Tag:construction=yes

This feature has been labeled as deprecated. The recommended replacement is: construction:*=*.
The reason is documented in Deprecated features. You are still free to continue to use or interpret this tag as you see fit since OpenStreetMap does not have “banned features”.
Under no circumstances should you (semi-)automatically change “deprecated” tags to something else in the database on a large scale without conforming to the automated edits code of conduct. Any such change will be reverted.

construction=yes is widely used, but cannot always clearly be interpretated. It may describe if a feature is under construction. It may either be newly built or under maintenance.

Support of tools

Tool	Interpretation of construction=yes
Default map style on osm.org	no
ID Editor	yes
Osmand	yes

History

Heavily used in one of apparent address imports and in address collection campaigns (used over 40 000 times with addr:province:en=Cairo addr:province=القاهرة) which have clear chronology typical for imports. See http://overpass-turbo.eu/s/1rrt and http://overpass-turbo.eu/s/1rrw and for example https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/7463925602 which is an address node with construction=yes

See also

• It should not be used as an attribute - playground=swing + construction=yes is not working well construction: lifecycle prefix could be used instead in such situations.So construction:playground=swing is better.

• For long term construction works construction=minor is strictly preferable.

• For buildings one may use building=construction - possible with for example construction=house/construction=office/construction=apartments etc. See construction=* for details.