On March 19, 2020, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued an order requiring all “non-life-sustaining” businesses to cease operations immediately to help slow the spread of COVID-19. With the order, Gov. Wolf issued a list of non-life-sustaining businesses, which included an outright ban on forms of commercial construction (with the exception of emergency repairs and the construction of healthcare facilities), including the following:
- Construction of Buildings.
- Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction.
- Utility Subsystem Construction.
- Land Subdivision.
- Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction.
- Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction.
- Specialty Trade Contractors.
- Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors.
- Building Equipment Contractors.
- Building Finishing Contractors.
- Other Specialty Trade Contractors.
House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) is pushing legislation, House Bill 2400, to reopen all residential and commercial construction in Pennsylvania, provided workers take certain precautions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Another Republican-backed proposal, Senate Bill 613, would open many more types of businesses by having Pennsylvania follow guidelines from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Those guidelines, issued on March 28, label about two dozen types of construction-related work as essential, including housing construction “to combat the nation’s existing housing supply shortage.”
Turzai’s bill is still working its way through the state House. But the House voted 107-95 to pass Senate Bill 613 with a nearly party-line vote. Two Republicans from southeastern Pennsylvania – Thomas Murt and Todd Stephens – joined Democrats in voting against the measure. That measure now moves to the full Senate.
Opening up construction could have a major impact on workers across Pennsylvania.
“In the coming days, you will see an additional Glenn O. Hawbaker presence,” the aggregates and construction company stated on its website. “As of March 31, PennDOT has required critical projects across Pennsylvania to re-start under strict COVID-19 safety procedures.
“We will continue to do our part by operating under the specified guidelines and limitations in place such as social distancing; therefore, visitors will continue to be by appointment only. If you are in need of our services, please contact us at 814-237-1444 or visit our website at www.goh-inc.com. This limitation of face-to-face contact is for the safety of both our employees and our customers.
“As always, we thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time. Stay healthy and stay safe,” the company concluded.
Currently operating 21 quarries and 7 asphalt production facilities across Pennsylvania, and southern New York, Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. continues to serve customers with an array of services including asphalt paving, road construction, gas well service and construction, as well as engineering design services.