In today’s construction news, read about how, in spite of all of our roundabouts, potholes, and seemingly never-ending road work, Indiana managed to outperform other states in terms of road condition. On the other hand, the new U.S. headquarters of the water main rehabilitation company, FER-PAL Construction, was opened in Elgin today by Governor Pat Quinn and other authorities. The move resulted in the creation of 50 new jobs. The firm’s decision to choose Illinois was influenced by Governor Quinn’s personal engagement. Meanwhile, according to the global study on construction industry trends by Turner & Townsend for 2025, five of the ten most costly cities in the world for building are located in the United States. Lastly, US Highway 49 has had one lane of traffic closed for months due to construction.
Potholes, Roundabouts, and Construction Aside, US News Ranks Indiana Road Condition First in the Nation
Original Source: Despite potholes, roundabouts and construction, US News ranks Indiana road quality as No. 1 in the country
U.S. News & World Report produced a new list of the top states, evaluating them by infrastructure and affordability. Indiana’s top ranking may surprise Hoosiers: road quality.
Even with potholes, roundabouts, and constant road construction, Indiana has the best road quality.
Ranking information is here.
Why was Indiana’s road quality best?
U.S. News & World Report’s “Road Quality” measure uses Federal Highway Administration data to calculate each state’s percentage of poor road miles.
This data shows that Indiana has the lowest rate of poor-condition road miles, which may surprise drivers.
Indiana, South Dakota
Kansas
Wyoming
Vermont
Nebraska
Tennessee
Idaho
Georgia
North Dakota
Indiana’s total ranking?
Indiana led this subcategory, but it didn’t rank as high in other categories.
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Their “Best States 2025” rating system examined eight categories and their consecutive weights:
Crime & Corrections: 9.01% Education: 15.79% Health Care: 15.51% Economy: 12.88% Infrastructure: 12.74% Opportunity: 12.2% Fiscal Stability: 12.19% Natural Environment: 9.69%
Considering such factors, Indiana ranked 33rd best state in the nation, in the lower half. How did other states’ roads compare?
U.S. News & World Report’s top 10 road-quality states:
Which US states are best overall?
According to U.S. News & World Report, these are the top 10 states in the above categories:
Utah, New Hampshire
Idaho
Minnesota
Nebraska
Florida
Vermont
South Dakota
Massachusetts
Washington
Illinois Governor Quinn Opens FER-PAL Construction’s U.S. Headquarters
Original Source: Governor Quinn Opens FER-PAL Construction U.S. Headquarters in Illinois
Governor Pat Quinn opened FER-PAL Construction’s new U.S. headquarters in Elgin today, creating 50 employment. Governor Quinn personally persuaded the firm to choose Illinois. This news supports Governor Quinn’s plan to modernize water infrastructure to boost the economy and safeguard the environment.
“FER-PAL joins a growing list of companies choosing Illinois to grow its business,” Governor Quinn said. The Clean Water Initiative is putting people back to work modernizing Illinois’ water systems and infrastructure, and the company is well-positioned to contribute.
Governor Quinn visited Chicago and met with FER-PAL CEO Shaun McKaigue. Governor Quinn strengthened the relationship with FER-PAL in Toronto and pushed the company to move its U.S. headquarters in Elgin.
“We are thrilled to open our Elgin, Illinois office. CEO Shaun McKaigue said it was a tremendous opportunity for the state, local community, and FER-PAL.
Toronto-based FER-PAL Construction began providing communities with “trenchless technology” water main rehabilitation services in 1986. Instead of digging extensive trenches to replace an outdated water main, they use a Cure-In-Place-Pipe to construct a new pipe within the old line. This technology offers towns across the US a cost-effective water main replacement alternative.
Governor Quinn intentionally recruited FER-PAL to Illinois to attract innovative water technology companies. FER-PAL, Ecolab, and Grundfos are drawn by the Governor’s Clean Water Initiative and boost the state’s economy.
In his 2012 State of the State Address, Governor Quinn unveiled the $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative to help local governments upgrade old drinking water and wastewater treatment plants and distribution and collection systems. The ICWI receives government grants, ARRA monies, and loan payback principal and interest. No new state taxes are used.
US Cities Are the Most Expensive for Construction
Original Source: U.S. cities stand out as most expensive places in the world for construction
Turner & Townsend’s 2025 global construction industry intelligence report lists five U.S. cities among the top ten most expensive for building.
New York leads with US$5,744 per square meter, followed by San Francisco at $5,504. After Zurich and Geneva, London completes the top five.
Chicago is seventh, Tokyo eighth, and Los Angeles sixth. Philadelphia ranks ninth and Sapporo, Japan tenth. A global shortage of trained workers is driving up construction costs, the report finds.
Labor expenditures, average US$76 per hour and up to US$131.4 per hour in New York, drive up U.S. building costs. According to the survey, 87% of North American markets have mechanical, engineering, and plumbing trade shortages, which is fueling this.
The report argues migration restrictions in many regions exacerbate the global shortage of skilled labor.
For the June quarter, CoStar reported a 20-quarter low for U.S. hotel room development.
June saw an 11.9% drop in U.S. hotel room construction, the sixth straight month. Economic uncertainties and rising construction costs have reduced hotel demand.
June final planning for U.S. hotels (266,276 rooms) declined marginally year over year. Still, there remained hope. U.S. hotel rooms in planning (349,802) rose 4.8% year over year.
Most under construction rooms are upscale or more upmarket.
Construction of U.S.49 Near USM Nears Completion
Original Source: U.S.49 construction project near USM close to completion
One U.S. 49 lane has been closed for months due to construction.
“It’s always cluttered,” said Hattiesburg resident Lele Parker. “Not enough room. It’s annoying when trying to get somewhere.”
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is finishing the installation of six “directionalized” medians along the roadway.
“The one that they’re working on right now is actually the final one in this project,” said MDOT Public Information Officer Anna Ehrgott. “And it is right next to (University of Southern Mississippi) in between Fourth Street and Hardy Street.”
Goal: Control intersection traffic to reduce collisions.
It prevents automobiles from crossing all four lanes of Highway 49 at once, forcing them to turn right, Ehrgott said. “So, that helps prevent side angle crashes or T-bone wrecks.”
MDOT officials planned the $2.1 million improvement to finish by mid-August, just in time for Southern Miss students to return.
“That way traffic impacts could be minimized while USM was not in session,” Ehrgott remarked.
The project attempts to make the highway safer, but adjacent businesses say it has hurt sales.
”A lot of people have either not gone towards the highway near our restaurant or have passed it in frustration of the traffic,” said Delovitt Rogers, manager of Harbor Bar & Grill, just off the highway.
Rogers and his crew hope the end product will help them long-term.
“I know that all of the clients and employees here would definitely appreciate the news,” he stated. But (everyone) must be strong to realize Mississippi will appear better.
Parker and her neighbors anticipated smoother rides.
“I can’t wait for it to be done because now I can get to where I want to go, and I can’t wait to see the new traffic progress,” she said. “I want to see happy people. I can’t wait to be happy.”
The project was funded by federal and state funds, according to MDOT leaders.
Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, the state of Indiana was classified as the 33rd greatest state in the US, which places us in the lower half of the overall rating.
On the other hand, as part of his 2012 State of the State Address, Governor Quinn established the $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative to assist local governments in their urgent need to upgrade outdated water treatment facilities, distribution networks, and infrastructure for both potable and wastewater use. The ICWI receives its funding from a combination of yearly federal grants, monies allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and extra principal and interest paid back on loans.
Meanwhile, one element contributing to the high cost of building in the United States is the high cost of labor, which may reach as high as $131.4 per hour in New York and an average of $76.6 per hour nationwide. According to the survey, 87% of North American markets are experiencing shortages in the mechanical, engineering, and plumbing trades, which is contributing to the construction skills shortfall.
Lastly, according to Parker, she and her neighbors are anticipating future journeys that are less bumpy. A combination of federal and state funds, according to MDOT officials, have been used to finance the repair.
