The New York State Thruway Authority has selected Tappan Zee Constructors, as the Design/Build Contractor for the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement.  Tappan Zee Constructors is a joint venture of  Fluor Enterprises, Inc., American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast, Inc., and Traylor Bros., Inc.

A Chinese firm plans to build the world’s largest skyscraper, in 90 days.  Broad Sustainable Building, is planning to build “Sky City”, a 2,749 feet modular building in Changsha, China.  At the same time, Forest City Ratner Companies is planning its own modular project.  The 322 foot modular residential tower at the Atlantic Yards site, known as the B2 residential tower, will be built utilizing a team approach. 

The New York State Thruway Authority has released three design renderings for the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge in Westchester and Rockland Counties of New York.  The Tappan Zee Bridge, a 57 year span, which carries the New York State Thruway (Interstates 87 and 287) over the Hudson River, is currently beyond its expected life span of 50 years.  The current bridge is a regular bottleneck of traffic, an environmental nightmare and has cost more than $750 Million in maintenance in the last 10 years.

The New York Building Congress is reporting that New York Construction saw a 9% increase in 2012 to $30.7 billion, largely because of non-residential projects such as the World Trade Center, the Barclays Center and the renovation of Madison Square Garden. 

In The Building Industry Electrical Contractors Association v. The City of New York, 2012 U.S. App. Lexis 9160, 193 L.R.R.M. 2177, The Second Circuit recently upheld the dismissal of an action brought on by two contractor associations, challenging the validity of a Project Labor Agreement (“PLA”) entered between the City of New York and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (“BCTC”).

In a recent decision by New York’s Appellate Division, First Department, the Court once again clarifies that a subcontractor who commences a Mechanic’s Lien foreclosure proceeding, bears the burden of establishing the existence of a lien fund.  

Residents of Ringwood, New Jersey filled Borough Hall this week to voice their concerns over a proposed natural gas pipeline that would go through four acres of protected land.

While many Americans still feel the pinch of the economy, recent economic data indicates that the Construction Industry is heading for a slight up-swing in 2012 and into 2013. 

New York State’s Appellate Division Second Department issued a decision on January 24, 2012 affirming that home improvement contractors are required to be licensed.  Without a home improvement license, the contractor cannot enforce its contractual rights for payment.