Companies that contract with governmental entities will find no shortage of large projects in 2021. Pent-up demand and all types of needs are driving leaders at state, local, and education organizations to find solutions. Construction and engineering firms should be able to find projects of every type and size in every state. Many of the planned projects also include heavy technology components as well. Here’s a small sampling:
Georgia
Voters in Henry County will be asked to approve $325 million in funding for improvements in the school district. Authorization is needed to purchase 125 new buses and build a second bus garage. Funding also will be requested for the expansion of six schools and the construction of three new ones.
Colorado
Members of the Glenwood Springs City Council have announced plans to construct a $56 million bridge at the municipal airport. City leaders have applied for a $31 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has approved $452.7 million for the maintenance of roads and bridges in certified cities. Lower gas tax collections as a result of COVID resulted in this year’s allocation decreasing by approximately 7 percent from last year. . PennDOT’s annual distributions are made to help municipalities maintain roads and bridges.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the Port Authority of Allegheny County is surveying the community and developing a 25-year plan for mass transit. The effort called NEXTransit, has a goal of connecting the downtown area to the airport and expanding and upgrading other connections to public transportation.
California
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Committee, in its 2045 Regional Transportation Plan outlines 644 planned projects, 111 of which are entirely new. Approximately $5 billion will be available for transportation projects through 2045. There is an announced plan to allocate $9 billion to the region’s transportation system over the next 25 years.
And, in Pittsburg, members of the City Council have approved an $8.5 million renovation project in the city’s 28-acre downtown park. Plans include upgrading a concession stand, irrigation, lighting, security cameras, picnic and barbecue areas, basketball courts, trails, and accessibility. New construction will include new spectator areas and additional parking facilities.
South Dakota
Members of the Spearfish City Council have approved a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the first of its kind for the city. Upcoming projects include development of a neighborhood park at Elkhorn Ridge, an outdoor ice rink, an indoor pool, sports fields, and the replacement of a pedestrian bridge.
Illinois
The Barrington 220 Community School District plans to use $62 million from a $147 million referendum that voters approved in 2020 for renovations at Barrington High School. Contractors will be sought to reduce the number of entrances into the school and enhance three entrances with canopies with upgraded security. Funding will be available to upgrade the cafeteria and build a new athletic and fitness center. The school’s tennis courts are scheduled to be moved and upgraded. Additionally, there are plans for new stands at the existing baseball field along with a press box, concession area renovation, and new restrooms.
Maine
The University of Maine (UMaine) in February unveiled its $110 million athletic facilities master plan. Many large projects are outlined in the plan. A few of the projects that will require contracting partners include:
- Construction of a new multipurpose center with team offices, lounges, film rooms, administrative offices, and a new sports medicine center.
- New synthetic turf fields for women’s soccer, field hockey, and softball.
- Construction of a new facility with a 100-yard synthetic turf field and 300-meter track.
- Another new indoor dome facility with 60 percent more indoor space than the current campus dome structure.
- Renovations to the gymnasium, swimming pool, locker rooms, and dozens of additional projects.
Along with contracting opportunities such as these, elected officials at many jurisdictional levels of government are in conversations related to large collaborative infrastructure projects. Expectations are that Congress will pass an infrastructure bill – one that encourages public officials to move forward with substantial projects and incentivizes private-sector investment funding.