Latest construction news and information for the Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, eastern Missouri, and West Virginia regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry en-us http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514.html?nid=4250 Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use July 10, 2009 http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/400042640.html?nid=4250 Easily the worst area to travel in Indianapolis is near Interstate 465 and I-69 just northeast of the city. It is a major bottleneck, especially during the traffic rush at 5 p.m. The traffic is horrible. More than 150,000 vehicles travel in that area daily, and the roadway system is v… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1920042392.html?nid=4250 Dealing with the worst financial crisis in Illinois' history is a monumental task. But it's a task that Governor Pat Quinn is confronting head on. He recently presented a $53-billion budget plan for fiscal year 2010 to the Illinois General Assembly that contains $1.3 billion in cuts and uses a combi… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/690042069.html?nid=4250 More good news for Hoosiers. Indiana, which has already benefited from strong highway construction seasons during the past few years as a result of Governor Mitch Daniels' Major Moves program, anticipates that it will receive $658 million in highway infrastructure stimulus funds. According to the… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/170041817.html?nid=4250 Southern Kentucky has seen its share of large construction projects during the past few years, with major work in the Somerset area and repaving of the Louie B. Nunn Parkway. Now state officials have broken ground for another key project in the region -- reconstruction of KY 61. This $23-million, 6-… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/320041432.html?nid=4250 Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co. has always liked unique and challenging projects. That's probably why the company is again tackling a bridge over the Fox River on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in North Aurora, IL. McHugh is reconstructing the original 10-span arch bridge over the … http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/780041078.html?nid=4250 The Bluegrass State is quickly turning "green." Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has announced two energy efficiency initiatives for public buildings. The first initiative will require new public facilities or renovations to existing facilities built with 50 percent or more state funds… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/350040835.html?nid=4250 The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was certainly prepared when President Barack Obama signed the hotly debated, $787-billion stimulus package. Immediately following the signing, Missouri became the first state in the nation to award and begin construction on transportation projec… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/50040605.html?nid=4250 With the economy continuing its sharp downturn, state government officials are wisely combing through expenses and weeding out unneeded extras. They are tightening their belts -- looking for ways to save valuable dollars. In Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn has announced a series of co… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/60040206.html?nid=4250 Midwest states have felt Mother Nature's wrath during the last couple of weeks. Bitter cold temperatures, snow and ice have made things very challenging. One of the hardest hit areas is Kentucky. The winter storm paralyzed parts of the Commonwealth and left hundreds of thousands of… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1160039916.html?nid=4250 I am not a believer in tossing money around like candy, as has been done in Washington for decades. But with the economy in shambles, President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan may provide some relief for a country greatly in need. Let's hope that Obama is right when saying his plan would &quot… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1980039598.html?nid=4250 Great news for folks in southern Ohio. Despite the troubling economic climate, American Municipal Power-Ohio Inc. (AMP-Ohio) and Bechtel Power Corp. are partnering to construct a major electric generation facility in Meigs County. AMP-Ohio President/CEO Marc Gerken said his organization signed a con… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/340039234.html?nid=4250 It shouldn't surprise anyone that newly released studies point to green building as one of the growing bright spots for the struggling U.S. economy. Sustainable design and construction has tremendous momentum throughout the country, with an increasing number of contractors "building green.&quot… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/40038804.html?nid=4250 One of most unique bridge projects I've ever covered -- the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge linking Ohio and West Virginia -- opened to traffic on Dec. 30. This fascinating three-span, asymmetrical concrete cable-stayed structure over the Ohio River replaces an old two-lane steel truss bridge built in… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1480038348.html?nid=4250 Without a doubt, 2008 turned out to be a very bleak year from an economic standpoint. However, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials have identified some bright spots in all the gloom. ODOT says it completed 493 construction projects … http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/780038278.html?nid=4250 I -- like most Indianapolis-area residents -- woke up early Saturday morning to watch the implosion of the RCA Dome in downtown Indianapolis. It was definitely worth the effort. I wanted to say goodbye to an Indy landmark -- a massive, four-story structure that hosted hundreds of sporting and e… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/890038089.html?nid=4250 Associated General Contractors of America has released some very interesting and timely information that clearly outlines the economic benefits of infrastructure stimulus investments. According to the new data -- based on economic research conducted for the association as well as federal data and … http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/90037809.html?nid=4250 Thousands of highway and bridge projects are ready to roll forward across the country if Congress includes them in an economic stimulus bill. Here in the Midwest, projects totaling $6.32 billion are "ready-to-go" in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, O… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/760037476.html?nid=4250 President-elect Barack Obama is wisely using the short period of time before he takes office to get a grasp on the severity of the economic crisis crimping states and their budgets. He met with governors earlier this week in Philadelphia to talk with state chief executives about the challenge… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1270037127.html?nid=4250 It's great to see a major St. Louis-area retail project come to fruition in spite of the economic downturn. In Manchester, MO, the $120-million Manchester Highlands project recently opened its doors to welcome shoppers for the busiest shopping days of the year. Brinkmann Constructors comple… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1980036798.html?nid=4250 While Detroit's Big Three automakers were busy begging for money from Congress this week, more than 1,000 Honda associates celebrated the dedication of Honda Motor Co.'s new $550-million auto assembly plant in Greensburg, IN. The new Greensburg facility, which began production of Civic sedans i… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1130036513.html?nid=4250 Illinois continues to be a leader in the production and utilization of home-grown ethanol. Just the other day, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced that Illinois River Energy, LLC in Ogle County has received a $4-million Renewable Fuels Development grant to help build a new $120-million-plus … http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1540036154.html?nid=4250 Congratulations to Barack Obama and the other winners of the long 2008 election season. Obama's call for change resonated throughout the country -- especially in the Midwest, with key victories in Ohio and Indiana. The election secured Obama a place in history books not only as the country's… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/210036021.html?nid=4250 Kentucky, like other state governments across the country, is doing its best to cope with the economic crisis -- reducing its workforce and reducing its spending. However, additional spending cuts will be needed to help the state recover. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshea… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/1350035735.html?nid=4250 It's hard to believe, but northern Ohio has already recorded its first snowfall! Could Old Man Winter be around the corner? If so, Ohio Department of Transportation crews will be ready, and they will be prepared to follow the department's Smart Salt Strategy. The Smart Salt Strateg… http://www.acppubs.com/blog/1140000514/post/80035408.html?nid=4250 States considering privatizing their highways to fill budget gaps and to cover the expenses associated with fixing roads might consider looking at Indiana. Since leasing the Indiana Toll Road to a private company for $3.85 billion a few years ago, Indiana has been able to use those funds to upgrade …