Courtesy of Suez Canal Authority This story is part of a series of articles looking at the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the construction industry and how an expected rebound in construction work later this year could be slowed by a variety of forces. Click here for other articles in the series and check back for more throughout the year. The road to recovery may be longer than you think. As the second quarter of 2021 kicks off, contractor confidence is high, with plenty of optimism that the coming resurgence of re-started projects will lift construction firms from the abyss of COVID-19 to go even beyond their pre-pandemic heights. Just look at the Associated Builders and Contractors' Confidence Index, which is now positive for sales, profit and staffing level expectations for the next six months.