In today’s construction news, read about how, compared to its international counterparts, the US construction business has demonstrated resiliency in previous years, and US contractors are still confident heading into 2025. Meanwhile, in order to finish the PRTX University Line bus route project by the end of 2027, Pittsburgh Regional Transit plans to start construction on the second and final major phase, which will pass through Uptown and Oakland.
US Construction Companies’ Perspectives for 2025
Original Source: Optimism and apprehension: How US construction firms view 2025
Recent years have shown the US construction business to be resilient, and builders feel confident heading into 2025. However, trade and immigration policies backed by the incoming Trump administration raise concerns about labor and pricing whiplash.
Sage Group, a UK software company, and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), a US trade association for general contractors with over 22,000 members, released their annual outlook report (“A Year in the Balance: The 2025 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook”) on 8 January in a live webinar
Despite optimism about an improved regulatory environment, the business expressed reservations about several of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed initiatives.
With Trump taking office on January 20, optimism and targeted concern are making for an unsettling start to the year.
AGC leadership and contractors discussed a possible two-sided 2025.
AGC fears Trump’s tariffs will hurt building and the economy.
An intensifying trade conflict between Canada and Mexico could hurt US construction in 2025.
As of last year, the US buys most items from Mexico and Canada. China fell from first to third in 2024. From his first term, Trump tariffs on Chinese imports drove US companies to expand manufacturing and supply chains in Mexico and Canada.
AGC chief economist Ken Simonson stated, “I think nearly all economists, at least those who aren’t joining [the Trump] administration, would say that Trump tariffs – particularly ones as steep as 25% on our biggest trading partners – are very damaging to our own economy.”
Simonson said such levies will most likely raise material prices for imported construction goods and all imported goods. He predicted domestic suppliers would raise prices.
“In addition, I think the biggest damage from tariffs is the follow-on effects that other countries retaliate,” explained. That hurts our competitiveness and takes market share from US enterprises.
“I’m worried about both specific effects on construction costs and, frankly, disrupting supply chains, but in general, the damage to the economy.”
“I hope some of the tariff proposals are more of a negotiating tactic than a reality,” he said, citing Trump’s first term’s success with threats but not action.
Turner Construction vice president and operations manager Andy Heitmann said his firm and peers can handle problems like rising imported materials prices, but significant tariffs with Canada and Mexico might delay or block projects in the short term.
“Construction companies and designers explore various options, but tariffs undoubtedly affect construction costs,” he stated. “If the cost of building something becomes uneconomical, it can lead to job closures or even work not starting.”
Construction supports lawful immigrant workers.
Trump’s anti-immigrant policy is another 2025 concern. The president-elect has promised enormous deportations of illegal immigrants.
Undocumented immigrants make about 15%–23% of the US construction workforce, which might hurt an already tight skilled labor market.
Even though Verdex workers have valid visas to work in the US, Kirby said some Florida workers are “frightened” by large deportations.Florida Verdex Construction president Rex Kirby was enthusiastic about the tariffs.
“Because we have a mostly immigrant workforce,” he remarked. They routinely ask our field teams, ‘What’s going on? Are they going to try to send me home?
Kirby advised improving immigrant work visas.
AGC is lobbying the next government for short- and long-term immigration and labor solutions, Simonson said.
“In the short term, we are urging the new administration to work with Congress to establish new construction-specific temporary work vias,” he said. “This will allow firms to provide lawful workers to keep up with economic development projects like improving infrastructure and building new manufacturing and semiconductor facilities.”
Still optimistic for US construction in 2025
While trade and immigration policy uncertainty makes some contractors nervous about prices and labor, AGC’s outlook report and webinar participants’ thoughts indicated several positives that might lead to a fruitful 2025.
“Firms expect regulatory relief will help drive demand, especially for all manner of public sector projects,” Simonson added.
Simonson said AGC favors easing regulations on large government building projects.
Simonson suggested Trump should remove President Biden’s executive order requiring project labor agreements for federal building projects over $35 million. “The measure effectively excludes two-thirds of the construction workforce from federal projects, crippling the nation’s building capacity.
President Trump should also remove the bureaucratic barriers his predecessor put in place with the new Buy America rules. We welcome attempts to reestablish a domestic construction material supply chain, but the Biden administration’s strategy makes projects unachievable without local components.
AGC vice president of public affairs and workforce Brian Turmail told Construction Briefing, “We’re looking for the [future] president to enact some of the already-authorized-by-Congress reforms to the federal permitting process that would keep the same high standards in meeting environmental thresholds for project approval, but accelerate how long it takes federal agencies to conduct those reviews.”
Simonson expects Trump’s government to streamline permitting and increase material waivers for federally funded construction enterprises.
The good news is the incoming president has the authority to fast accelerate government reviews without lowering project approval criteria, Simonson said. If President Trump streamlines the permitting process, many postponed projects should start building immediately.
The bottom line is 2025 should be a good year for the commercial construction industry, especially if the Trump administration works with us to address workforce shortages, avoid materials price inflation, remove federal project worker restrictions, and streamline permitting.
Construction will focus on Trump on inauguration day, January 20, when he is scheduled to issue many executive orders. Trump’s harsh tariff and immigration plans could make the new year more Mr. Hyde than Dr. Jekyll.
Next Phase of PRT Rapid Transit Project Begins in Oakland, Uptown
Original Source: PRT announces construction in Oakland, Uptown for next phase of rapid transit project
Later this month, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will begin the second and last primary phase of the PRTX University Line bus route project through Uptown and Oakland, projected to finish in 2027.
Late 2023 saw PRT’s Downtown phase begin. PRT capital programs director Denise Ott said inbound buses on Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue will have red lanes.
Ms. Ott said PRT is building five non-enclosed Downtown stations to avoid packed sidewalks. She added the stations will have chairs, fare vending machines, and arrival signage.
PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said Downtown construction will resume in spring and finish by early summer after a winter lull.
Ms. Kelleman said the second phase will include six miles of transit corridor, dedicated bus-only lanes, 18 additional stations with amenities, two miles of protected bike lanes, trees, and walkways. She added the initiative is receiving millions in government funds to promote transit, walking, and bicycling.
Ms. Ott said modest, temporary utility exploration work zones will begin construction in the third week of January. She said longer-term construction zones will close three to four blocks of lane in early February. She claimed traffic will flow through unimpeded lanes and pedestrian detours will rise.
Ms. Ott said the Uptown West Station incoming bus lane will be isolated from the road by a concrete median to reduce personal vehicle drop-offs at PPG Paints Arena.
“If you’re dropping someone off at PPG Paints Arena, you’ll need to turn around the street, block, go up Washington Place, or go to Centre [Avenue],” she said.
Ms. Ott said Oakland bus line work will be staggered. She added construction inbound to Downtown along Fifth Avenue will follow first construction outward from Downtown through Forbes Avenue, which will be completed by 2025.
According to Department of Mobility and Infrastructure Senior Project Manager Steve Auterman, 40 intersections will be modernized with ADA-compliant curbs, ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, accessible pedestrian signals, and expanded sidewalks in some areas.
The University Line was planned in 2013 and designed in 2019. Ms. Ott said the project’s two-thirds-designed Squirrel Hill and Highland Park phase and partially funded Homestead-McKeesport stage are possible.
Besides the new line, Ms. Ott said PRT bought 54 clean diesel and 15 battery electric buses. She added PRT is establishing bus charging stations at East Liberty garage and Wilkinsburg Station on the East Busway.
Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, in the end, 2025 should be a prosperous year for the commercial construction sector, particularly if the Trump administration is prepared to cooperate with us in addressing the shortage of workers, preventing inflation in the cost of materials, lifting restrictions on who is permitted to work on federal projects, and expediting the permitting process. In the end, all eyes will be on Trump on January 20, the day of his inauguration, since it is anticipated that a number of executive orders will be signed that afternoon.
Meanwhile, around 2013, the University Line’s planning stage began, and in 2019, it reached its final design. According to Ms. Ott, the project is roughly two-thirds designed and has another partially financed stage that runs from Homestead to McKeesport. Future possible phases will branch out to Squirrel Hill and Highland Park. According to Ms. Ott, PRT has acquired 15 battery-electric buses and 54 new clean diesel buses in addition to the new line. According to her, PRT is setting up bus charging stations at Wilkinsburg Station and the East Liberty garage along the East Busway.