The construction industry is seeing marked annual and month-over-month improvements, according to recent government reporting. The U.S. Commerce Department indicates new home construction across the board jumped up 6.9 percent to an annual rate of 760,000 from 711,000 in May. Bloomberg reports this is the highest number of housing starts since 2008, and is better than economists surveyed by the news source predicted (a rate of 745,000). In fact, the Commerce Department indicates the current rate of improvement could even lead to the industry contributing to national economic growth this year.

This weekend, a three-month construction project is set to begin on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge that crosses the Harlem River between Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge is a main artery for traffic coming from the Bronx and travelling to the George Washington Bridge (GWB). With at least one of four eastbound lanes closed at all times for the duration of the project, drivers can expect heavy traffic not only on this bridge but on alternate routes as well, according to NY1 News.

IronPlanet offers a wide variety of construction and agricultural equipment in its weekly Featured Auctions, and this can be a great chance for buyers to score deals on the equipment they need. Using IronPlanet is simple, but it is a bit different from bidding in-person. Thus, IronPlanet has made practice auctions available for interested buyers to use before the real bidding begins.

New home construction is a booming business at the moment, and many different industries involved in the process are reaping the benefits. The Washington Post reports there is a growing demand for new houses, which has created many jobs and bolstered local economies. The most recent report from the Commerce Department shows new home development is up nearly 30 percent annually this year over last with an annual rate of more than 700,000 new homes being built.

During the recession, many construction projects across the U.S. were canceled or put on hold, and one in downtown Los Angeles is getting back on track. Construction of a $125 million high-rise apartment building will start in September, according to Wood Partners, the developer in charge of the project. Planning for the 22-story building began back in 2006, but the project was snuffed out when the recession hit in 2008. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports the economic improvements have created a suitable environment for the project to be revived

Santa Clara County officials shocked the city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers by announcing they would be pulling nearly $30 million out of the team's new football stadium, a move that's likely to trigger numerous lawsuits.

The online auction site IronPlanet is an excellent way for farmers and construction company owners to find the equipment they need. While there's a lot to learn about IronPlanet and its many features, a brief overview can be useful for new visitors getting their bearings.

Cranes lifted the final steel beam for a new building at the World Trade Center, completing the initial phase of construction on the first new building at the site since the 9/11 attacks.

Contractors have been chosen for a large restoration project that will fix two aging bridges in the upstate New York area. The Albany Times-Union reports the $29 million project has gone to Lane Construction Corporation of Connecticut.

Irrigation is incredibly important for farmers in Texas, as the state is subject to some of the more severe droughts in the country. A recent study by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service has found many of the state's irrigation canals need to be upgraded in order to reduce water loss.