Summit County's only asphalt plant shut down after Colorado flooding cut its gas supply
Summit Daily reported that the Quikrete Peak Materials asphalt plant in Silverthorne, the only asphalt plant in Summit County, stopped operating Oct 23 after flooding near Pagosa Springs damaged an Xcel Energy gas line and Xcel cut service to some high-demand Summit County customers. There is no reopening date, asphalt is being hauled from Fraser, and the plant's ready-mix and sand and gravel operations remain open. Breckenridge adjusted its project plans at its Oct 27 council meeting.
Asphalt plant halted: Oct 23, 2026, no restart date
CDOT reopened US 160 Wolf Creek Pass with 24/7 repair work zones
CDOT reopened US 160 between Pagosa Springs and South Fork in Colorado to two-way travel at 3:30 p.m. on Oct 27, after a closure that began the evening of Oct 22. Crews are permanently repairing a damaged culvert and sinkhole at mile point 150 and shoulder undercutting at mile points 176 to 180 (The Narrows), with single-lane alternating traffic and up to 20-minute holds. A retaining wall near the Wolf Creek Valley Scenic Overlook (MP 161) is also being repaired.
Reopened: Oct 27, 2026, 3:30 p.m., single-lane work zones
Englewood window and door contractor files Chapter 11
Sennett Enterprises Inc. of 3207 W. Hampden Ave. in Englewood, which does business as Denver Egress Window and DenCo European Windows & Doors, filed a Subchapter V Chapter 11 case on Oct 26, 2026 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado. The case number is 26-17879-MER, assigned to Judge Michael E. Romero. The listed deadline for government claims is April 26, 2027.
Colorado launches one "common application" for affordable housing financing
Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a single common application for affordable housing developers at a Denver press event on Oct 26, CBS Colorado reported. Supporters say it cuts repeated loan applications and background checks, shortens construction timelines by four months and saves $20,000 per unit on average. The state says it expects to build at least 7,000 homes a year with it.
Average savings claimed: $20,000 per unit, four months
Thornton-based MYR Group reports record quarter and $3.68 billion backlog
MYR Group, the electrical contractor headquartered in Thornton, Colorado, reported record third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.26 billion and record net income of $60.0 million. Backlog was a record $3.68 billion as of Sept 30, up 38.2% from a year earlier, with $2.39 billion in commercial and industrial work and $1.29 billion in transmission and distribution.
Colorado's 2026 electrical code and new plumbing codes are in effect
The Colorado State Electrical Board's Rule 1.5 adopts the 2026 National Electrical Code; it was adopted May 27, 2026 and took effect July 15, 2026. The State Plumbing Board's Rule 1.2 implements the new International Plumbing Code, International Fuel Gas Code and International Residential Code; it was adopted June 24, 2026 and took effect Aug 14, 2026.
2026 NEC effective July 15; plumbing codes effective Aug 14, 2026
Denver construction and demolition recycling rules apply to new permit applications
Denver says that since Sept 1, 2026, new permit applications for construction or demolition over 500 square feet, or alterations over 2,500 square feet, must meet diversion and recycling requirements under its Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance. Applicants file a Waste Diversion Plan in Green Halo and pay a refundable performance security deposit before the permit is issued, and weight tickets are due within 60 days of completion. Trade-only permits such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical and roofing are exempt.
Colorado's resilient-roof grant program sets first rulemaking hearing Dec 10
The Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise, created by SB26-155 in the Colorado Division of Insurance to fund grants for hail- and wind-resistant roofs, will hold a virtual rulemaking hearing on Thursday, Dec 10, 2026 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. MT. The draft rules are Regulation 11-1-1 (fee amount and collection) and Regulation 11-1-2 (resilient roof system standards). Written comments are due by 5 p.m. Dec 9, 2026.
Denver bill on competitive selection for city contracts is back in committee Nov 4
Denver Council Bill 26-1540 would amend Article IV of Chapter 20 of the city code on the competitive selection process for certain contracts. Sponsors are Council members Flor Alvidrez and Chris Hinds. The Transportation and Infrastructure committee postponed it on Oct 21, and it is on the committee's Nov 4, 2026 agenda.
Bobyard extends its AI takeoff tool into estimates, bids and submittals
PLOT Daily reported that Bobyard announced on Oct 29 that its AI platform now carries takeoff quantities into a connected estimate with a shared cost database, then generates a branded proposal. Its submittal feature matches materials to manufacturer product data, users confirm matches, and the system builds a PDF package. Bobyard covers trades including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, painting, flooring, drywall, insulation, doors and windows.
Planera announces MCP link so Claude and ChatGPT can query live schedules
Planera, a CPM scheduling software company, announced upcoming support for the Model Context Protocol, which will let AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT query live Planera schedules. The company says teams will be able to ask plain-language questions about critical path drivers and combine schedule data with financial systems. The release describes the integration as upcoming and gives no launch date.
BuildOps integrations now listed on Trimble Marketplace for Vista and Spectrum users
BuildOps and Trimble announced a collaboration for commercial mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors, with two BuildOps integrations now available on the Trimble Marketplace. The connectors move operational and financial data between BuildOps field operations and Trimble Vista and Spectrum accounting. The companies say there is no change to the existing Vista or Spectrum connector experience.
Two integrations live on Trimble Marketplace, Oct 28, 2026
ABC releases a free cybersecurity roadmap for defense contractors
Associated Builders and Contractors launched a free toolkit with checklists, videos and webinars to help contractors meet Level 1 (self-assessment) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements, Construction Dive reported. DOD suspended Level 2 requirements in July, but Level 1 requirements remain in place. DOD estimates the Level 1 cost for small entities at $5,977.
DOD Level 1 cost estimate: $5,977 for small entities
Makita schedules its first U.S. cordless walk-behind snow blower for November
SlashGear reported that Makita's 40V max XGT SN001GL101 single-stage snow blower clears a 21-inch path and throws snow up to 33 feet, with a folding handle and two LED lights. It is scheduled for U.S. release in November 2026, and pricing and run time per charge have not been announced. Makita also announced 14-inch and 18-inch XGT chainsaws for early and spring 2027.
Snow blower release: November 2026, price not announced
Revised 50% tariffs on Canadian building products take effect Oct 30
Roofing Contractor reported that an Oct 23 proclamation revised the list of Canadian goods under the additional 50% Section 338 tariff, effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern Oct 30. Some plywood sheets no more than 6 millimeters thick were removed, while certain paints and varnishes, caulking compounds, mastics, resin cements, polyurethane products and fiberboard were added. The duties apply in addition to Section 232 tariffs.
Lumber futures hit a 2026 low as West Fraser idles two mills
Hard Hat Report said November lumber futures closed at $507.50 per thousand board feet on Oct 27, the lowest of 2026. West Fraser said it will indefinitely idle its Huguley OSB plant in Lanett, Alabama and a southern yellow pine sawmill in Leola, Arkansas, removing 500 million square feet of OSB and 225 million board feet of lumber from annual capacity.
September new home sales fell to a 676,000 annual rate
The Census Bureau and HUD reported September 2026 new single-family home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000, 0.6% below August and 5.3% below September 2025. The median sales price was $400,400 and 476,000 new homes were for sale. The next release is Nov 25, 2026.
New home sales: 676,000 SAAR, down 5.3% year over year
Half of U.S. metro areas added construction jobs over the past year
AGC's analysis of federal data found construction employment rose in 180 of 360 metro areas from September 2025 to September 2026, fell in 118 and was unchanged in 62. Houston added the most jobs (13,800) and Baton Rouge had the largest percentage gain (27%). AGC said data centers, power projects and some factories are driving demand.
180 of 360 metros added jobs, Sept 2025 to Sept 2026
Pagosa Springs US 160 downtown paving is pushed back, with no new timeline
CDOT's project spokesperson told local officials Oct 26 that WW Clyde's milling and paving near 8th to 10th streets will not happen as planned, milling may come the following week and asphalt about two weeks later. Unconfirmed because CDOT said it cannot yet give a timeline and the work depends on weather.
A lawsuit puts shoddy work on Denver's Populus Hotel at $8.5 million
BusinessDen's weekly court roundup lists the claim in its summary. Unconfirmed because it is an allegation in a court filing and the full entry is behind a paywall.
