Civil Project Partners’ Post

Project abandonments spike On the public side, which includes infrastructure work, projects put on hold increased about 3.6% compared to the same week a year ago, according to the report. Meanwhile, public abandoned projects surged 40.8% compared to the same period last year. Read More>>> https://buff.ly/3JurmKN #MitoInsulation #Insulation #ConstructionNews #Housing #Construction #MultiFamily #MultiFamilyRealEstate #MultiFamilyConstruction #MultiFamilyBuilding #CommercialInsulation #multifamilyhousing #multifamilyinvesting

Project abandonments spike On the public side, which includes infrastructure work, projects put on hold increased about 3.6% compared to the same week a year ago, according to the report. Meanwhile, public abandoned projects surged 40.8% compared to the same period last year. Read More>>> https://buff.ly/3JurmKN #MitoInsulation #Insulation #ConstructionNews #Housing #Construction #MultiFamily #MultiFamilyRealEstate #MultiFamilyConstruction #MultiFamilyBuilding #CommercialInsulation #multifamilyhousing #multifamilyinvesting

Good news for Queensland's (a northern state in Australia) construction sector as the state has unveiled a $107 billion infrastructure spend over four years. The spend will support around 72,000 construction jobs across the next financial year. However, the spend - along with cost of living measures - does appear to be a last ditch effort by Queensland's Labor Government to stay in power after more than a decade as the state prepares for an election in October. #construction #property #queensland #infrastructure https://lnkd.in/gSBiQYyz

BREAKING: Calgary Construction Association Pleased to See Green Line LRT Project ‘Back on Track’, Welcomes Decision by City of Calgary and Government of Alberta to Advance Construction From 4 Street S.E. to Shepard Calgary, AB – October 10, 2024 – The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) welcomes the positive developments announced today by Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, regarding the next steps for the Green Line LRT project. The agreement to advance construction from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard demonstrates a significant commitment to maintaining momentum on this critical infrastructure project. The CCA is especially encouraged by the preservation of more than 700 jobs as a result of this decision, as well as the continued investment in building Calgary’s transit future. “The Green Line LRT is essential not only for connecting hundreds of thousands of Calgarians, but also for driving job creation and economic growth in our city,” said Bill Black, President & CEO of the Calgary Construction Association. “We are proud to see the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta working together to ensure this project stays on track. Every step forward is a win for both Calgary's commuters and the construction industry.” The CCA is also optimistic about the continued collaboration between the City and Province on refining the downtown alignment, which will improve connectivity to key destinations, including the new Event Centre and southeast Calgary communities. With $1.53 billion in provincial funding reaffirmed, the project remains a cornerstone for future economic development and a vital piece of Calgary’s transportation infrastructure. With over 200 people moving to Calgary every day, efficient transit infrastructure like the Green Line LRT is more important than ever to serve the city’s growing population. As the city expands, the CCA reaffirms the need for ongoing dialogue to ensure that North-Central Calgary is also served with adequate transit connectivity in future phases of the Green Line project. A fully connected LRT system is essential for maintaining Calgary’s long-term mobility and economic vitality. As advocates for responsible city building and job creation, the CCA will continue to support the Green Line LRT and its vision to serve Calgary's growing population. -30- #Calgary #Construction #GreenLineLRT #Breaking #Industry

✨ Building a More Attractive Future for Ottawa! While the construction work can be a source of frustration, it has transformed the national capital for the better. With over 1 million residents, Ottawa must modernize its infrastructure to meet the growing demand. Projects such as road redesigns, sewer and bridge renovations, and park improvements, bring many benefits: ✅ A more pleasant, accessible and attractive city for residents and visitors ✅ Better quality of life thanks to reliable transportation solutions ✅ Sustainable infrastructure for generations to come Construction in Figures: The City is responsible for infrastructure worth approximately $73 billion and a territory 4.4 times larger than the City of Toronto, so we must consider our unique urban, suburban and rural needs. This year alone, the Ottawa City Council has approved over $600 million in infrastructure investments. By investing in the renewal and growth of Ottawa, we are laying the foundations for a prosperous future for this dynamic Canadian city. #construction #infrastructure #Ottawa #Canada #development

A review of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has been initiated, reducing its design from 10 lanes to six as part of cost-cutting measures.   The Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed this adjustment during an inspection tour of the project on Friday, citing unforeseen challenges and design variations. Umahi highlighted the need to address issues such as refuse evacuation up to 10 meters deep and backfilling in certain areas. “The changes are necessary to ensure the project is both economically viable and structurally sound,” he explained. The revised plan also includes provisions for a service lane to benefit local communities along the highway. Efforts are being made to preserve existing structures in the project area, which Umahi attributed to the backing of President Bola Tinubu. The Minister assured that sustainability and safety remain priorities. Solar-powered streetlights, security cameras, and designated security points will be integrated along the 750-kilometer stretch. Additionally, tree planting initiatives will enhance environmental aesthetics and protect the ecosystem. FIRST PHASE TO BE INAUGURATED BY 2026 The first 20 kilometers of the highway are expected to be completed and inaugurated by May 29, 2026. Construction officially began in March 2024, with the initial phase covering 47.7 kilometers within Lagos State. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning nine states, is envisioned as a key infrastructure project to boost economic growth along Nigeria’s coastline. Beginning at Victoria Island in Lagos, the route passes through Eko Atlantic City, the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and Dangote Refinery, before connecting Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, and Calabar. Initially designed as a 10-lane highway with rail lines at the center, the project also features reinforced concrete roads for durability. However, the current revisions aim to balance functionality with financial constraints. FUNDING AND COMPLETION STRATEGY Under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model, Hitech Construction Company is handling the project. The contractor bears most of the financial responsibility, while the Federal Government provides counterpart funding. To recover costs, completed sections will be opened for toll collection in phases. The entire project, estimated to take eight years, will see multiple sections constructed simultaneously once approvals and procurement processes are finalized. With sustainability and efficiency as guiding principles, the revised Lagos-Calabar Highway project is expected to deliver improved connectivity and long-term economic benefits to Nigeria’s coastal regions. ALSO READ: FG ANNOUNCES 50% REDUCTION IN INTERSTATE TRANSPORT FARES FOR YULETIDE SEASON

A review of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has been initiated, reducing its design from 10 lanes to six as part of cost-cutting measures.   The Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed this adjustment during an inspection tour of the project on Friday, citing unforeseen challenges and design variations. Umahi highlighted the need to address issues such as refuse evacuation up to 10 meters deep and backfilling in certain areas. “The changes are necessary to ensure the project is both economically viable and structurally sound,” he explained. The revised plan also includes provisions for a service lane to benefit local communities along the highway. Efforts are being made to preserve existing structures in the project area, which Umahi attributed to the backing of President Bola Tinubu. The Minister assured that sustainability and safety remain priorities. Solar-powered streetlights, security cameras, and designated security points will be integrated along the 750-kilometer stretch. Additionally, tree planting initiatives will enhance environmental aesthetics and protect the ecosystem. FIRST PHASE TO BE INAUGURATED BY 2026 The first 20 kilometers of the highway are expected to be completed and inaugurated by May 29, 2026. Construction officially began in March 2024, with the initial phase covering 47.7 kilometers within Lagos State. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning nine states, is envisioned as a key infrastructure project to boost economic growth along Nigeria’s coastline. Beginning at Victoria Island in Lagos, the route passes through Eko Atlantic City, the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and Dangote Refinery, before connecting Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, and Calabar. Initially designed as a 10-lane highway with rail lines at the center, the project also features reinforced concrete roads for durability. However, the current revisions aim to balance functionality with financial constraints. FUNDING AND COMPLETION STRATEGY Under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model, Hitech Construction Company is handling the project. The contractor bears most of the financial responsibility, while the Federal Government provides counterpart funding. To recover costs, completed sections will be opened for toll collection in phases. The entire project, estimated to take eight years, will see multiple sections constructed simultaneously once approvals and procurement processes are finalized. With sustainability and efficiency as guiding principles, the revised Lagos-Calabar Highway project is expected to deliver improved connectivity and long-term economic benefits to Nigeria’s coastal regions. ALSO READ: FG ANNOUNCES 50% REDUCTION IN INTERSTATE TRANSPORT FARES FOR YULETIDE SEASON

The government spent over £260 million on two major road projects that have now been shelved, Construction News has revealed. A Freedom of Information request has now disclosed that the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom spent £179.2 million on the A303 project and £86.9 million on the Arundel bypass before they were both cancelled. Much of the upfront costs - £38.4 million for the A303 and £42.2 million for the A27 - went towards preliminary design work. The DfT also spent millions more on construction preparation, advance works, and other expenses for the A303 project. For the Arundel bypass, the DfT spent £33.9 million on blight and discretionary purchases, and £8.1 million selecting a design option. The Stonehenge tunnel scheme had received government approval in 2020 but faced legal challenges. The Arundel bypass was previously awarded to a joint venture, but former Transport Secretary Mark Harper delayed the project until 2025-2030. In cancelling the schemes, Reeves said the previous government had pushed ahead with £1 billion worth of unfunded transport projects. She announced reviews into government transport and healthcare building projects, criticising the previous administration for refusing to publicly cancel unaffordable initiatives. Read more: [https://lnkd.in/e8GxA8RK]

It is interesting to see the fast track projects are out today. In the context of the Wellington Region, there are zero surprises there. Most of the housing developments have been around for a while. However one or two of them have very significant infrastructure constraints, which does make us wonder how they will actually deliver housing. It will be interesting to see how the panel works through these challenges and the consent conditions that will need to be imposed in relation to these downstream constraints. It will also be interesting to see how these larger residential developments will be staged to bring the additional housing to the market. Normally, developments of this scale, will have a number of stages, which means the housing supply is brought to the market over a much longer timescale (sometimes 10 - 20 years). It will be interesting to see how the panel weighs the duration of the consent, and the staging of the housing supply. We take from the approved projects, that the clauses that allowed projects that were declined by the Courts to be taken through the fast track process will remain once the Bill comes back from select committee. We would question whether it is legislations role to enable those projects, which have been through very intensive and detailed processes, and have been declined on the basis of their resulting significant environmental effects? We imagine these projects will highly likely be judically reviewed, regardless of which way the panel makes their final decision. Overall, from a Wellington perspective the list of fast tracked project contained no surprises. The surprises probably sit around what projects are not on the list. However, how and when these will be delivered, will be very interesting, especially given some of the infrastructure constraints in the system and the significant costs associated with addressing these constaints. It would not surprise us if one or two of the projects obtain consent, but then are never constructed due to the potential economics at play.

Analysis conducted by Barbour ABI and the Construction Products Association (CPA) has revealed that construction spending is seeing a geographic shift with new hotspots appearing outside of London and the South East. Comparing ONS figures from 2022 with contract awards data from 2023, researchers discovered spending shifting away from the traditional construction powerhouses. Barbour ABI’s head of business and client analytics, Ed Griffiths said: “There are clear hotspots for upcoming construction activity over the next 6-24 months, with hotspots outnumbering coldspots, where activity has gone down, by almost three-to-one overall and six-to-one for infrastructure. “Encouragingly, regions with hotspots were spread across Great Britain and hotspots outnumbered coldspots in all regions of Great Britain.” London and the Southeast, which have seen the highest spending on construction in the UK, saw contract awards reduce by 18.5% and 17.6% respectively – wiping out gains made in 2022. Westminster, traditionally responsible for one of London’s biggest spending shares, took a 20% hit along with Berkshire (39%) and West Surrey (32%) in the Southeast.  Analysts found contract awards growth of 7.9% in the East of England, with Cambridge, Suffolk and the Essex regions all registering double or triple digit increases. Yorkshire and the Humber also registered a 0.8% increase with Leeds a notable hotspot with a 23.7% increase and Lincolnshire seeing a 159.1% increase. Griffiths said: “Overall contract awards remained stable at a national level, but looking at a more granular level reveals stark differences in regional performance with growth rates ranging between +374% and -95%. What we can say is that the post-pandemic boom initially focused itself on London and the Southeast is finally showing signs of trickling out to the rest of the UK. “This will come as a relief for more regionally focused businesses and a signal to contractors that it may be time to start looking outside of the big powerhouse areas for more projects to add to their pipeline.” Overall, the report found 82 construction hotspots in the UK compared to just 31 coldspots, with 29 hotspots related to infrastructure projects. [Construction Enquirer] #construction