September 2023

As is well documented and reported, a cave-in or trench collapse can lead to serious injuries and even death. The recent decision in Secretary of Labor v. Texas Underground Utilities, Inc. is instructive, and should again remind construction companies engaged in excavation of the necessary steps they must take to properly protect their workers during trenching activities, even if no one was injured in the underlying matter.

ALBANY—The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors approved on Sept. 18 toll increases on the New York State Thruway system following a 10-month long public process. The new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

TARRYTOWN, NY—For contractors, most Mondays begin with the usual routine of managing planned work assignments with enough latitude built in to handle the curveballs that projects inevitably throw at them. But what happens when a totally unexpected event like an early morning heart attack on the jobsite is the way you begin the day?

In late July 2023, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates again by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.5%, reaching its highest level in 22 years. In a fight to counter persistent inflation, borrowing rates have become significantly more expensive since the program began in March of 2022, which has had no small impact on the cost of financing in construction lending. The stated intention was to decrease the overall demand for goods, services and labor in the economy to fight rising prices.

WHITE PLAINS—Westchester County’s Local Development Corporation (LDC)voted on Aug. 23 final approval of $195-million in tax-exempt bond financing for the development of a new 162,626-square-foot Patient Care Tower on the campus of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

NEW YORK—The developers of the long-anticipated movie/television studio project at Pier 94 on Manhattan’s West Side say that construction is expected to begin this fall on the $350-million, public-private partnership venture.

PEARL RIVER, NY—A division of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has signed a lease renewal and expansion totaling more than 151,000 square feet of space at the Hudson Valley iCampus here in Rockland County.

WASHINGTON—The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the National Association of Home Builders were among the first business organizations to protest the revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule issued late last month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army.

NEWARK, NJ—The Gateway Development Commission at its Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 11 approved first direct contract awards: two contracts for construction and construction management services on the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project.

Next Gen Leaders Profiles of the Industry’s New Generation Nicola Altomare Current Employer: aRoboticsCompany—Ossining, NY Job Title: Mechatronics Engineer Age: 23 Accomplishments: Awarded five annual CAI Scholarships —2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 University Attended & Major: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, 2022; Master’s Degree, Electrical Engineering, 2023 Favorite Course or Subject: “Embedded