Construction Digest

Construction is reaching a boiling point: teams are overwhelmed with project data while overly reliant on manual labor and operating on razor-thin margins. Project management in construction needs to be rewired, and fast. Construction companies can tackle challenges head-on with the help of AI, streamlining processes while nurturing a safer and more collaborative working environment for both field crews and office staff.

Workplace hazards vary from business to business, but the importance of worker safety should be a shared concern among all employers. For decades, falls have been one of the leading causes of injury and fatality among construction and general industry workers. In fact, nearly 40 percent of all construction fatalities are related to falls from heights, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Approximately 850 workers in the U.S. are killed from falls each year.

JCB North America continues to make significant progress on its $500 million manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas. The state-of-the-art facility, located on a 400-acre site, is expected to create 1,500 jobs and will serve as a hub for producing JCB’s telehandlers and mobile elevating work platforms. The project, the single largest investment in the company’s 80-year history, remains on schedule, with hiring set to begin in late-2025 and production launching in mid-2026.

Falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities on construction job sites. Tragically, the number of workplace fall deaths increases nearly every year. If you look at a graph of the figures, it resembles a well-performing stock. But this is no positive trend; these are families losing a loved one to a preventable death.

LOUISVILLE, KY — Brown and Caldwell, an engineering consulting firm creating and delivering water and environmental solutions, announces the addition of Stuart Henshall as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Henshall joined Brown and Caldwell from a global engineering firm, where he served as a Senior Vice President leading finance and accounting activities across multiple business units. He will report to Chairman and CEO Rich D’Amato.

Skid steers and compact track loaders (CTLs) are a familiar presence on nearly every job site — often serving in support roles like material transport, light grading, and post-task cleanup. But in a construction industry increasingly defined by lean crews, fast turnarounds, and escalating versatility demands, it's time to look beyond traditional expectations. These machines are no longer just job site fillers.

JCB North America recently announced a new partnership with the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA). “The Hispanic contractor community plays a vital role in building America’s infrastructure,” said Marc André Dubois, Vice President Marketing of JCB North America. “Our collaboration with NAHICA reflects JCB’s deep-rooted commitment to empowering diverse entrepreneurs by providing access to the innovative equipment, training, and flexible financing solutions.

As the construction and roadwork industries face mounting pressure to reduce emissions without compromising productivity, the search for a viable alternative to diesel has taken center stage. Battery-electric equipment has made promising inroads — especially in compact machines and urban environments — but current charging infrastructure and high energy demands can make it less practical for larger, heavy-duty applications.

KANSAS CITY, MO — Garver announces that Jerry Irvine, PE, has joined the firm as the new Missouri Transportation Team Leader. He has over 30 years of experience in project management and roadway design in Missouri and across the nation. Irvine's extensive experience includes overseeing and directing roadway design teams during concept, proposal, and final design development phases. In his new role, Irvine will help strengthen Garver’s presence in Missouri.

Making the most of what you have is a cliché of positive thinking. However, it also is an apt way to describe a project from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) – the Flex Lane on U.S. 12 in Dane County. The roughly 10-mile project area is located in Madison, Wisconsin. The average daily traffic count along the route is 120,000 vehicles.