Con Dig (25-Sep-26) — Grid investment, flood-control infrastructure and waterfront construction lead today’s US construction cycle. The Department of Energy selected 31 transmission projects representing $5.25 billion of combined investment, while major federal and local projects advanced in Texas, Alaska and Arizona.
DOE selects 31 grid projects for $5.25B investment
The US Department of Energy intends to provide $1.9 billion in federal funding for 31 grid-improvement projects across 26 states, backed by $3.35 billion in recipient cost sharing. The projects are expected to reconductor or rebuild more than 1,500 miles of transmission lines and deploy grid-enhancing technologies across nearly 21,000 miles.
Why it matters: The program creates a substantial multistate pipeline of transmission upgrades as electricity demand rises from data centers, manufacturing and electrification.
Walsh wins $169M Fort Worth flood-control contract
The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded Walsh Construction Company II a $169 million fixed-price contract for the northern section of Fort Worth’s Panther Island bypass channel. The 3,900-foot section will include an earthen levee, concrete floodwalls, a pedestrian bridge, promenades and trail connections, with construction expected to begin this winter or in early 2027 and finish in 2029.
Why it matters: The award moves a long-planned piece of Fort Worth’s roughly $1.2 billion Central City flood-control program into construction and unlocks infrastructure needed for wider Panther Island redevelopment.
Tutor Perini lands $315M Coast Guard Base Kodiak pier project
The US Coast Guard has awarded Tutor Perini a $315 million contract to build a new fuel pier and cutter mooring at Base Kodiak, Alaska. The project will provide up to two major cutter berths, waterfront improvements, fuel buildings and infrastructure, with completion scheduled for fall 2030.
Why it matters: The project is part of a major expansion of Base Kodiak as the Coast Guard prepares to homeport additional polar icebreakers and offshore patrol cutters in Alaska.
Waco starts $169M first phase of downtown redevelopment
Waco, Texas, has broken ground on the Barron’s Branch project, a roughly $169 million redevelopment of a 30-acre floodplain near the Brazos River. The first phase will add park and public spaces, commercial development, utilities and road improvements and is expected to run through 2028.
Why it matters: Barron’s Branch is the opening construction phase of a 12-20-year plan to redevelop more than 100 acres of Waco riverfront with civic, arts, entertainment and mixed-use development.
Pima County starts $30.3M middle-mile broadband build
Pima County, Arizona, has broken ground on a 134-mile open-access fiber network backed by a $30.3 million federal grant. The first segment begins a two-year construction schedule designed to create infrastructure that internet providers can use to expand high-speed service into underserved areas.
Why it matters: The project adds a significant digital-infrastructure construction program in southern Arizona and forms a key connection between Nogales and Tucson.
FaverGray starts 415-unit Jacksonville Beach development
FaverGray has started construction on a 415-unit market-rate apartment community for Trevato Development on the former Adventure Landing property in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The 410,509-square-foot project spans about 10.7 acres and includes two three-story residential buildings, structured parking and about 1,800 square feet of commercial space, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028.
Why it matters: The project converts a prominent entertainment site into one of the larger multifamily developments now under construction in the Jacksonville Beaches market.
New-home sales rise 6.4% in August
Sales of new single-family homes increased 6.4% month over month in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000, according to the Census Bureau and HUD. Inventory stood at 483,000 homes, equal to 8.5 months of supply, while the median sales price was $393,700, down 5.8% from a year earlier.
Why it matters: The monthly rebound offers builders some demand support, although sales remained 2% below August 2025 and elevated inventory continues to point to a competitive new-home market.
Texas opens investigation into data-center water reporting
The Texas Attorney General has launched an investigation into hundreds of data-center developments over compliance with state water-use reporting requirements. The inquiry covers developments across major markets including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis and Bexar counties and follows demands for operators to provide current groundwater and surface-water use information.
Why it matters: Water availability and reporting are becoming a more direct development risk for the rapidly expanding Texas data-center construction pipeline, alongside power availability and local permitting.
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