In today’s construction news, read about the removal of cones, construction barriers, and signage along U.S. 41, which is a major relief for motorists who had to spend years navigating lane closures and detours. On the other hand, the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farms have recently made a less-than-subtle appearance in the calm waters off the coast of New England. Lastly, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, infrastructure, energy, and utility building are the main segments of the US construction market.
After Five Years, US 41 Construction was Completed
Original Source: US 41 construction finished after 5 years
Drivers who endured years of lane closures and detours on U.S. 41 are relieved to see cones, construction barriers, and signs gone.
Due to construction, U.S. 41 from the Edison Mall to downtown Fort Myers has been congested.
Businesses in the vicinity told WINK News how it affected clients.
“The roads were havoc. It almost sideswiped me twice, a driver reported.
Delays plagued the $22 million project, which began in 2018. COVID-19 was one.
Widening lanes, adding traffic lights, and improving pedestrian crossings were completed.
From Winkler Avenue to south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, this Florida Department of Transportation project affected drivers and businesses.
Latino Pack said drivers took back roads because it was hard to turn at traffic lights and enter several plazas.
They perceive greater flow now that it’s done.
FDOT reportedly plans to improve pedestrian safety on the U.S. 41 Caloosahatchee River bridge.
A US Company Pilots “bubble curtains” for the Construction of Offshore Wind Turbines
Original Source: US firm pilots ‘bubble curtains’ for offshore wind turbine construction
The nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farms have arrived in New England’s tranquil waters. Among the turbines and pile-driving, a new bubble-blowing approach could transform marine life, especially whales, dolphins, and endangered species in the northern Atlantic.
This innovative method is led by Thayer Mahan Offshore’s Richard Hine.
These walls of air bubbles absorb 80 to 90% of the loud sound energy released during turbine installation, he noted. “You can knock out about 80 to 90 percent of the acoustic energy and get it below levels where they’re harmful to marine mammals,” Hine said.
This follows concerns about wind turbines harshening these maritime zones. Recent Eastern Seaboard whale deaths have prompted Republican lawmakers and coastal people to voice their worries.
These deaths have been ascribed to ship crashes, a growing humpback whale population, and fishing entanglements, putting the offshore wind business under scrutiny.
Bets are greater than ever.
With the Biden administration approving 16 offshore wind facilities by 2025, the sector must address environmental concerns. With thousands of ocean-floor wind turbines, 10 million houses can be powered by 2030. These offshore power projects are crucial to reaching national and state climate goals from New York to California.
Vineyard Wind and South Fork Wind, the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farms, are being built off Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Both projects use double bubble curtains to reduce turbine installation noise.
Vineyard Wind said, “We hope that by pioneering this technology, it will become standard practice for the industry going forward.”
This invention may reduce marine life harm and shows the industry’s commitment to responsible and sustainable growth. These methods may help protect the ocean’s sensitive ecosystems as the offshore wind sector grows.
Offshore wind’s future appears to be one of clean energy and environmental harmony.
With bubble curtains leading the way, this innovative method may soon become the norm, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to ocean preservation and household power.
20 Greatest States for Construction Jobs in the U.S.
Original Source: 20 best states for construction jobs in the U.S.
Yahoo Finance said on Dec. 27 that the construction sector is a key economic indicator.
Despite growing material costs and supply chain interruptions, home building is improving in 2023. According to Global Data, the US construction market was $2.1 trillion in 2022. The research forecasts 4% yearly growth for the next four years. Residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, infrastructure, energy, and utilities construction dominate the US construction market.
Homebuilder stocks are soaring as investors expect Fed rate cuts. Earlier this month, the Fed announced three 2024 rate cuts. Last week, mortgage rates fell below 7% for the first time since August, boosting the property market. In 2023, Lennar Corp. and DR Horton rose over 60%, while PulteGroup rose over 120%.
The market’s upward turn is due to buyer preferences and mortgage rate decreases that make new homes more enticing than used ones. Employment statistics supports this demand growth. Construction unemployment peaked at 16.6% in March 2020 and dropped to 4.8% in November 2023 from 6.9% in January.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana as the best states for construction jobs by location. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the location quotient to compare a state’s industry concentration to the nation. The construction business is expected to increase significantly in 2024. Given this, below are the top states for construction work in 2023.
20. Texas
Location Quotient: 1.14
Average Pay: $49,760
Texas’ 2023 population growth rate ranks 3rd in the US. Construction workers in the state earn an average of $49,790. With nearly 21,000 construction jobs in 2023, Texas became a construction leader.
19. Nebraska
Location Quotient: 1.16
Average Pay: $51,250
Nebraska’s construction industry was worth $3.91 billion in 2023, with a GSP of $126 billion. Nebraska construction workers earn $51,250 on average.
18. Arizona Location Quotient: 1.16
Average Pay: $52,470
Arizona had $13.94 billion in construction and $136.2 billion in GSP in 2023. Arizona’s 5-year average annual employment growth rate was 2% despite construction growth issues. Top state jobs include real estate and rental and leasing.
17. Vermont
Location Quotient: 1.17
Average Pay: $52,062
Vermont’s construction value reached $893.91 million in 2023, up 1.3% annually. The same-year GSP was $30.2 billion. With a 5-year average annual rate of -1%, Vermont struggled with employment growth.
16. Oklahoma
Location Quotient: 1.19
Average Pay: $49,820
Oklahoma’s 2023 GSP was $195.2 billion, and construction was $4.4 billion. The yearly decline was 6.4%, while the five-year decline was 4.5%.
15. Hawaii
Location Quotient: 1.19 Avg. Salary: $77,850
Hawaii received $2.64 billion in construction. Construction’s five-year annualized growth fell 7.5%. Hawaii’s GSP was $76.5 billion despite these issues.
14. Wash.
Location Quotient: 1.22
Average Pay: $73,140
In 2023, the state’s construction sector was worth $21.28 billion with a GSP of $577.2 billion. The state’s construction sector grew 3.7% annually over five years. The state averaged 1% yearly employment growth.
13. Colorado
Location Quotient: 1.24
Average Pay: $57,430
In 2023, Colorado’s GSP was $371.3 billion, while construction contributed $17.41 billion. This rose 0.9% annually. The state averaged 1.4% annual job growth during the past five years.
12. Maine: 1.26 Location Quotient
Average Pay: $52,350
Maine ranks 12th on our ranking of the 20 top US states for construction jobs. Construction workers in the state earn $52,350 on average. Maine’s 2023 GSP was $65.5 billion.
11. South Dakota
Location Quotient: 1.33
Average Pay: $47,170
GSP in South Dakota was $50.5 billion in 2023. Construction contributed $1.43 billion to the GSP, down 3.1% for the year. Over the past five years, South Dakota’s employment grew 1.0% annually.
10. Nevada Location Quotient: 1.34
Average Pay: $61,570
Nevada ranks among the top 10 US building states. Nevada building reached $9.08 billion in 2023, up 0.4% year. For the same period, GSP was $170.1 billion.
9. Louisiana
Location Quotient: 1.43
Average Pay: $50,350
Louisiana had $219.1 billion GSP in 2023. Construction added $7.08 billion to the GSP. Employment growth in the state averaged -0.4% over five years.
8. West Virginia
Location Quotient: 1.47
Average Pay: $52,740
West Virginia had a $71.7 billion GSP in 2023, growing 0.1% annually. Construction added $2.28 billion to the GSP. Employment growth in the state averaged -0.4% over five years. Mining, healthcare, and manufacturing are West Virginia’s main industries.
7. Idaho Location Quotient: 1.48 Avg. Salary: $49,620
Idaho has one of the fastest-growing populations. With 15.3% 5-year growth, Idaho’s 2023 GDP was $85.7 billion. The construction sector contributed $3.71 billion to the GSP in 2023. State construction increase is 4.1% over five years.
6. Utah: Location Quotient: 1.52
Average Pay: $52,380
Utah has the second-fastest population and GSP growth in the US. The 5-year GSP growth rate was 3.7%, reaching $185.2 billion in 2023. The construction sector contributed $11.83 billion to the GSP in 2023. The construction sector grew 5.9% over five years.
5. Alaska: Location Quotient: 1.52
Average Pay: $73,080
Alaska made our list of the top 5 US building states. Alaska’s GSP was $49.6 billion in 2023. Construction contributed $1.63 billion to the GSP in 2023.
4. New Mexico
Location Quotient: 1.59
Average Pay: $50,160
New Mexico had a $96.5 billion GSP in 2023, up 15.6% over five years. Construction contributed $2.5 billion to the GSP. In the past five years, the state’s average annual employment increase was 0.6%.
3. Montana Location Quotient: 1.62
Average Pay: $56,590
Montana’s GSP was $50.7 billion in 2023, up 13.7% over five years. The construction sector contributed $2.32 billion to the GSP in 2023, up 1.5%. Montana saw 1.7% annual job growth over the past five years.
2. North Dakota
Location Quotient: 1.82
Average Pay: $60,340
North Dakota had 14% 5-year growth in GSP to $55.1 billion in 2023. State average annual employment growth over the past five years declined little. The construction sector contributed $2.05 billion to the GSP in 2023, down 0.7%.
1. Wyoming: 2.22 Location Quotient
Average Pay: $57,300
Wyoming leads our ranking of the best US states for construction employment with a location quotient of 2.22. Wyoming had $36 billion GSP in 2023. Construction contributed $1.5 billion to the GSP in 2023.
Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, the project was finished with wider lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and new traffic signals. Nonetheless, this Florida Department of Transportation project affected businesses and drivers on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard south of Winkler Avenue.
On the other hand, potentially representing a significant advancement in reducing the negative impacts on marine life, this innovation demonstrates the industry’s dedication to sustainable and responsible growth. These steps could be crucial in ensuring that development doesn’t jeopardize the fragile ecosystems of the ocean as the offshore wind industry grows.
Lastly, based on location quotient, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming are the top states for construction jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses a metric called the location quotient to determine how concentrated an industry is in a given state relative to the overall country.
