NOTICE

COVID-19's IMPACT

Governor Wolf Moves Up Construction Restart Date to May 1

Yesterday, AIA Pennsylvania heard rumblings that the restrictions on construction in the state might be lifted earlier than the administration's original directive permitting a May 8 restart.

During last night's press conference laying out his reopening plan for Pennsylvania, Governor Wolf confirmed restrictions on construction are now to be lifted May 1. AIA Pennsylvania will be sure to keep you updated with the safety guidance specific to the construction workforce that is set to be issued by the administration shortly. In the meantime, OSHA has just issued COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce.

The question of whether to allow construction to proceed has been highly contested weighing the balance of health and safety of stakeholders and Pennsylvanians with the consequences of ceasing construction on the industry as well as the buildings that serve the healthcare system, manufacturing and food distribution systems, the economy, and Pennsylvania’s infrastructure at large.

According to a press release from Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, who has spearheaded the push to exempt the construction from business closure orders, the "more than 260,000 hard-working men and women in Pennsylvania’s construction trades got good news tonight as Gov. Wolf announced the opening of all construction projects next week on May 1."  He expanded, “Gov. Wolf and I had a positive discussion today; he was open to the suggestion that construction activities could be done safely, allowing tradespersons to resume their important work – much of it seasonal. Working with him on this issue showed we can move forward together on fighting COVID-19, while rebuilding the economy."