1) Italian construction firm Webuild kicked off the year with the announcement that it had been awarded a US$4.7 billion contract at the US$500 billion Neom development project in Saudi Arabia. What did it agree to build?

• The world鈥檚 largest 鈥榞reen鈥� hydrogen production facility
• A 2.8-kilometre-long lake
• A hyperloop train system linking Neom with Saudi capital Riyadh

2) In February, we focused on a new surge in industrial action being taken by construction workers around the world. Builders working on the Paris Olympics were some of the most prominent. What were they demanding?

• A pay increase in line with inflation
• Contracts and French residency permits
• The right to have a glass of wine or cider during lunch breaks

The Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship 鈥楧ali鈥� in March 2024. The cargo ship collided with a pillar of the bridge. Photo: Benjamin Chambers/Reuters/USA Today

3) The main spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore tragically collapsed in March killing six members of a maintenance crew when the bridge was hit by a Singapore-registered container ship. Which contractor has since been awarded the US$73 million phase one contract to replace the bridge?

• Skanska
• Webuild Group
• Kiewit Infrastructure Co

4) London鈥檚 25-kilometer-long Thames Tideway Tunnel reached final completion in April 2024 with estimated costs of around US$6.2 billion. What is it designed to do?

• Increase rail capacity by 10%, reducing congestion and making journeys more comfortable
• Double road capacity across the Thames east of London and relieve pressure on the strategically important Dartford Crossing
• Capture raw sewage that would have spilled into the River Thames

5) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced in May that it has allocated a first $500,000 to the controversial Galveston Coastal Barrier Project along the Texas coast. If built, the stormwater mitigation infrastructure project, commonly known as the 鈥業ke Dike鈥�, could become America鈥檚 biggest ever civil engineering project. Which famous Ike is it named after?

• Hurricane Ike, which in 2008 caused severe damage to the area
• Dwight D. Eisenhower, former US president and the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe in World War II, who was born in Texas
• US musician, band leader and record producer Ike Turner, who alongside his wife Tina, famously performed at the Dallas Statler Hilton

Digital render of a Rail Baltica train (Image: Rail Baltica)

6) In June, the National Audit Offices of three European countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania released a joint audit report casting doubt on the financial feasibility of the planned Rail Baltica high speed rail megaproject, revealing estimated costs had quadrupled in seven years. How will the project differ from the existing rail network in the region?

• The project relies on residual air pressure to provide lift from aerofoils and propulsion by fans
• The tracks will be 85 millimetres closer together than on the existing network
• Reaching speeds of 350 kilometres per hour, the new network aims to reduce journey time between Tallinn and St Petersburg to just 2 and a half hours

7) In July, the main span of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit Michigan and Ontario, Canada was finally connected. What technical challenge did construction workers NOT have to overcome while building it?

• The partly built bridge was impacted by an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale
• The ground beneath the bridge contains some of the world鈥檚 largest salt reserves and is crisscrossed with salt mines many of which are unmapped
• Hydrogen sulphide gas reserves required workers to take extra precautions

The Paris 2024 Aquatics Centre. Image: Paris 2024

8) The Paris Olympics in August made headlines around the world, not just for the records broken on the track, but also for the amount of money spent on the construction of new venues. How much was it?

• US$4.9 billion (around 40% less than the Tokyo games)
• US$7.9 billion (about the same as the Tokyo games)
• US$15.8 billion (around double the construction costs for the Tokyo games)

9) 2024 saw the start of offshore construction work at Princess Elisabeth Island, a new island being constructed by contractors Jan de Nul and DEME to create a mega electricity substation or 鈥榚nergy island鈥� close to offshore wind turbines. In which country鈥檚 coastal waters is it located? 

• USA
• Belgium
• China

10) A first cohort of Ukrainian women started training as excavator and wheel loader operators in October as part of an initiate between Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo鈥檚 Ukrainian dealer ETS Group and Sweden-based charity Beredskapslyftet aimed at encouraging more women into the industry. Until what year were women in Ukraine banned from operating heavy construction equipment?

• 1977
• 2017
• 1877

11) Donald Trump鈥檚 dramatic election victory in November has left the world wondering how the 78-year old鈥檚 second stint in power will shape the industry. How has Trump NOT described himself on record?

• 鈥淭he architect of the country鈥�
• 鈥淭he builder president鈥�
• 鈥淏asically, a truthful person鈥�

12) More than 90,000 construction workers in the Indian capital Delhi were told in December they could be eligible for a one-time subsistence allowance of R8,000 (US$94) each because they had been unable to work. What was the reason?

• A 2024 revision of India鈥檚 Work Safety Law prohibited workers from entering sites found to have inadequate PPE or safety equipment
• Delhi authorities banned construction and demolition work as part of a series of measures to combat extreme levels of air pollution and smog
• Armies of red-faced rhesus macaque monkeys have spread havoc in three major construction areas in Delhi, forcing workers to down tools and causing a major threat to public safety

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