We support green construction. Just not this kind - by Tammy Smith

We made it through holiday shutdowns.

We survived winter weather delays.

Contracts are signed. Projects are mobilizing. Cranes are stretching. Schedules are tightening.

Everything is lining up beautifully for spring construction season…

…and then St. Patrick’s Day shows up like a tiny green traffic cone in the middle of your critical path schedule.

Yes, really.

Most people think of St. Patrick’s Day as a fun footnote on the calendar. In construction logistics, however, it’s a full-scale operational variable — especially if your work touches major metro areas with major parades and, let’s call it what it is, enthusiastic celebrants.

New York City
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade dates back to 1762 in NYC, which means they’ve had over 260 years to perfect street closures. Translation for construction teams:

If you didn’t pre-plan deliveries, staging, or crew access routes, you’re not getting through.

Reality check:
• Fifth Avenue shuts down
• Cross streets lock up
• Parking disappears
• Delivery windows evaporate
• Your drywall isn’t late. It’s just stuck behind a marching band.

Jersey City
Jersey City brings big parade energy in compact streets — a logistical puzzle even on a normal Tuesday. Add parade barricades, spectators, rideshares, and festive foot traffic, and suddenly your carefully mapped access plan becomes… aspirational.

Pro tip:
If your site is near the route, assume:
• Detours will detour your detours
• GPS will lie to you; and
• Someone in green suspenders will ask to use your restroom

Miami
Down south, combine St. Patrick’s Day with vacation season and you get a special cocktail of traffic, tourism, and tactical chaos. Deliveries run slower. Parking is mythical. And every open site gate becomes an invitation for curious passersby.

Construction Survival Guide: St. Patrick’s Edition

Here’s how we prep our teams and clients before parade season hits:

1. Reroute Early
Check municipal notices and parade maps a week in advance. Then plan alternate routes like you’re plotting a heist movie escape.

2. Lock Down Materials
Never assume “just five minutes” is safe. If it’s unsecured, it’s vulnerable — not maliciously, just curiously.

3. Expect Parking Hunger Games
Crews should arrive earlier than usual or use pre-assigned parking zones.

4. Confirm Deliveries Twice
Then confirm them again the morning of. Parade days turn supply chains into improv theater.

5. Pad the Schedule
Not because your team isn’t efficient — because the city won’t be.

Why We Actually Love Parade Season
Here’s the thing: cities that celebrate hard are cities that thrive. Events mean culture. Culture means growth. Growth means development. And development is where we do our best work.

So no — we’re not complaining about St. Patrick’s Day.

We’re just planning for it like construction professionals who know that sometimes the biggest project obstacle isn’t weather, labor, or materials…it’s a bagpiper crossing your delivery route.

Bottom Line:
Spring construction season is coming in hot. Just remember to factor in the one variable no schedule software can predict: Festive pedestrians with excellent spirits and zero awareness of your concrete pour time.

We here at The Alban Group wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day — may your deliveries arrive on time, your permits stay approved, and your jobsite remain completely leprechaun-free.

Tammy Craig-Smith, president of The Alban Group, Newark, NJ.