellular concrete to raise a segment of U.S. 70 where it will intersect the upcoming I‑42 corridor. The material, a cement‑water‑foam mix, was chosen because the James City site’s soft soils make...
The Hidden Costs of Poor Safety Training
Investing in comprehensive safety training delivers measurable financial returns for construction contractors. Industry groups such as ASSP and YellowBird report a $4‑$6 ROI for every dollar spent, driven by lower workers' compensation costs, reduced downtime, and higher productivity. Strong safety...
Hayden-Murphy Hosts Premier Executive Leadership Forum
Hayden‑Murphy Equipment Company hosted its first Executive Leadership Forum on Feb. 20, 2026 in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The day‑long event brought together construction executives for strategic discussions on tax management, macro‑economic trends, and leadership resilience. By shifting focus from equipment showcases to...
Northern Michigan Tractor to Represent Hyundai CE in Northern Lower Peninsula
Hyundai Equipment for Sale – North America has added Northern Michigan Tractor, based in Johannesburg, Michigan, to its dealer network. The dealership will sell and service Hyundai's compact equipment across the northern Lower Peninsula. Founded in 2019, Northern Michigan Tractor...
Another Liebherr 1000 EC-H Joins Crazy Horse Memorial Project in S.D.
At ConExpo 2026 the Crazy Horse Memorial announced the addition of a second Liebherr 1000 EC‑H high‑top tower crane, supplied by long‑time partner Morrow. The new crane, capable of lifting 55 tons with a 262‑foot radius, enhances precision and stability for work on Thunderhead Mountain’s...
New Research Advances Airfield Pavement Testing, Safety
The Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program released two research reports that update technical guidance for airport asphalt pavements. The first validates that both the traditional Marshall hammer and the Superpave Gyratory Compactor produce comparable mix designs, easing equipment transitions. The...
Topside Decommissioning Projects Streamlined With Combined Planning
Oil‑and‑gas specialist Mammoet teamed with Allseas to decommission two massive North Sea topsides, Heather Alpha (16,865 t) and Eider Alpha (12,831 t), in a single summer campaign. By pre‑installing equipment on Allseas’ cargo barge Iron Lady, the firm enabled simultaneous load‑in operations,...
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...