New construction starts in August soared 21 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $711.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics, following lackluster activity in July. The August rise for total construction starts featured an especially elevated amount for nonresidential building, which was helped by the start of a $3 billion petrochemical plant in Louisiana, the $1.7 billion…
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Annual Report Reveals Best, Worst States for Highways
The nation’s top-performing, most cost-effective highways can be found in South Carolina, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Maine, according to Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report.
Read MoreCongress Poised to Stiff State DOTs
Members of Congress are likely to go home and campaign for reelection without giving state Departments of Transportation the stability and ability to plan for infrastructure investments that were promised in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA).
Read MoreHousing Starts Hit Speed Bump in August
Nationwide housing starts fell 5.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.14 million units in August, according to newly released data from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Overall permit issuance edged 0.4 percent lower.
Read MoreNSSGA Makes Applying for Awards Easier
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) members can now apply for several of the association’s annual awards through an improved online application process on NSSGA’s Awards webpage. The deadline to apply for the Awards of Excellence in Community Relations, the James M. Christie Safety and Health Professional of the Year Award, and Safety Excellence Awards is Nov. 1.
Read MoreUSGS: Construction Materials Production Spikes
The combined production of most construction materials (cement, construction sand and gravel, and crushed stone) in the second quarter of 2016 increased by 45 percent compared with that in the first quarter of 2016, whereas production of gypsum increased only slightly, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Read MoreDOT Awards $800 Million For Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that 18 transportation projects in 15 states have been awarded federal grants through the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Advancement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program.
Read MoreIronDirect Debuts Online Buying Platform for Heavy Equipment
At a special media event in Asheville, N.C., attended by Rock Products, IronDirect unveiled its brand and business model to the aggregates, mining and construction industries. IronDirect is “a first-of-its-kind platform for buyers of heavy construction equipment and parts,” according to the company, and can “reduce equipment costs by up to 50 percent.”
Read MoreIrving Materials Takes Part in Road Awareness Event
The Irving Materials Group of Companies (IMI) took part in the Road Construction Awareness Ride in Indianapolis. The ride was organized by Indianapolis-based Rieth-Riely construction to raise awareness of workers in cone zones.
Read MoreEagle Materials Acquires Ohio Cement Plant, Other Assets
Eagle Materials Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with a subsidiary of Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., to purchase Cemex’s Fairborn, Ohio, cement plant, as well as related assets, which include a distribution terminal in Columbus, Ohio, and a cement bagging operation. The cement plant has the capacity to grind nearly one million tons of clinker annually.
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