Industry News
How COVID-19 Is Affecting Construction Bidding & Jobsite Activity (ConstructionConnect, Updated Daily)
Regularly updated page on the status of the industry across the US. Read more.
AI app debuted to track jobsite social distancing practices (Construction Dive, 4/1/2020)
Construction safety software provider Smartvid.io is releasing April 6 a new application for Vinnie, the company’s AI interface, that will be able to determine when workers on construction jobsites have not been practicing social distancing. Read more.
How essential is construction during the coronavirus pandemic? (Curbed, 3/30/2020)
By the end of last week, 21 state orders took effect, limiting activity to critical infrastructure and services. While some of the essential businesses seem uncontroversial—like hospitals and grocery stores—others fall into a gray area. Construction, which employs over 7 million people nationwide, is one of them. Read more
Construction Companies Lobby to Keep Working as Coronavirus Spreads (WSJ, 3/27/2020)
Construction accounts for 4.1% of gross domestic product, but the impact of a nationwide shutdown would spread to manufacturers of building materials and equipment as well as to architects and engineers. Read more
Regional Industry News
Northeast
Coronavirus hasn’t stopped construction in N.J., though N.Y. has. That worries some. (NJ.com, 4/1/2020)
“They know they have to stand six feet away and wear their masks, but who’s enforcing that? And you really think these guys are disinfecting every tool they use after every time? It’s not realistic," Read more.
The executive board of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, a 75,000-member union organization, voted on Tuesday evening to ask Gov. Charlie Baker to suspend all regular construction activity throughout the state beginning Friday, April 3 through April 30.
Coronavirus quiets the boom of Philly construction (The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/1/2020)
Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states to stop all active construction, except sites granted waivers for medical-related work, emergency repairs, and limited residential work. Read more.
New York bans nonessential construction amid coronavirus pandemic (Curbed, 3/31/2020)
Under the new directive, most residential and commercial construction is suspended, the governor announced Friday. Some crucial work, including on infrastructure, hospitals, and affordable housing, along with emergency repairs, will be permitted. Read more.
Distribution center in Kingston project moves forward despite pandemic (Union Leader, 3/30/2020)
(New Hampshire) One thing that this crisis has done is put more and more on the distribution and companies to get products to people. Read more.
Maine construction industry slows down but keeps working (Press Herald, 3/30/2020)
The executive order allows public construction such as wastewater plants, roads and bridges. Additional construction projects were being evaluated through a process for businesses to request designation as an essential service. Read more.
Coronavirus pandemics won't upend key NYC projects, developers say (New York Post, 3/29/2020)
Construction can continue on residential buildings in Far Rockaway and on Roosevelt Island because they are 100-percent affordable — one of several exemptions to the stop-work rule. Others are for “essential” work on transit and health care facilities and homeless shelters.. Read more.
COVID-19 may cause construction delays in Burlington (WCAX-13, 3/28/2020)
COVID-19's effects on Vermont's largest city are now causing construction delays. Read more.
Work on region's big projects continues amid coronavirus, with construction an "essential" business. (Washington Post, 3/28/2020)
Officials in the District, Maryland and Virginia have designated construction as “essential,” along with hospitals, grocery stores, banks and a handful of other businesses. All three jurisdictions have also allowed private construction, including home building and commercial developments, to continue. Read more.
Construction pause upends development in the Boston region (Curbed, 3/27/2020)
Officials in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville are maintaining construction moratoriums in order to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Read more
Virus Rules Let Construction Workers Keep Building Luxury Towers (New York Times, 3/25/2020)
While Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has told New Yorkers to stay indoors in a furious effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus, construction workers have been deemed essential employees, meaning they have to continue working even as most of the work force stays home. Read more
Full list of ‘essential’ businesses in Connecticut (Connecticut Post, 3/24/2020)
Construction building, including all skilled trades and general construction, are listed as essential businesses in Connecticut. Read more
North Central
Local construction industry weathering coronavirus (Lincoln Journal Star, 3/29/2020)
(Kansas) While the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into normal business operations, a number of large private projects appear to be progressing unimpeded Read more
Michigan road builders group wants whitmer to halt all types of construction, citing coronavirus fears (Crain's Detroit Business, 3/28/2020)
"We've had mutinies on projects where employees are saying, 'I don't know why we're on this project. I don't see the critical or essential need of it. So why are we putting ourselves at risk?'" said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA. Read more
Construction in Ohio deemed “essential,” but coronavirus prompts rising worker absenteeism, anxiety (3/26/2020)
Major contractors in the region said they’ve implemented measures to keep workers safe. Some owners and developers have quietly halted construction and sent workers home. Read more
Latest Midwest Updates on the Coronavirus Pandemic (ENR, 3/24/2020)
ENR MidWest has collected the latest news, analysis and commentary on construction sector developments, with updates as they occur. Read more
Commercial construction grinds to halt; some builders seek exemption from state order (Crain's Detroit Business, 3/24/2020)
Large amounts of commercial building ground to a halt under Monday's executive order from Gov. Whitmer, but a contingent of the construction industry is pushing Whitmer's office to exempt all commercial building. Read more
Wisconsin Construction Industry: To continue work, progress on projects statewide (Wisconsin Business, 3/20/2020)
The following strategies, which are derived from CDC and OSHA workplace recommendations, have been and are being implemented on our construction industry jobsites across the state. Read more
West
The hammer comes down on construction to slow coronavirus spread among workers (LA Times, 4/1/2020)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced new guidelines that will require all construction sites to create a “COVID-19 exposure control plan.” Read more.
Oregon’s Construction Industry Is Chugging Along Like It’s Still 2019. Some Workers Say That’s Dangerous. (Willamette Week, 4/1/2020)
On March 23, Gov. Kate Brown ordered the shutdown of many businesses. But among those that are still open are a lot of construction sites, and that's causing an avalanche of workplace complaints. Read more.
Construction remains open amid coronavirus pandemic (KRQE, 3/31/2020)
(New Mexico) Construction companies said they are anticipating delays for things like supply issues and workers needing to be home at times to take care of loved ones. Read more.
With new rules in place, construction is nearly grinding to a halt in Whatcom County (The Bellingham Herald, 3/30/2020)
Lance Calloway, northern district manager for the Associated General Contractors of Washington, estimated that 75%-80% of the local projects have shut down. Read more.
While the Bay Area shelters in place, construction on mansions and luxury condos continues (Washington Post, 3/30/2020)
Nearly all construction is a nonessential activity under the state’s new stay-at-home order, according to a memo issued by the governor’s office. Read more
New Inslee edict: Most construction work is not authorized during coronavirus shutdown (Seattle Times, 3/25/2020)
Nearly all construction is a nonessential activity under the state’s new stay-at-home order, according to a memo issued by the governor’s office. Read more
South Coast City To Use Technology To Keep Construction Moving In Coronavirus Era (KCLU.org, 3/25/2020)
The City of Goleta is moving to electronic permit applications and plan submittals. And, it’s also going to try to have building inspectors do remote inspections of completed work. Read more
Construction industry’s workers divided over staying on the job during coronavirus shutdown (Seattle Times, 3/24/2020)
Construction of health-care facilities, transportation infrastructure, housing and other “essential” projects are not exempted from Gov. Jay Inslee’s Monday mandate. Read more
South
Builders believe Abbott's new coronavirus order will let some construction resume (bizjournals, 4/1/2020)
An executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott relies on a federal interpretation of "essential" business activities that includes more types of construction. Some believe that could mean that Austin's stricter stance on construction is going to be superseded by the state. Read more.
Top Miami-Dade home builder: It's time to shut down construction sites to fight COVID-19 (Miami Herald, 3/31/2020)
Sergio Pino called on fellow builders to “close simultaneously” and halt the spread of COVID-19. Read more.
Continued Updates on the Impact of State and Local “Stay-at-Home” or “Shelter-in-Place” Orders on Construction in AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, and TX (National Law Review, 3/30/2020)
As with all the effects of COVID-19, the issuance, interpretation, and enforcement of these orders are fast-breaking and in constant flux. Read more.
Gov Northam issues 'stay at home' order for Virginians amid COVID-19 outbreak (WHSV-3, 3/30/2020)
The construction industry and construction supply stores are also considered essential services. Read more.
South Florida's construction industry fights to remain open amid coronavirus concerns (WLRN.org, 3/27/2020)
Construction has been deemed essential business in South Florida. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have all included ongoing construction site work in orders defining which businesses can stay open. Read more
What is an essential business in Austin, Travis County? (Kxan.com, 3/24/2020)
Austin Texas started a shelter in place at midnight. exempting construction as critical infrastructure. Read more
Some construction sites still operating in Miami-Dade County despite coronavirus concerns (Local10.com, 3/24/2020)
Like grocery stores and pharmacies, construction sites are exempt from the order to shut down, but they are being watched closely. Read more
Canada
COVID-19 causes concerns for construction workers (CBC, 4/1/2020)
Building Trades of New Brunswick president Jean-Marc Ringuette said about 60 per cent of the province's unionized tradespeople are going to be without work scheduled to take place over the next several months.Read more.
Province deems construction essential; trade unions call for clarity on safety (Winnipeg Free Press, 3/31/2020)
The industrial, commercial, institutional and residential construction sectors are allowed to keep working past April 1. But a pair of trade organizations say the province hasn't given clear instructions for trades to do their job safely while dealing with COVID-19. Read more.
Open or closed? The status of construction sites in Canada during COVID-19 (Canadian Architect, 3/30/2020)
As provinces roll out emergency measures, construction sites in some parts of the country are closing, while in others, they remain open. Read more
Ontario updates guidelines in bid to limit spread of COVID-19 on construction sites (Global News, 3/29/2020)
The updated guidelines come amid increasing pressure from some construction workers and groups who have expressed concerns about unsanitary conditions on sites amid the pandemic. Read more
After sitting through the night, Canadian government passes emergency coronavirus aid package (Politico, 3/25/2020)
The aid package includes C$52 billion in direct financial support for individuals and businesses and C$55 billion in tax deferrals. Read more
WorkSafeBC inspectors to enforce virus-transmission prevention at construction sites (The Province, 3/25/2020)
WorkSafeBC is sending inspectors to construction sites after getting complaints that social distancing is not happening on some job sites. Read more
Construction labour groups raise concerns over job site safety (CTV News, 3/24/2020)
Construction labour groups are raising concerns about working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic as companies and governments respond with a range of strategies. Read more
