Construction Extraction – May 9, 2024

​Unveiling Bold Brews and Breaking News within the AEC Community – May 9, 2024

Join us this week as we explore groundbreaking construction trends, from Detroit's project delays to Arizona's interchange win. Complement your read with a cup of Brain Bean Coffee, where smart roasting delivers a smooth, delicious experience.

​Latest Construction News (May 1 - May 7)This week in construction brings a blend of technological advancements, infrastructure development, and sustainability initiatives. Here’s the latest:

1. Industry Developments:
   
   • Detroit Mixed-Use Project Delay: The $1.5 billion District Detroit project by Related Cos. and Olympia Development of Michigan has experienced delays. Initially set to start last summer, the project aims to rejuvenate Detroit's downtown area (Source: Construction Dive).
     
   • Arizona Interchange Project Win: Fisher Sand & Gravel has won a $106 million contract to build an interchange on Interstate 40 in Kingman, Arizona. This project aims to ease congestion on the busy route between Phoenix and Las Vegas (Source: Construction Dive).
     
   • Floating Pier for Gaza Aid: The U.S. Department of Defense is constructing a floating pier to deliver aid to Gaza, underscoring the growing importance of humanitarian aid infrastructure (Source: Engineering News Record).
     
   • Rivian's Illinois Plant Expansion: Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced a $1.5 billion expansion of its Illinois plant, although a project in Georgia has been paused (Source: Engineering News Record).
     
2. Sustainability and Technology:
   
   • Mass Timber Construction Division: Mercer Mass Timber has launched a construction services division to assist first-time mass timber users, providing a sustainable building method (Source: Construction Dive).
     
   • AI-Based Safety Applications: Balfour Beatty is developing AI-based safety and project management applications to enhance productivity and address labor concerns (Source: Construction Dive).
     
3. Infrastructure Projects:
   
   • Port Authority Bus Terminal Overhaul: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $10 billion plan to overhaul its bus terminal brings much-needed modernization to the busiest U.S. bus hub (Source: Engineering News Record).
     
   • South Fork Wind Farm Completion: The South Fork Wind project, the first U.S. utility-scale offshore wind farm, has completed construction. The 130 MW project contributes to New York's goal of 9 GW of offshore wind power by 2035 (Source: Construction Dive).
     
4. Regulatory Changes and Funding:
   
   • Flood Protection Rules: HUD's new rule aims to protect communities from flooding events and reduce rising insurance costs (Source: HUD).
     
   • Affordable Housing Initiatives: HUD is partnering with Terner Housing Innovation Labs to advance affordable housing and tackle the ongoing U.S. housing crisis (Source: HUD).
     

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