State transportation departments are spending at levels the heavy-civil market hasn’t seen in years, and Ohio is out front.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is running a record $3.4 billion construction program in 2026, covering 977 projects across the state. It’s one of several DOTs pushing unusually large slates this season, with Minnesota alone lining up more than 200 road, bridge and infrastructure jobs.
A Record Program
The Ohio number stands out for its scale and its breadth: nearly a thousand separate projects, from interstate widenings to small-bridge replacements. Federal infrastructure dollars still backstop much of it, and steady lettings give contractors the visibility to hire and buy equipment against a real pipeline.
Where the Work Is
Heavy-civil demand has held up better than vertical construction through 2026’s cost and rate pressure. Public road and bridge work doesn’t wait on interest rates the way private development does, which is why DOT programs have become the steady base of a choppy market.
What to Watch
The question for 2027 is whether states can keep this pace as federal formula money gets spent down. For now, record seasons like Ohio’s are one of the surer bets in a construction market where a lot of private work, from apartments to offices, has stalled. Big infrastructure programs, including new gateways like Oregon’s Pacific Coast Intermodal Port, are carrying the load.
More via Construction Dive.