< PreviousWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL C ountless opinion pieces and articles have discussed the state of U.S. infrastructure. From rail and road networks to energy grids, bridges, and telecom sys- tems, the country is facing significant challenges. In many instances, these individual systems and networks that guide and assist modern living would be considered standalone industries. However, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, they fall under a common umbrella. This Act, a monumental, bipartisan success across the industry, has promised much. Hailed as a beacon of hope for infrastruc- ture development, job creation, and technological innovation, this legislation and its subsequent funding was anticipated to reshape the construction landscape. We are now two years on however, and as we approach an election year, it is time to take stock. As the effects of the funding ripple across the industry, it's essential to assess whether these promises have materialized or encountered unseen challenges. The Infrastructure Bill surged through with promises of revital- izing the nation's backbone. The Act was a five-year $1.2 Trillion plan which included $550 Billion of new funding and this legislation vowed to transform the construction sector. But what does the industry say, and what do the numbers reveal about its impact? | 20 DECEMBER 2023| 21 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe Act’s unprecedented level of funding into infrastructure projects initially sparked great optimism, given that the aging and deteriorating roads, bridges and public transportation systems across the country were coming under widespread criticism. Early indications suggested a surge in project initiatives, from the refurbishment of aging infrastructure to the ambitious construction of sustainable, future-proof structures. As the White House released figures recently, detailing where the money has gone, Senior Advisor to the President, Mitch Landrieu gave an honest assessment of the act’s efficacy. “The better idea for the country was we were going to spend time trying to get the money out the door, down on the ground and actually have something coming out of the ground. In two short years, we have more than 40,000 projects that are funded in the country in 4,500 communities in all 50 states, the territories and Washington, D.C. That’s incredible.” Indeed, Landrieu is correct, States across the nation embarked on large-scale projects, breathing life into communities and assisting the industry. However, challenges arose, primarily in the pace of implementation. Bureaucratic hurdles, environmental assessments, and procurement pro- cesses often slowed down the commencement of projects. It seems as though, while much has indeed been spent, the desire and need for these new projects is still far greater. Another element of this funding that should be explored is the type of projects that are being greenlit. According to the White House, the project list covers a multitude of sectors including airports, bridges, roads, constructing more recharg- ing stations for electric vehicles and providing high-speed internet to every home. “This funding has led to improvements on 135,800 miles of roads and [has] launched over 7,800 bridge repair projects, increasing safety and reconnecting communities across the country.” Additionally, in relation to public transport, the federal government believes that much has been done. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $66 billion for rail, the largest investment in passenger rail since the inception of Amtrak and an unprecedented invest- ment in rail safety. Since President Biden took office, Amtrak has upgraded 29 stations to full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and 30 more stations will be made accessible in the next year, to ensure that all passengers can access Amtrak service.” While technically, this is true, the figures themselves tell a slightly different story. Airports make up only 14% of proj- ects with roads and bridges far exceeding any other sector at 42%. Public transport and Electric Vehicles, Busses, and Ferries for example, comprise just 7% and 6% respectively. | 22 DECEMBER 2023When we look geographically, we also see funding heavily skewed towards the Midwest which has received a third of all funding across any sector. While no clear indication is given as to why that may be, it seems that spending is not being spread evenly. One of the bill's primary goals was to create additional jobs across various sectors, especially within construction. The initial phase witnessed a surge in employment opportunities, providing a much-needed boost to the industry. Skilled and unskilled laborers alike found openings in the expanding proj- ect portfolios, addressing unemployment concerns and bol- stering local economies. According to the White House, the figures are positive in this regard. “The construction sector is highly cyclical, with employment growing during economic expansions and declining during recessions. Consistent with this trend, the economy has added 670,000 jobs in construc- tion since President Biden took office in January 2021—an average of 20,000 jobs per month.” However, these figures do not look at specific sectors. Unsur- prisingly, much of these gains have occurred in the highway, street and bridge construction industry. Since January 2021, this sector has accounted for almost half of the new jobs created. Interestingly, the other leading sector was in the construction of utilities, a sector that has not had as much funding in a like-for-like comparison. Ultimately, however, these jobs much be compared to overall national rates and the sustained creation of jobs has proved to be more chal- lenging. The industry has, for quite some time, been facing a shortage of skilled labor. This shortage has led to project delays and increased costs for companies. Skill development initiatives and collaborations with educational institutions have been crucial in addressing this gap, but the long-term solution remains a work in progress. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has undeniably high targets and goals. It is a far-reaching piece of legisla- tion and is, in many ways, a tangled mess of red tape and challenges. However, it is undoubtedly a net positive for the industry and may yet be the impetus for monumental changes within the construction industry. Despite encountering antic- ipated hurdles, its impact on infrastructure development and job creation and is clear, though not necessarily as successful as the federal government would like. According to Landrieu, the bill's success lies not just in funding but in navigating chal- lenges, fostering collaborations, and adapting to an evolving landscape. “We have gotten out of the habit of having the federal, state and local governments working in coordination with each other well, and as a consequence, we’ve stopped learning how, in partnership with the private sector and labor, to build big things. We’re starting to do that again. We’ve been intentional about breaking down the stovepipes between and amongst all the [Cabinet departments], so that coming up here is like a one-stop shop. Putting aside the roads, the bridges, the airports, the ports, which I call “the what,” this is what I call “the way”: communication, collaboration, coordination — every day, all day, rinse, repeat, do it over again, get better at it, get faster at it, get more thoughtful, learn how to make decisions better. All of a sudden, you can build a lot of big stuff.” | 23 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 24 DECEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN I n order to enhance safety protocols for contractors, there needs to be a specific way to measure safety. However, safety is not a tangible object and measuring progress cannot be done by simply using a ruler. Instead, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) created a world-class safety system and safety benchmarking improvement tool, also known as STEP. Chapter President at Associated Builders and Contractors of Min- nesota and North Dakota (MNABC), Adam Hanson, explained how STEP was developed by ABC roughly 30 years ago for contractors of any size; including small specialty subcontractors, large subcontractors, general contractors, and all contractors who enroll in the program. Once members have enrolled in STEP, they are provided with a bench- mark score for the previous year. The program then allows contractors to look at those metrics and assess how they can improve from where they are today, or how they can easily implement new safety protocols that will help them achieve world class safety. With the STEP program supporting the safety considerations of its members nationwide, the MNABC chapter has recently gone even fur- ther. Developed in 2012, the Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) partnership program is a state-plan program, which is approved by federal OSHA, to protect workers at private and public worksites. The goal of this program is to annually reduce the number of injuries, illnesses and fatalities affecting participant employers by focusing on the leading four hazards: falls, caught in/between, struck by, and electrocutions. As Hanson explains, the program aims to increase the number of construction contractors that implement effective safety and health programs, provide training for managers, supervisors, and employees, along with recognizing contractors that go beyond basic compliance. “In this program, contractors enroll their company or spe- cific projects with MNOSHA to improve safety on all construction sites. We have goals to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities affecting the construction industry annually by 3%. We want to increase the number of contractors that implement safety programs across their company and on their job sites.” For Hanson, it is vital that the chapter’s members get home safely from every jobsite so programs like this are hugely important. Additionally, he identifies key benefits such as strengthening communication and links across the industry. “This program also helps recognize those contractors whose leadership teams and core employees develop these programs. It's a way to promote safety and to showcase those good examples. It also promotes the open line of communication between MNOSHA and the construction industry, because we need to be a partner with everybody in terms of safety from MNOSHA, the general contractors and the subcontractors working on those projects.” MNABC is also actively involved in its members safety services. The chapter works with a third-party group called OECS that helps customize safety programs, safety days, new certifica- tions that need to be added or continue to be added for workers out in the field. MNABC assists with this because safety is the first and foremost priority for the construction industry. When a contractor becomes a member of MNABC, they get access to a whole variety of other benefits, such as, educa- tion, legislative and regulatory awareness, as well as busi- ness and workforce development. As part of the education sector of AMNBC, the chapter aims to equip its contractors with the tools, resources, curriculum, and certifications to implement their own training programs. By using a trade-spe- cific customization strategy, the chapter can tailor its training programs based on the individual company. Through developing its knowledge base and in-house educa- tion team, MNABC can cater to the specific needs of different contractors. For example, plumbing contractors require differ- ent training needs than roofing contractors, as the training is unique to each trade and construction industry segment. This means MNABC can support apprentices or new hires by sup- plying a set curriculum and a distinctive new training program. Other great benefits of membership include the chapters net- working events. In Minnesota and North Dakota there are two kinds of seasons according to Hanson: construction season and the winter months. MNABC utilizes its events throughout these seasons to bring together contractor members, associ- ates and the suppliers who also make up their membership. This could include a structured networking event at a racetrack, or a conference, to discuss the types of projects they build. Other topics often discussed by MNABC and its members are issues that may affect the construction industry, such as the skilled labor shortage. However, as Hanson says, this shortage is not unique to Minnesota and North Dakota. While not specific to any one geographical area, he believes that it is a major issue facing the construction industry and one that needs to be tackled through a strategic approach. “We need to find new and creative ways to attract younger people into our industry. We are one of the co-creators of a “When they join ABC, they allow us to be their voice.” | 26 DECEMBER 2023group called Project Build Minnesota. The aim of the group is to increase awareness about careers in construction in young adults. We are doing everything from school visits to job site tours, meeting with contractors, and we are actively supporting our members with this challenge. A lot of our contractor members are taking it upon themselves individ- ually to do reach out to schools in their area, to host shop classes or other construction technical education courses at their offices and job sites. This is so participants can get a hands-on look and feel about the construction industry that might be harder to do in a classroom setting.” While the plan to tackle the skilled labor shortage is certainly a future-focused one, MNABC has much on its agenda. Working forwards across a number of strands, it will continue support- ing its members through sustained advocacy and the provision of resources and training. Additionally, the chapter is always seeking to grow its members. Last year, for instance, saw pos- itive membership growth. With an increased membership last year, those at MNABC feel that it is getting its message out successfully. However, this does not mean that the chapter is done working. In fact, it is only getting started, especially when it comes to issues such as advocacy. MNABC has testified at everything from school boards to city councils, to the state capitols in St. Paul and Bismarck, and even in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill on key issues such as workforce development, safety, prevailing wage, and govern- ment mandated project labor agreements. The scope of its advocacy is quite simple: the chapter advocates for the merit shop philosophy and opposes efforts that seek to limit their contractor members’ and their employees’ ability to work. It is evident in the work carried out by MNABC that their peo- ple and their issues are what motivates this chapter to con- tinue working. Fighting for better safety initiatives, creating unique paths to education, and advocating for its members is only a small taste of what MNABC offers. While on-site safety is undoubtedly a key element of the work MNABC does, Hanson suggests that the chapter’s members also benefit from a slightly different kind of safety. He believes that, for members of the chapter, the safety of knowing that there is someone fighting in their corner cannot be understated. “We advocate for our members because our members, contractors across two states and those across the country also, are experts. They are experts at building, and they're experts at being contractors. It is their full-time job. And they build this great country. When they join ABC, they allow us to be their voice. They allow us to advocate on their behalf to get in the weeds of the politics in the legislative world, and we do. We can be their voice.” | 27 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 28 DECEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY FIONA SHERIDAN C onstruction is the backbone of our society. It is the process of building and maintaining the physical infra- structure that we rely on every day. Skilled and talented construction workers are the ones who make this possible. From the roads and bridges that connect us to each other, to the dams and levees that protect us from floods and natural disasters, construction workers build everything that keep our communities safe and thriving. For over seven decades, R.J. Zavoral & Sons Inc. has been at the forefront of this vital process. As a family-owned contractor, this esteemed com- pany has provided construction services that not only shaped landscapes and highways, but preserved communities from natural disasters across East Grand Forks, Minnesota and North Dakota's Red River Valley Basin. With expertise span- ning earth-moving, flood mitigation, and road construction, its touch is evident across a remarkable 200-mile stretch. Dave Zavoral, Vice President of R.J. Zavoral & Sons, reminisces about the company's origin, tracing back to his grandfather, the late R.J. “Bob” Zavoral. Dave explained how Bob’s pathway through construction came about through his service in World War II and a Dozer operator for the Seabee’s (United State Naval Construction Battalion). During his service, he served by constructing bases and runways on different missions. After the war, he returned to construction, and during the Red River Valley flood in 1951, a succession of successful projects in the area led to R.J. Zavoral & Sons settling in East Grand Forks, MN where the company’s main operations are located. | 29 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >