Visit Roadbuilding at Journal of Commerce

Roadbuilding

March 15, 2010

Canadian soldiers repair blown-up bridge in Afghanistan

Canadian soldiers are repairing a key bridge on the road between Kandahar city and Pakistan after it was badly damaged by a suicide bomber’s blast earlier this month.

March 11, 2010

Show us the infrastructure money, Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association says

Premier Dalton McGuinty’s promise in the Throne Speech to export Ontario’s expertise in water-treatment technology is a wonderful plan, says Joe Accardi, executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association.

March 10, 2010

Highway construction crew uncovers ancient B.C. glacier

When a driller was boring down into hard rock preparing for a new highway interchange near Kelowna, B.C., he had no idea he would uncover evidence of an ancient glacier.

March 10, 2010

Niagara Construction Association award winner honoured for decades-long contributions

On the eve of his 79th birthday, industry veteran Jack Bell of Bell Contracting and Equipment shows little sign of slowing down.

March 8, 2010

Work continues on Dufferin Street underpass project in Toronto

Construction continues on the Dufferin Street Jog Elimination CN/GO Transit Underpass project at Dufferin and Queen Streets in Toronto. Dufferin Construction Ltd./Holcim Canada have completion of the project scheduled for June 2010.

March 8, 2010

New eco-energy park planned for Dufferin, Ontario

Dufferin Eco-Energy Park will be the home of a new organic waste facility, an energy-from-waste facility and an employment land development.

March 8, 2010

Large concrete pour creates tunnel roof in Australia

More than 2,800 cubic metres of concrete was laid during a marathon engineering effort recently at the Airport Link site at Kedron, Australia.

March 5, 2010

In new Woody Harrelson movie, Hamilton, Ont. construction worker becomes ‘Defendor’ at night

The recent Canadian movie release Defendor pulls off a neat trick by daring to set the tale of an everyday superhero in an undisguised Hamilton, Ont.

March 5, 2010

Western Canada critical of Eastern focus in budget

The 2010 federal budget focuses on stimulus spending in eastern Canada, which doesn’t sit well with some in Western Canada’s construction industry. “From a Western Canadian perspective, it seems the budget is heavily concentrated in central and eastern Canada,” said Bill Stewart, vice president of the Merit Contractor Association in Alberta.

March 4, 2010

Full text of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget speech

As I rise in this House today, our nation is at a crossroads. We have passed through some steep and rocky terrain. Much of the territory was uncharted. We were prepared, and we protected ourselves. We are making our way through, and our compass has not failed us.

March 3, 2010

Full text of the throne speech

The following is the unedited text of the speech from the throne delivered by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Wednesday.

March 3, 2010

Tories vow to complete economic stimulus plan

A 6,000-word throne speech which outlined the Conservative government’s themes for governance on the eve of the federal budget delivered a commitment to complete its economic stimulus plan.

March 2, 2010

Environmental assessments are holding back construction, report says

Ontario’s municipal class environmental assessment system adds $232 million in extra project costs and holds back 10,000 jobs through delays, finds a Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario report released today.

March 2, 2010

Atcon Group facing possibility of receivership

One of largest employers in northern New Brunswick is facing the possibility of receivership, and taxpayers in the province could be on the hook for more than $50 million.

March 1, 2010

Work continues on feedermain tunnel in Mississauga, Ontario

Work continues on the new Herridge feedermain (contract two) on Southdown Road between the QEW and Lakeshore Road in Mississauga, Ont. The $26-million project, being constructed in a tunnel by McNally Construction Inc. for the Region of Peel, will be completed by late summer 2010.

March 1, 2010

Work continues on Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Toronto

Construction continues on the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences on Scollard Street in Toronto. Menkes Construction Ltd. began the two-tower project in summer 2008 and completion has been scheduled for summer 2011.

February 26, 2010

Victoria’s new airport interchange to be built in a roundabout way

After years of lobbying, a major interchange, complete with two large roundabouts, is being constructed to improve access at Victoria International Airport.

February 26, 2010

Cutting time, maintaining quality wins Graham Bros. Paver of Year award

Meeting stringent performance standards while finishing a provincial contract seven months ahead of schedule has landed Graham Bros. Construction Limited of Brampton the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Paver of the Year award.

February 25, 2010

Ontario municipalities get improved access to infrastructure asset management system

Municipalities now have better access to an infrastructure asset management system thanks to a new funding agreement between the province and the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA), industry officials say.

February 25, 2010

B.C. Industry Training Authority retains roadbuilding veteran

Over the past four years, Kent Orrock has made a name for himself in the roadbuilding industry by creating, managing and overseeing the development of training programs for the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association.

February 24, 2010

Incoming Ontario Road Builders’ Association president familiar with new delivery models

For newly elected Ontario Road Builders’ Association president Paul Quinless, a career in construction was almost a foregone conclusion. “I guess it was in my blood,” says the executive vice-president of Carillion Canada Inc.

February 23, 2010

Supreme Court’s Tercon ruling may force new approach to contracts

The uncertainty created by the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in the Tercon appeal case may force the construction industry across the country to adopt a more practical and simplified approach to procurement.

February 22, 2010

Ontario, construction industry working to clarify HST language

A clearer understanding of when Ontario’s harmonized sales tax is to be included in bids was established in a recent meeting between industry stakeholders and the province.

February 19, 2010

Ontario General Contractors Association welcomes Supreme Court tender contract ruling

A Supreme Court of Canada decision that found that British Columbia breached its own tender contract preserves the integrity of tendering and bidding, states the Ontario General Contractors Association.

February 18, 2010

Construction continues on The Republic condos in Toronto

Glass work continues on The Republic condominiums at Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. in Toronto. Tridel Corp. has completion of the two-tower project scheduled for late 2011.

February 17, 2010

Finland OKs Baltic natural gas pipeline

Finnish environmental officials have given permission for a Baltic natural gas pipeline, paving the way for construction of the US$10.6 billion project between Russia and Germany.

February 16, 2010

Conference Board public-private partnerships report is biased, flawed, labour says

A recent study by the Conference Board of Canada on public-private partnerships (P3s) is seriously flawed and biased, according to some critics of this procurement method.

February 12, 2010

Seattle approves plan for tunnel to replace Alaskan Way Viaduct

The Port of Seattle Commission has voted to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation, agreeing to pay US$300 million toward the new tunnel that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

February 12, 2010

Alberta budget good news for construction sector

The 2010 Alberta Budget will sustain investment in the construction of basic infrastructure in a tough economic climate, by increasing the government’s deficit and spending initiatives.

February 11, 2010

Soaring Colorado River bridge a magnet for skilled workers

Less than a kilometre downstream from one of America’s best-known engineering marvels, the Hoover Dam, a second is taking shape.