BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The collapse of the I-35
Bridge in Minneapolis has been voted the top construction story of 2007 in
the annual survey conducted by the Construction Writers Association (CWA).

    The main spans of the eight-lane, 1,907 foot steel truss arch bridge
across the Mississippi River collapsed during rush hour on August 1,
killing 13 and injuring dozens more. Along with the tragic loss of life,
the collapse raised concerns about the overall state of the nation's
infrastructure, and whether another, potentially more tragic, event could
be imminent.

    "The bridge collapse underscored the vulnerability of the nation's
transportation infrastructure, and highlighted the need for a strong
federal role in providing additional funds to shore up an aging bridge
network," observed CWA member Matt Jeanneret, senior vice president of the
Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association.
"It also sparked a discussion about the future direction of the nation's
surface transportation program, and laid the groundwork for a vigorous
debate in Congress as hearings begin in 2008 about the reauthorization of
SAFETEA-LU."

    Finishing a close second in the CWA survey was the sharp decline of the
nation's housing market and its ripple effect on the overall U.S. economy.

    "The housing bust touches everything," said CWA member Kirk Landers,
editorial director for Better Roads and Aggregates Manager magazines.
"What's extremely uncomfortable is that the full effects have yet to be
felt by both the construction industry and the general economy. Residential
construction has been the backbone of the general economy for a decade or
so. With its current weakness expected to continue for another couple of
years, it's uncertain what will propel the construction and the general
economy over that long haul."

    Rounding out the top 5 stories in the CWA survey were the increasing
emphasis on green and sustainable design by public- and private-sector
project owners, increasing costs of fuel and other construction materials,
and the federal government's failure to resolve the immigration issue.

    Founded in 1958, the 50-year-old Construction Writers Association is
the nation's leading professional organization for construction industry
journalists and communicators. Members include editors and key staff
members from virtually every major industry publication, many of
construction's top freelance writers, representatives of key industry trade
and professional associations, and those engaged in marketing and public
relations for contractors, designers, industry suppliers and service
providers.

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