Five States, Billions in Motion: DOTs Launch a Massive 2026 Construction Season

Across the country, departments of transportation are kicking off the 2026 construction season with an ambitious slate of infrastructure investments aimed at improving safety, mobility, and long-term system resilience. From the Midwest to the Mountain West and down to Texas, five states are rolling out billions of dollars in projects that will reshape highways, bridges, and multimodal networks.

In Minnesota, more than 200 road and bridge projects are underway, alongside 51 additional efforts focused on airports, ports, rail crossings, and transit systems. The state is prioritizing smoother travel, safer roadways, and better connectivity. One of the most significant efforts is the $195 million reconstruction of Highway 65 in Blaine, a multi-year project that will introduce four new interchanges to reduce congestion and improve safety. Additional projects include a major underpass in Moorhead, expansion work along I-94, and continued improvements in Minneapolis.

Ohio is setting records this year with a $3.4 billion construction program covering 977 projects statewide. The scope is massive—improving 739 bridges and more than 4,500 miles of roadway. Major investments include a $280 million overhaul of I-90 in Cuyahoga County and a $274 million expansion of U.S. Route 33. The state continues to emphasize system reliability and safety as critical to supporting economic activity and daily travel.

Texas is also entering a high-impact construction season, with major highway expansions and urban mobility projects leading the way. The headline effort is the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project in Austin, which includes reconstruction of bridges over Lady Bird Lake and is part of a broader initiative to transform 79 miles of the corridor. Other notable projects include expansions in the Houston area, improvements along I-20, and multimodal upgrades in Williamson County that incorporate pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure.

In Utah, the DOT is advancing 176 new projects valued at $2.8 billion, while continuing work on dozens more. The state’s approach balances preservation with expansion—repairing aging infrastructure while addressing congestion and improving travel options. A standout project is the $621 million 2100 North Freeway connection in Utah County, which will link major corridors and add new bridges and shared-use paths. Additional work includes major interchange upgrades and highway expansions across several counties.

Wisconsin rounds out the list with more than 400 planned highway improvement projects designed to modernize infrastructure and support economic growth. The centerpiece is the $1.7 billion I-94 East-West project near Milwaukee, a transformative effort that includes interchange reconstruction and corridor upgrades. The state is also advancing large-scale projects on I-41, U.S. Route 51, and key river crossings to improve regional connectivity.

Together, these efforts reflect a nationwide push to modernize transportation systems, enhance safety, and support growing communities. For right of way professionals, engineers, and infrastructure stakeholders, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year—one defined by scale, complexity, and opportunity.