Civils fear orderbook slowdown

A slowdown in civils work is expected over the coming months, despite a rise in workload in the first quarter of 2003, according to the latest trends survey by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).

The balance of members expecting an increase in workload in the next 12 months has dropped gradually since October's score of +35 to +18 in January and just +8 in April.

Orders for repair and maintenance work have fallen in sympathy from +29 a year ago to +4.

The state of CECA members' orderbooks has worsened since April last year, dropping from a +9 balance to -2 last month.

Motorway and trunk roads work has continued to decline from -18 a year ago to -32 last month. Local roads posted a -24 balance, harbours, waterways and flood defences stood at -27, while airports hit -36.

One of the few areas where some CECA members seem to be prospering is rail, which has a +11 score.

"It is no real surprise to us to see these indications of a slowdown in the rate of growth of civil engineering at this stage," said CECA national chairman John Fraser.

"The picture painted by our survey is more of an industry plateauing out, for the time being, at a historically high level of activity."