Shift in Priorities Raises Crane Demand

The total number of construction cranes on the job across the United States holds steady, but as "urban construction priorities" shift, collectively crane counts increased by 60 percent nationally. Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) found that development patterns are changing where and how cranes are being used. Research firm Market CAGR reports that growth also is driven by rising demand for infrastructure projects and technological advancements in crane machinery.

The first-quarter 2026 crane index, released by construction consultant RLB in March, gives a glimpse into construction activity in 18 major cities.

The quarterly report measures fixed tower cranes on active construction sites. It is meant to provide a direct indicator of the industry's physical workload.

The firm said its findings show not only are development patterns are shifting but urban construction priorities are being reoriented.

"Among the cities tracked, eight recorded no change in crane counts, six reported decreases and four saw increases," noted RLB. "This mix of activity points to a cautious but deliberate approach, as developers advance select projects while responding to broader economic conditions."

Analyzing Both Crane Sector, General Construction

The report found that crane counts for commercial projects rose 60 percent, driven by new office, retail and mixed-use starts.

Miami, Fla., posted a 55-percent increase, adding 18 cranes to its skyline. Other cities, including Chicago, saw growth in the hospitality and residential sectors.

Overall crane counts across North America remained consistent, as gains in some regions offset moderated activity in others, according to the index.

"The first quarter of 2026 reflects a measured but steady start to the year," said Paul Brussow, president of RLB North America. "We are seeing owners and developers carefully evaluate long-term investment decisions while still advancing projects in key sectors."

The data indicates a transition away from predominantly residential-driven expansion. Movement is toward a more diversified development landscape, with notable strength in commercial and mixed-use projects, he said.

In a separate report, RLB found the North American construction market "is finally finding its footing after several years of volatility."

That report showed cost inflation is stabilizing, and the construction industry is shifting from short term, selective demand to broader market recalibration.

It is a scenario where developers can again plan and execute complex projects with greater confidence, said the consulting firm.

"While some private nonresidential spending has cooled, that softness is being offset by rising public infrastructure investment," said the firm.

A resurgence in residential renovation also is offsetting the softening private nonresidential contracts.

"At the same time, upstream indicators … show that owners and developers are using this period to reset project scopes and schedules," said RLB.

What the industry is logging in new starts more closely aligns with today's economic realities, it added.

"Periods of rapid growth are naturally followed by moments of adjustment," said Brussow. "What we're seeing now is the industry moving away from reactive decision-making and into a period of refinement."

The consistency in cost data allows for a level of planning difficult to achieve in previous years.

Brussow concluded that "the lesson for this market is not to retreat, but to refine" itself.

The Q1 2026 construction industry-wide report also flags key cost pressures that will shape project decisions this year, said the firm. Notably, material prices for steel and aluminum are rising, and ongoing uncertainty around trade and labor is adding complexity to long range planning.

"Even so, RLB's data shows an industry that is resilient and adaptive," said RLB. "Firms that emphasize productivity, embrace advanced procurement strategies and lock in pricing early are better positioned to protect budgets and schedules."

Brussow emphasized that "this is a pivotal moment" for owners and public agencies. Projects that move forward with disciplined procurement and realistic scheduling can capture the benefits of a more predictable cost environment.

And if movement happens now, that predictability can be accomplished before the next cycle of acceleration begins.

CAGR maintains the U.S. mobile construction crane market has experienced impressive growth in recent years. The sector has expanded its market presence and product offerings. That success is attributed to a focus on research and development.

"Currently, the market is witnessing significant growth driven by increasing urbanization," said CAGR.

Rising demand for infrastructure projects and technological advancements in crane machinery also are contributing to the sector's success. The research firm projects a market growth rate of 9.7 percent CAGR during the period from 2026 to 2033.

"This growth can be attributed to continued investment in construction and infrastructure, particularly in renewable energy and transportation projects."

The firm said key trends influencing the market include the integration of smart technology in cranes, enhancing their operational efficiency and safety.

"Additionally, the shift toward electric and hybrid cranes reflects a growing commitment to sustainability within the industry."

Overall, said CAGR, the market is poised for robust expansion, driven by innovation, infrastructure development and more construction activity nationwide.

U.S. Tower Crane Permits Keep Rolling Along

Demand for tower cranes in construction is just as healthy, according to RLB's latest report. The big rigs are at work in several major cities.

Tracking construction cranes at work in Chicago is buildingupchicago.com. The site updates crane counts for the metro area as they change.

New tower crane installations in March included one at 1010 South Wells. The tallest tower crane is on site at 400 Lake Shore building a 72-residential tower.

At Chicago's Bally Casino, Building Up Chicago reports a 500-room hotel tower is expected to open by the end of the year. The crane topped out on April 30.

In the Fulton Market District, a crane is building a 494-unit residential tower. "It's within three or four stories of topping out," reported the construction news site.

At Shedd Aquarium, a tower crane was disassembled in mid-March after completion of renovations on the aquarium.

Cranes are at work on a parking garage at the University of Illinois Chicago's Health Campus and a 227-unit residential tower in the West Loop.

In March, cranes were on the way at O'Hare Airport's Concourse D and on the first of two planned residential towers in Fulton Market.

The second of two cranes was recently disassembled and removed at the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion in Hyde Park.

In Pasadena, Calif., a tower crane was being disassembled at a medical office building at the site of Huntington Hospital.

Advising the public of associated street and sidewalk closures, Colorado Boulevard newspaper said Huntington Health would oversee the disassembly.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake, Fla., a tower crane installed last September is helping construct the Encanto ride building. Constructing the building's framework, the tower crane has doubled the building's size. Once the framework is completed, walls will be added.

According to wdwnt.com, the Encanto ride will be part of a new Tropical Americas land at the park.

Three years after groundbreaking, the tallest new building in Atlanta has reached its ultimate height and the tower crane helping build it is coming down.

In April, Rockefeller Group was finishing up exterior work on the 60-story mixed-use tower at 1072 West Peachtree.

Website Urbanize Atlanta reported that the tower crane became a fixture over Atlanta's Midtown since its installation in 2023.

‘Nosy' Crane Tackles Bridge Inspections, Repairs Efficiently

Crews in Pennsylvania used a "snooper crane" to inspect the 127-year-old Layton Bridge over the Youghiogheny River in the western part of the state.

According to triblive.com, the inspection crew used an under-bridge inspection unit (UBIU), from an oversized bucket truck.

The boom of the Snooper truck crane, designed and manufactured by Paxton-Mitchell Co., has five points of articulation.

From the truck cab, the operator can dip a crew of four or five people over the side and underneath the bridge to inspect the infrastructure.

The news website reported that the crew also analyzed the maintenance that has taken place over more than a century. PennDOT's plan is to keep the original Layton Bridge in place while constructing its replacement.

"That means diving even deeper than the current mandatory six-month inspections on the structure, which was built in 1899," said the triblive.com.

When Minnesota DOT bridge inspectors started their bridge evaluation program in April, they went down the list of approximately 1,000 structures in District 6.

The inspections are routine to ensure safety and monitor the effects of traffic, weather and other elements on the structure, according to KIMT.com.

The first inspections recently began in Olmsted County, using a UBIU on a truck crane.

The high vertical heights or span areas of the various bridges challenge crews tasked with inspecting underneath the structures.

"A snooper truck is a specialty vehicle that has a multi-jointed arm with a basket attached at the end to hold the bridge inspectors," said KIMT. "The equipment allows the inspection team to maneuver under the bridge while the truck is parked on the bridge deck."

Paired with drone technology, UBIUs help agencies save money and make inspections smoother, said Under Bridge Platforms.

As studies on bridge inspection drones show, these new methods don't just save time, stressed the bridge inspection equipment provider.

"They also make data more accurate and lower the risk of accidents" during the inspection process, said the company.