Infrastructure
The Gateway Development Commission approved an $88 million change order, commissioning contractor Weeks Marine to remove approximately 500 underwater timber piles in the Hudson Tunnel Project and reinforce the riverbed. The work is expected to be completed before tunnel boring begins in 2028.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is scheduled to open on July 27, about six weeks behind the original plan. The U.S. and Canada have reached an agreement on toll governance and revenue distribution. The bridge will enhance cross-border freight efficiency, expected to save truck drivers about 850,000 hours annually.
Acciona, a Madrid-based sustainable infrastructure contractor, announced an agreement to acquire 80% of Vertical Earth, an infrastructure builder in Cumming, Georgia. The deal, expected to close near year-end, will establish Atlanta as a strategic hub for Acciona's infrastructure growth, enhancing self-perform capabilities and access to local talent and suppliers. Vertical Earth, founded in 1997, generated $217 million in revenue in 2025 and employs over 600 professionals. Founder and CEO Brett Johnson will retain his role and a 20% stake. Acciona cited the strength of the U.S. infrastructure market, which accounts for 20% of the global industry, and plans to capitalize on DOT investments in the Southeast.
McCarthy Building Company announced the completion of the modernization of the Kansas River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lawrence, Kansas, with a project investment of $74.3 million. The renovation included converting four aeration basins into biological nutrient removal basins, installing a new SCADA system, and upgrading electrical and infrastructure systems. The plant, in operation since 1956, treats approximately 80% of the city's daily wastewater. The project utilized the city's first CMAR contract model, aimed at reducing owner risk and enhancing collaboration efficiency.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Tuesday $1.73 billion in fiscal year 2026 grants to 127 projects through the BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) program. Funding covers 50 states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Roads and bridges received the largest share ($1.3 billion, 77%), followed by transit projects ($169.9 million), port infrastructure ($136.8 million), and rail ($87.7 million). DOT received nearly 1,200 eligible applications, with total requested amounts exceeding $14.5 billion.
Alberto Gonzalez, head of business development at Cintra, says the U.S. infrastructure funding gap continues to widen, and private sector participation in critical infrastructure construction will become more common. He outlines the complexity and urgency conditions suitable for P3 projects, emphasizes that urban growth corridors, long-term economic prospects, and political stability are core to site selection, and notes that critical infrastructure can significantly reduce the risk of political interference in projects.
Crescent Constructors (a subsidiary of Zachry Construction) has won a wastewater treatment plant expansion project valued at approximately $89 million in Lewisville, Texas, increasing capacity from 12 million gallons per day to 16 million gallons per day.
The Fluor and Walsh Construction joint venture announced that Phase One of the Chicago Transit Authority's Red and Purple Line Modernization Project has achieved substantial completion. The project has a contract value of $2.1 billion and is expected to reach final delivery by November 2026.
After federal funding was cut, the California High-Speed Rail Authority entered into joint development agreements with several companies to seek private investment. However, facing a funding shortfall of up to $87 billion, experts are skeptical about whether the private sector can step in to save the day. Meanwhile, cost overruns and financing failures in other private rail projects have also cast a shadow over the prospects.
At a June progress update meeting, Amtrak revealed that the second tube of the East River Tunnel will be delayed until August due to ceiling void issues, but the overall $1.6 billion renovation project remains on schedule for completion in 2027.