The State of Construction
Advancements in the industry are shaping an evolving future.
The construction industry in South Jersey is continuously evolving, but with new opportunities come new challenges, so staying ahead of the curve is vital. We spoke with two local experts in the field to get a sense of how they are addressing challenges and utilizing recent advancements to best serve clients of all sizes.
What challenges are contractors and developers facing today, and how are you addressing them?
High rates of inflation make it difficult to budget for large, long-term projects—you have to include sufficient contingencies in project budgets. Our workforce is also changing—we need to encourage more young people to enter into careers in construction, and figure out how to navigate job sites where English is not the first language of many workers.
--Rob Notley, vice president and COO, NEW ROAD Construction Management
What innovations or trends do you think will have the biggest impact on construction over the next decade?
Robots are taking over the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks that break human bodies. We are pulling the operator from the cab and leaving a ghost in the driver’s seat. Beyond robotics, one of the biggest game-changers on the horizon is floating and amphibious communities. If we build infrastructure that rises with the water rather than fighting it, we can stop rebuilding the same coastline over and over again every time a storm like Superstorm Sandy pummels the coast.
--Eunide Alexandre, owner/managing member, HelpForce, LLC
AI is beginning to impact the construction industry; it is being used to develop critical path schedules, and assists in managing material and equipment inventories.
--Rob Notley
What are the biggest opportunities you see in the local market over the next few years?
We are sitting in the Silicon Valley of biotech right here in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware corridor. This massive build-out is happening nationwide. I watched two companies in other markets pivot early and absolutely explode, and now that exact same demand is right in our backyard.
--Eunide Alexandre
Click here to subscribe to the free digital editions of South Jersey Biz.
To read the digital edition of South Jersey Biz, click here.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 16, Issue 8 (August 2026).
For more info on South Jersey Biz, click here.
To subscribe to South Jersey Biz, click here.
To advertise in South Jersey Biz, click here.
