Where the cranes are

That would be building cranes - and they are indeed around, in spite of the deep recession that has killed much of the local construction industry. The Business Journal counts 50 construction projects in L.A. County that have a combined cost of almost $10 billion. Keep in mind that most of this work had been scheduled and financed well before the downturn - and much of it is publicly funded. Topping the list is the Eastside extension of the Metro Gold Line that will run from Union Station to East L.A. Cost: Almost $870 million. Here's the top 5:

1)Eastside Extension - $868.8 million
2)Expo Light Rail $635 million
3)LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal - $573 million
4)LA Live hotel and residences - $538 million
5)Childrens Hospital - $453.4 million.

The Tom Bradley work is only one part of the massive renovation being planned for the international terminal.