In the end, the Government brought in an American construction giant, Bechtel, to knock heads together.

Shares in Dragados soared 23 percent, to 17.18 euros, on hopes of a merger, which would create one of Europe's top three construction giants.

Even in the face of such fundamental trends, economic malaise continues to depress stock prices among the construction giants.

And the Fluor Corporation, the construction giant, is installing anti-pollution devices in Indonesian oil refineries.

For 20 years, Ralph DeKlotz worked as an engineer for Morrison Knudsen, the fabled construction giant that fell on hard times two years ago.

His replacement will be named shortly, said a spokeswoman for the company, which is owed by Trafalgar House P.L.C., a British construction giant.

The construction giant, Grupo Tribasa, which has a big chunk of its business in building highways, reported a 64 percent slide in earnings.

It keeps the construction giants going.

Meanwhile, Sir Robert McAlpine, the construction giant and builder of the Olympic stadium, has been served with legal papers over its alleged involvement in the database.

Their company would eventually grow into a major international construction giant, with dozens of projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.