Jefferson Parish’s Huey P. Long Bridge widening project was the most significant construction project of 2012, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the projects’ contractors, Massman Construction Co., Traylor Bros. and IHI Corporation, known as MTI, was the grand award winner while 16 other firms received the association’s Alliant Build America Award in other categories.

Arlington, Arizona’s Historic Gila River Bridge Rehabilitation project was one of the most successful construction partnerships of 2012, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the project’s contractor, Phoenix-based Haydon Building Corp. was one of only two firms to receive the association’s Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award.

Construction charity organization AGC Charities, Inc. began work this week on renovations to the main facility of a Palm Springs area group that supports children and adults with disabilities as part of its annual Operation Opening Doors event. Dozens of contractors are donating time, expertise and money to make a series of improvements to the headquarters of Angel View.

Construction spending snapped a nine-month string of monthly gains with a sharp decline in January but still rose from year-ago levels, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that “across-the-board” federal spending cuts known as sequestration, which took effect today, along with a possible shutdown of the federal government later this month, could hit construction harder than most sectors and dampen demand for needed projects.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to the release of President Obama’s Infrastructure Investment Plan: “President Obama is right to continue to focus on the nation’s significant, and growing, infrastructure needs. As he noted in his State of the Union address, the condition of many of the nation’s aging bridges, highways and other essential infrastructure is unacceptably poor. And he is absolutely right to point out the need to identify additional sources of revenue for transportation investments, including from the private sector."

Prices for construction materials moved higher in January, propelled by large jumps in items used in new housing and nonresidential building renovations, according to an analysis of new federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that contractors were paying more for materials even as the pending federal spending “sequestration” threatens to cancel an estimated $4 billion worth of construction activity this year.

Construction charity organization AGC Charities, Inc. announced today that it will renovate the facility of a Palm Springs area-based group that supports children and adults with disabilities as part of its annual Operation Opening Doors event in March. As part of that effort, contractors will donate their time, expertise and money to make a series of improvements to the headquarters of Angel View.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to the release of the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans Retirement Security Review Commission’s proposed plan for preserving, remediating and innovating multiemployer retirement plans: “The Commission’s plan represents a pragmatic, reasonable and – most importantly for taxpayers – self-sufficient approach to preserving and protecting nearly half a trillion dollars worth of multiemployer retirement plans."

Construction charity organization AGC Charities, Inc. completed renovations to an American Legion Post located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to make the facility more handicap accessible. Dozens of local contractors donated their time, expertise and money to make a series of improvements to the Kenneth H. Nash Post 8 building.

Revised government data issued today show the construction industry is contributing substantially to economic and employment growth, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction employment rose for the eighth consecutive month in January, while construction spending in December increased for the ninth month in a row. Both totals were the highest levels in more than three years.