State transportation agencies across the U.S. are launching major infrastructure projects as the 2026 construction season gets underway, signaling continued public-sector investment despite broader economic uncertainty.
Departments of transportation in Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin are collectively rolling out billions of dollars in projects aimed at improving highways, bridges and multimodal systems, according to recent agency announcements.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is planning more than 200 road and bridge projects this year, along with 51 additional efforts focused on airports, ports, rail crossings and transit systems.
“We have a robust 2026 road construction season ahead of us — when complete, these projects will help people get around more easily, improve safety, create smoother pavement, and improve connectivity for everyone who relies on our multimodal transportation system,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger in a statement.
Key projects include a $195 million reconstruction of Highway 65 in Blaine, as well as major work on I-94 and other corridors across the state.
In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Transportation is undertaking what it describes as a record-breaking construction season, with $3.4 billion in planned work across 977 projects.
The program includes improvements to 739 bridges and more than 4,500 miles of roadway.
“As a state that makes and moves things, we must have a safe transportation system that is well maintained,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “As they do each year, our ODOT teams will be making enhancements to Ohio’s roadways to better protect everyone traveling on them.”
In Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation is advancing several high-profile projects, including reconstruction of the I-35 bridges over Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The effort is part of the broader I-35 Capital Express Central project, a multibillion-dollar initiative to expand and modernize one of the state’s most critical corridors.
Additional Texas projects include highway expansions and safety improvements in rapidly growing regions such as Harris County and Williamson County.
The Utah Department of Transportation is launching 176 new projects worth $2.8 billion in 2026, with another 57 projects already underway.
“From fixing key routes and preserving bridges to building trails and supporting transit, this work is focused on making travel safer, more reliable and more accessible,” said UDOT Deputy Director Lisa Wilson.
Among the largest projects is the $621 million 2100 North Freeway project in Utah County, which includes construction of multiple bridges and new shared-use paths to improve regional connectivity.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has scheduled more than 400 highway improvement projects this season.
The state’s largest effort is the $1.7 billion I-94 East-West project near Milwaukee, which began construction in late 2025 and includes extensive interchange upgrades and corridor reconstruction. Additional projects focus on expanding I-41 and replacing key bridges across the state.
Across all five states, the scale of work highlights the continued importance of public infrastructure investment in sustaining construction activity.
For contractors and construction owners, these projects represent significant opportunities — particularly in highway, bridge and transit work — as state agencies deploy funding to modernize transportation systems and support economic growth.
As the 2026 construction season progresses, the pace of project delivery in these regions will serve as a key indicator of how public funding continues to shape the industry’s outlook.
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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