Highway and Bridge Construction Reaches Record $108 Billion
The following information was provided by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).
The U.S. transportation construction market continues to show strong growth, with the total value of activity reaching $21.6 billion in September 2024. This marks a 2.5 percent increase compared to $21 billion in September 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Year-to-date highway and bridge construction activity has surged 9.2 percent, climbing to a record $108 billion.
This growth highlights the increasing momentum driven by projects funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which continues to bolster investment in the nation’s infrastructure.
The Value of Construction Put in Place, a measure of work completed on projects each month, demonstrates the impact of the IIJA as projects move from planning and bidding stages to active construction. With contractors mobilized and working on projects of all sizes, the overall market activity has seen steady increases month over month.
This sustained investment reflects the critical role of infrastructure funding in supporting the modernization and expansion of U.S. transportation networks.
As the IIJA continues to provide resources for long-overdue improvements, the construction market is poised for continued growth, reinforcing the importance of maintaining momentum in these transformative efforts.
Learn How You Can Save With Steel
The SSSBA is offering complimentary customized educational guest speakers/webinars and workshops (on-site or virtual) specifically for county engineers, state DOTs, and design firms. The webinars/workshops are taught by industry experts with decades of experience in the cost-effective design and construction of short span bridges.
For more information or to customize a workshop for your organization, please contact:
- Dan Snyder (Director of the SSSBA) at dsnyder@steel.org or 301-367-6179.
- Michael Barker (University of Wyoming & SSSBA Director of Education) at barker@uwyo.edu
Need Assistance With a Project?
Do you have questions or need support for a new or existing project? The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) offers free project assistance for bridge owners and designers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
For assistance, please complete the project assistance form and a steel bridge expert will contact you directly.
Why use the SSSBA’s complimentary project assistance?
- Central source for consultation on code-compliant design of short span steel bridges.
- Industry experts with decades of knowledge on steel design and construction.
- National network of manufacturers and suppliers (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
Events
Free 6-Part Live Lecture Series: Steel Bridge Design — From Concept to Delivery (Starts Sept. 7)
SSSBA and the University of Wyoming are offering a free six-part lecture series, September 7–23. The series covers key aspects of steel bridge design, fabrication and construction, with live and recorded participation available.
Design
NSBA Releases Guide to Steel Highway Grade Separation Bridges
NSBA has released the new Guide to Steel Highway Grade Separation Bridges, a comprehensive industry resource designed to support the planning, design and construction of steel highway overpass structures.
News
SSSBA to Present at 2026 CEAO Ohio Bridge Conference in Columbus, OH (Aug.11)
SSSBA will be featured at the 2026 County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO) Bridge Conference on August 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The session will introduce free design tools that help engineers develop efficient, economical short span steel bridge solutions.
Short Span Steel Bridges