In today’s construction news, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, construction workers discovered an inert, “1,000-pound” military explosive close to the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, in order to help the U.S. The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division establishes prevailing wage rates—which are necessary under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts for wages paid to workers on federally funded and federally assisted construction projects—and the building construction industry in Texas is being asked to participate in a survey. On the other hand, due to a boom in single-family home construction, U.S. construction spending grew more than anticipated in December, and additional gains are anticipated as mortgage rates continue to drop. Lastly, the US$32 million renovation project on the terminal building of Greater Binghamton Airport in New York has begun. The project involves demolishing the current restaurant, kitchen, and interior halls to make way for the construction of temporary waiting areas, new restrooms, and a jet bridge walkway.

Construction Site Finds ‘1,000-Pound’ Military Bomb

Original Source: Florida sheriff: ‘1,000-pound’ military bomb found at construction site

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office reported that construction workers unearthed an inert, “1,000-pound” military explosive at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport on Tuesday afternoon. In a Facebook video, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said construction workers in the northeast corner of the airport near Helicopter Drive, where Wilton Simpson Technical College is being built, reported the explosives shortly before 3 p.m. “They found what was believed to be a World War II era, 1,000-pound bomb,” Nienhuis said in the video, adding that it was “rusted and decayed.” The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office bomb team found the bomb inert, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office reported on Facebook approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office called it “M-65 ordnance” and claimed MacDill Air Force Base would dispose of it. Sheriff’s deputies stopped Spring Hill Drive between U.S. 41 and California Street on Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release. By 6 p.m., all roads were open.

US Department of Labor Requests Texas Construction Industry Wage Input

Original Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor Seeks Input From Texas Construction Industry On Wages

The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to survey the Texas building construction industry to set prevailing wage rates for federally funded and assisted construction projects.

The department sets prevailing wage rates based on construction workers’ county-specific earnings and fringe benefits. This survey asks about wages paid to construction workers in Texas for building projects built between Jan. 29, 2023, and April 29, 2024, in Austin and San Antonio, covering Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Medina, Travis, Wilson, and Williamson.

The survey goes beyond federally supported construction. Data collection starts Jan. 29, 2024, and ends April 29, 2024. The department invites contractors, stakeholders, and others to take the survey.

Participating in the survey process ensures that prevailing salary and fringe benefit rates reflect local rates. Complete determinations reduce contractor labor classification requests.

The survey is best taken online. Wage and Hour Division notifications will be sent to interested parties and agency-known contractors. The message will connect parties to the webpage where their representatives can conduct the survey online. Complete and submit the online survey by April 29, 2024 to be included. Request a mail-in form from the department at 1-866-236-2773. No letter is required to participate. Take the online survey.

In the federal register on Aug. 23, 2023, the department issued the final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations. The final rule took effect Oct. 23, 2023.

US Construction Expenditure Increased in December More Than Anticipated

Original Source: US construction spending rises more than expected in December

U.S. construction spending rose more than expected in December due to single-family homebuilding, and mortgage rates are projected to fall.

Construction spending jumped 0.9% Thursday, according to the Commerce Department. The November construction spending report was revised up to 0.9% from 0.4%. Reuters polled economists who predicted 0.5% construction spending growth.

Annual construction spending rose 13.9% in December. It rose 7.0% in 2023. In December, private construction spending rose 0.7% after 1.1% in November. After rising 1.0% last month, residential building investment rose 1.4%.

Single-family building spending rose 1.6%. An ongoing lack of pre-owned homes drives demand for new building.

Lower borrowing prices will boost single-family house building this year.

Interest rates were unchanged Wednesday by the Fed. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told reporters that interest rates had peaked and will fall in the coming months, praising the economy.

U.S. central bank policy rate has increased by 525 basis points since March 2022 to 5.25%-5.50%.

According to mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has dropped from 7.79% in late October to mid-6%.

In December, multifamily housing spending rose 0.3%. With a high rental vacancy rate and a substantial multi-family housing pipeline, expansion this year is limited.

Private buildings like industries spent 0.2% less. Spending on manufacturing construction projects fell 0.1% as the Biden administration’s semiconductor manufacturing program faded.

Spending on public construction rose 1.3% after 0.5% in November.

Federal spending climbed 6.4% while state and local spending rose 0.9%.

Modernizing Greater Binghamton Airport costs US$32 million

Original Source: Greater Binghamton Airport begins US$32m modernization project

Greater Binghamton Airport in New York is deconstructing its terminal building for temporary waiting areas, new restrooms, and a jet bridge walkway for a US$32m redevelopment.

It received US$32m from the Governor’s US$230m Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The passenger terminal and airport approach road will be redesigned to improve passenger flow and meet traveler needs. The project also moves the general aviation terminal to the passenger terminal.

New outside canopy and entrance gateways will be built in spring 2024. The US$47.8m upgrading project is expected to produce over 500 employment by winter 2025. Improvements include reconfiguring the ticketing lobby and outbound baggage area, renovating the departures lobby and lounge, renovating the baggage claim area and moving rental car counters, installing a new parking revenue control system, and building a new Customs and Border Protection facility.

“With the start of major construction, we have taken a big step toward providing Southern Tier travelers with a state-of-the-art airport that will make their journeys more pleasurable and serve as an economic engine for the region,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Greater Binghamton Airport improvements are part of our ongoing efforts to revitalize airports across upstate New York and create world-class travel experiences that will encourage people and businesses to visit, live, and work in the Empire State.”

The Greater Binghamton Airport was one of nine upstate airports awarded US$230m in the 2023 Governor Hochul Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The awards support, rejuvenate, and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports to construct 21st-century airports.

The 1945-built Greater Binghamton Airport handles about 13,000 enplanements annually and is served by Delta and Avelo. According to the airport, the main terminal is antiquated and has not been refurbished in over two decades.

The New York State Department of Transportation supervised the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition for upstate commercial passenger service airports and airports that serve commercial aircraft and corporate jets. Applicants were urged to apply for financing for one or more initiatives to satisfy 21st-century needs. Projects submitted by qualifying airports were evaluated based on design creativity, passenger amenities and experience, operational efficiency, and regional economic effectiveness.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we are moving full speed ahead to modernize our vital transportation infrastructure, including our upstate airports, to reconnect communities and strengthen our economy. The Greater Binghamton Airport’s substantial renovations will establish a contemporary travel gateway worthy of the Southern Tier and fuel the region’s growth and prosperity.

Summary of today’s construction news

To sum it up, about 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that a bomb squad from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office had concluded the device was inert. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office identified it as “M-65 ordnance,” and they added that a team from MacDill Air Force Base will help with its disposal.

Meanwhile, in order to publish prevailing salary and fringe benefit rates that fairly represent rates paid in the survey region, participation in the survey process is essential. Contractors will need to request fewer labor classifications when determinations are complete.

On the other hand, participation in the survey process is necessary in order to publish prevailing pay and fringe benefit rates that accurately reflect rates paid in the survey region. After decisions are made, contractors won’t need to request as many labor classifications.

Lastly, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we are moving full speed ahead to modernize our vital transportation infrastructure, including our upstate airports, to reconnect communities and strengthen our economy,” stated Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation. The Greater Binghamton Airport is now undergoing significant upgrades that will provide a contemporary transport hub deserving of the Southern Tier and contribute to the region’s overall growth and prosperity.