Grill of the city
Jill Cook
vice president
Morrison-Maierle
As the largest city within a 500-mile radius, Billings serves as a regional center for health care and business, fueling construction growth.
“Overall, our outlook is positive,” says Cook. “We expect demand for engineering and construction services for publicly funded projects, such as those in the transportation, water/wastewater and airport markets, to remain strong due to the availability of public financing. However, high construction costs and interest rates have restricted demand for privately financed works such as housing development and commercial construction.”
Cook predicts that these markets may pick up with interest rates expected to decline.
Several key projects are currently underway, including the $68 million West End Water Treatment Plant and several potential reservoirs that are in the design phase. Meanwhile, the five-year expansion project at Billings Logan International Airport is nearing completion.
The Lockwood Water and Sewer District plans to begin construction on its Phase 3 Sewer Subdistrict Project in 2025; the estimated construction cost of approximately $24 million includes nearly 70,000 linear feet of sewer.
