"Some 19 contractors are owed $18.3 million for steel, architectural plans, engineering, environmental studies and demolition work for Cappelli's Entertainment City project...."

"...N.J.-based [contractor] supplied equipment and labor in the demolition of the Concord. It has filed for arbitration to recoup $2 million."

"In early 2008, Cappelli pitched an ambitious plan for a high-rise luxury hotel, a racino with slots-like video gaming machines and a harness track, retail space and a conference center, all to be built within two years."

"The implosion of Ocean Tower took about 15 seconds and broke a record for destruction: It is the tallest reinforced concrete structure ever imploded."

"...Construction was more than two years under way when the building began to sink and bend. Pier supports in the shifty clay more than 100 feet underground began buckling, stressing beams and columns. There was cracking and breaking. Eventually, there was leaning."

"A $125 million lawsuit against construction subcontractors...of San Antonio and...Austin is pending. The companies say they will be able to prove the building's failure is not their fault."

"The Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie...saw its price tag rise by another $328,178...when the Parish Council approved the latest in a series of change orders."

"The newest cost increase stems from the construction delays themselves, which require the contractor...to extend its insurance coverage...well beyond earlier projected completion dates...."

"The parish has sued the project's original architect...alleging that shortcomings in his drawings led to the construction complications, delays and cost overruns...."

"It appears that eight major flood defense projects won't be finished in time for the 2011 hurricane season as originally scheduled...temporary structures will be used, if necessary...."

"Projects still on the...late list includes [sic] a particularly challenging stretch of levee in eastern New Orleans, a floodwall on both sides of Interstate 10 in Kenner, a first-ever floodwall under Causeway Boulevard in Metairie and floodwalls to protect much of St. Bernard Parish."

"All the projects are key elements of a $10 billion initiative by the corps to provide the region with protection from the flooding generated by a so-called 100-year storm...."

"...MGM Mirage upped the stakes in Las Vegas forever...by throwing open the doors of a new casino, Aria, that sits at the heart of a vast $8.5bn (£5.3bn) complex, CityCenter. It is the biggest, most expensive development in the desert city...."

"...Las Vegas has felt the icy wind of recession worse than most cities in the US....Las Vegas's existing hotels have had to slash average rates by 23%....The CityCenter complex will increase the city's hotel capacity by 4.2%, adding 6,000 rooms."

"...The company reckons CityCenter will help drive a 5% to 10% rise in visitor numbers next year...."

"Home building rebounded from a six-month low in November, with improvement in new home construction in all sections of the nation...."

"New construction jumped the most in the Northeast, with a 16.4% rise from the previous month. Housing starts rose 12.3% in the South, 3% in the Midwest and 1.9% in the West."

"'We're in a bit of a lull, but the new (extended) credit will have an impact as we move into 2010 and consumers plan for that [$8,000 homebuyer's tax] credit availability, and builders begin to answer expected demand in the spring,'...."

"Contractors and trade creditors could now look forward to receiving pending payments for the on-going Nakheel and Dubai World projects...."

"'...the Government of Dubai is announcing that the remainder of the funds provided will be used for the satisfaction of obligations to existing trade creditors and contractors....'"

"A number of contractors and suppliers have received limited payments while implementing major projects, creating a backlog. The announcement will help them in turn pay their suppliers and move forward with business activities."

"The proposed construction of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro could likely have cost overruns and possibly face delays...."

"Georgia Power's latest economic data 'falls short of being a reasonable job,' according to [engineering consultant] Jacobs...there is 'a significant depressed demand for electricity in its service area.' Georgia Power has said the reactors are necessary to meet an increasing demand for electricity as the population in Georgia grows."

"Georgia Power, whose share of the costs is more than $6 billion, hopes to begin construction in 2011 and have both reactors online by 2017."

"Kuwaiti Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Sabah said...the emirate plans to spend 25 billion dinars (87 billion dollars) on oil projects until 2030."

"Kuwait, which sits on about 10 percent of proven global crude reserves, has been working on increasing its oil production capacity from the current three million barrels per day to four million bpd by 2020."

"'We are seeking a fair price for oil that achieves a balance between development requirements of our exporting countries and growth in the global economy,'...."

"NJ Transit's board...unanimously approved the first tunneling contract for an $8.7 billion rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan that is the nation's largest transportation project."

"The board approved a joint venture...for the $583 million contract to dig a mile-long tube in Manhattan. Groundbreaking will occur next year and the segment will take four to five years to complete...."

"The entire project is scheduled to be completed by 2017 and will add two rail lines into New York from New Jersey....to more than double the number of trains during peak commute times, from 23 to 48."

Skyrocketing China Gets Boost with Energy and Infrastructure Investments

As the emerging leader in the global marketplace, China is offsetting the effects of the global economic crisis with mega-investments in energy and infrastructure. Recent ventures aimed at reducing reliance on foreign oil and gas, advancements in renewable energy, and engineering innovation are boosting China to become an economic powerhouse. Read more to find out how.

"The leaders of Kazakhstan and China jointly unveiled...the Kazakh section of a natural gas pipeline that will tap into Central Asia's vast energy riches and loosen Russia's influence over the region."

"The pipeline...is part of China's efforts to secure energy supplies for its booming economy."

"The 1,300-kilometer Kazakhstan-China pipeline is the Central Asian nation's first export route that completely bypasses Russia."

"China's utilities will be required to buy all the power produced by wind farms and other renewable sources under a new law...."

"...companies that operate China's power grid could be fined if they refuse to buy renewable power....grid operators would be required to improve their technology and capacity to absorb power from renewable sources."

"Government goals issued in 2005 call for at least 15 percent of China's power to come from wind, solar and hydropower by 2020....that target may be raised to 20 percent because the industry is developing so fast."

"The Y-shaped link between Hong Kong, Macau and China will be around 50km (31 miles) long in total, 35km of which will span the sea....Due to be completed by 2015...."

"The structure also includes a 5.5km underwater tunnel with artificial islands to join it to bridges on each side....it is the first major marine bridge-and-tunnel project in China...."

"'It is designed with a service life of 120 years. It can withstand the impact of a strong wind with a speed of 51 metres a second'....'It can also resist the impact of a magnitude-8 earthquake and a 300,000-tonne vessel.'"

"...the eight projects accounts [sic] for more than 30 percent of nuclear power generating units under construction across the globe...."

"Once all the eight power units go into operation in 2020, they will have the capacity of the output of the Three Gorges Dam project in 2008."

"China demand for uranium ore will be 10 times greater by 2030, the second in the world, as a result of rapid expansion of nuclear power projects...."

"China accelerated its high-speed-rail development plan last year...saying it would increase the passenger network by a third to 16,000 kilometers, or about 10,000 miles, by 2020."

"Spending on railroads is growing faster than on any other area of investment, rising 80.7 percent to 464.6 billion renminbi in the first 11 months of the year from the same period in 2008...."

"China may be hit with a slowdown next year as the impact of the investment-led expansion wears off and shipments to the United States...fail to pick up...."