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Contract Activity Improves in North, South Carolina

McGraw-Hill Construction recently reported that the value of August contracts for future construction activity increased in both North Carolina and South Carolina, compared to the same period a year ago.

In North Carolina, compared to August 2003, the most recent month's activity improved by 4 percent to total roughly $1.8 billion, up from last year's $1.7 billion tally. Despite the upswing, only the residential sector was positive for the month, growing by 15 percent to end at approximately $1.3 billion. The next biggest market, nonresidential, declined by 12 percent, and was estimated at approximately $362.6 million. The value of nonbuilding contracts declined by 26 percent over last August, ending at an estimated $134.4 million. The total value of August contracts in North Carolina was slightly less than $1.8 billion.

Year-to-date, North Carolina contract activity has increased by 17 percent over the first eight months of 2003 to total nearly $14.4 billion. Nonresidential is even with 2003, with just over $3.2 billion in contracts reported to date. Residential construction has increased by 23 percent to total roughly $9.6 billion, and the nonbuilding sector is estimated to be 25 percent ahead of 2003, with roughly $1.6 billion in contracts reported.

The value of South Carolina activity increased by 18 percent in August, with the residential and nonbuilding categories contributing to the improvement. Nonbuilding improved by 63 percent for a monthly total of $178.2 million, while residential increased by 16 percent over last August to total roughly $511.5 million. The nonresidential category declined by 3 percent, however, to total $205.4 million. The total value of August contracts was slightly more than $895 million.

Year-to-date, the value of new contracts in South Carolina is estimated at about $7.9 billion, or 21 percent ahead of 2003. Nonbuilding construction is roughly 53 percent ahead of last year's total through the first eight months of 2004, with nearly $1.75 billion in contracts reported. Nonresidential, with an estimated value of approximately $1.9 billion, has improved by 12 percent for the year-to-date, while the value of residential contracts, estimated at about $4.3 billion, has improved by 16 percent for the year.

Transportation Board Approves NCDOT's 25-Year Plan

North Carolina's Board of Transportation recenty approved a new long-range plan that prioritizes transportation investment for the next 25 years. The Statewide Transportation Plan provides a blueprint for greater investment in maintenance, preservation and modernization of the state's existing highway system as well as other transportation options such as rail and public transportation.

The centerpiece of the plan is the Recommended Investment Scenario, which outlines priorities from the estimated $55 billion, in today's dollars, expected to be available over the next 25 years for transportation investment. Based on this scenario, the department will be able to meet an additional 10 percent of its maintenance and preservation needs and nearly 25 percent more modernization infrastructure needs. Additionally, the scenario proposes increasing NCDOT's investment in the other transportation modes.

The plan also identifies $84 billion in total transportation needs and states that the North Carolina Department of Transportation will only be able to meet two-thirds of the state's 25-year transportation needs at its current funding levels, regardless of how the department's resources are allocated.

Though the plan does not point to specific projects, it does recommend steps to implement the plan, including the adoption of the Strategic Highway Corridors concept focused on developing strategic highway corridors across the state to improve safety, mobility and trade.

More information on the Statewide Transportation Plan, including the Recommended Investment Scenario, can be found at: http://www.ncdot.org/planning/statewideplan/ Information on the implementation of the Strategic Highway Corridor concept can be found at: http://www.ncdot.org/planning/statewide/shc/

Woolpert to Engineer Chilled Water Plant for Duke University

Woolpert LLP of Cincinnati was selected by Duke University to provide civil-engineering services for chilled water plant #2 on Duke's campus in Durham, N.C. Design is under way and pending approvals, construction on this estimated $20 million to $30 million project could start in 2005. Source: Engineering News-Record.