Construction activity in the U.S. is on an apparent upswing, according to the latest RLB Crane Index from Rider Levett Bucknall. Of the 18 cities examined in the quarterly survey, 11 reported an increase in crane activity.
The index tracks the number of fixed cranes at construction sites to provide a thumbnail look at construction activity.
Four of the 18 cities maintained the same crane count quarter-over-quarter, while three cities declined.
“Increases were led by commercial, education, hospitality, industrial, mixed-use, public/civic, and transportation developments, offset in part by reduced activity in the federal, healthcare, and sports sectors,” the summary said.
Metro Phoenix is among the cities holding steady. According to the market summary, “Maricopa County is advancing several major development projects, including a new Elections Facility that will more than double ballot processing capacity and triple warehouse storage space, and The Whitney, a 24-story L-shaped apartment tower with integrated commercial space along McDowell Road. Meanwhile, the University of Arizona Biomedical Hub in Downtown Phoenix, near 7th Street and Fillmore, is currently paused due to uncertainty surrounding federal funding.”