![Flux in Steel Prices Could Impact Montana Public Projects](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/08/Wakking-Bridge-Construction.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Flux in Steel Prices Could Impact Montana Public Projects
There are a lot of public construction projects underway in Missoula right now that involve steel, a commodity that has taken center stage in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. Montana Contractors Association Director Carey Hegreberg says rising prices could cause major projects to go over budget.
"If a contractor bids a project and finds out two to three months later that the price of steel has gone up 50 to 60 percent... how will they eat those costs? Some of those things remain to be seen, we're working closely with the Department of Transportation on that issue because, obviously, a bridge project, for example, has a lot of steel."
Hegreberg says the contractors association is working with state and national representatives on the issue, which has been a headache for many contractor estimates.
"Obviously the contractor is trying to push the steel supplier to lock-in a guaranteed price for a guaranteed period of time and the steel distributors are reluctant to do that in light of the uncertainty that they're looking at in terms of the marketplace. There's a lot of concern out there. The owner of a project has a lot to be concerned about when it comes to the escalating steel prices."
Of course, when it comes to public projects the ultimate owner of those projects is the public, namely local taxpayers.
More From KMMS-KPRK 1450 AM
![The Good Life! Popular Grammy-Winning DJ Spotted in Montana](http://townsquare.media/site/15/files/2024/07/attachment-NorthWestern-Energy-announced-Tuesday-it-is-monitoring-weather-conditions-in-Montana-for-a-possible-public-safety-power-shutoff.-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Montana Could Set a Big Record For New Businesses This Year](http://townsquare.media/site/15/files/2023/08/attachment-Untitled-design-74.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Montana City Gets Big Ideas to Reclaim It’s Glory Days](http://townsquare.media/site/13/files/2023/01/attachment-glen-rushton-UsrMTt73Tdw-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Respect the Fields and Cows: Facts About Farming in Montana](http://townsquare.media/site/13/files/2022/10/attachment-peter-kleinau-oP_xD70TpsI-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![WSJ: Billings, Montana Listed in Top 5 Housing Markets Yet Again](http://townsquare.media/site/990/files/2022/07/attachment-RS44307_GettyImages-177112382-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![It’s Official, Montana Has Joined This Not So Exclusive Club.](http://townsquare.media/site/12/files/2022/06/attachment-erik-mclean-wZkRKVD-fLk-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Southern Montana Train Route Would Bring in Big Business](http://townsquare.media/site/14/files/2021/11/attachment-jacques-bopp-CIb3g_RUlb0-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![State says Montana rental assistance program largely unused](http://townsquare.media/site/8/files/2019/11/GettyImages-1168454861.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Report: Economists predict Montana will lose over 50K jobs](http://townsquare.media/site/8/files/2018/06/GettyImages-965594612.jpg?w=980&q=75)