Big Roadwork Projects Coming

[MikePhua]

Overview of U.S. Roadwork Surge
Across the United States there's currently a wave of large-scale roadwork projects, driven by aging infrastructure, population growth, and legislative investment. These initiatives include highway expansions, interchange improvements, bridge repairs, resurfacing work, and other public works that combine to form what many are calling a once-in-a-generation infrastructure boom. Federal, state, and local governments are committing tens of billions of dollars to fund hundreds of such projects.
Key Megaprojects and Their Details
Here are several of the most ambitious upcoming or ongoing roadwork projects, with data on scope, cost, and purpose:

• I-85 Widening in North Carolina
  A ~$600 million project to widen about 10 miles of Interstate 85 between the U.S. 321 interchange (in Gastonia) and the N.C. 273 interchange (in Mount Holly). Includes interchange upgrades and replacing/relocating bridge and railroad overpasses.
  
• I-375 Reconnecting Communities, Michigan
  ~$300 million project to replace outdated bridges, eliminate elevated freeway segments, and convert to a surface boulevard while re-claiming adjacent parcels for economic development and public spaces. Scheduled to begin construction soon, with estimated completion around 2027.
  
• Texas SH 6 Expansion (Bryan-College Station)
  A $671 million project to widen roughly 12 miles of State Highway 6 from four to six lanes; includes collector-distributor lanes (lanes that help with merging and local traffic flow), pedestrian and bicycle pathway add-ons. Identified years ago, work expected to spread over approximately five years.
  
• I-90 Idaho Corridor Expansion
  Stretch of I-90 between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene is being widened. Plans include adding two lanes in each direction (so four lanes total in each direction), replacement and widening of several bridges, ramp improvements, safety and merging enhancements. The project is part of a corridor study and is funded through a combination of state transport and congestion mitigation funds. Completion of certain interchanges is scheduled for 2026; further design work and construction expected through 2027 in some segments.
  
• Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Projects
  For 2025, UDOT announced 152 new construction projects totaling about $1.68 billion, plus another 145 ongoing projects. These cover a wide variety of improvements: new interchanges, traffic flow enhancements, repaving, community access and safety features, and upgrades to pedestrian/trail systems. One major example is the 1800 North / I-15 intersection in Davis County (Clearfield); this one alone has budgets in the high hundreds of millions, and its scope stretches through fall 2027.
  

Drivers Behind the Movement

• Legislative & Federal Funding: Laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are funneling substantial capital into roads, bridges, and multimodal transportation infrastructure. Many states are matching or augmenting these funds with state revenue or bond initiatives.
  
• Aging Infrastructure: Bridges, road decks, interchanges built decades ago are reaching or exceeding their design life, needing replacement or major upgrades.
  
• Population Growth & Congestion: Suburban growth, increased commuting, and freight traffic have overwhelmed older road designs not built for today’s loads.
  
• Safety & Climate Considerations: Many projects include bridges, drainage, pedestrian safety, ADA compliance, or resiliency to extreme weather.
  

Challenges and Risks

• Cost Overruns: Many megaprojects exceed their initial estimates, both in time and money, due to unforeseen site conditions, permitting delays, and inflationary pressures (materials, labor).
  
• Disruptions during Construction: Traffic detours, congestion, noise, and environmental impacts temporarily affect local communities.
  
• Coordination & Right-of-Way Issues: Acquiring land, relocating utilities, and environmental impact assessments can slow progress significantly.
  
• Funding Gaps: While many projects are budgeted with federal or state support, matching funds, ongoing maintenance, or unexpected expense can create shortfalls.
  

Notable Small Stories

• Michigan Ramp Closures & Resurfacing: In Michigan, ramps between U.S. 10 and southbound U.S. 131 were closed overnight, part of a two-mile resurfacing project costing ~$1 million. Nearly 24,500 lane-miles and roughly 1,900 bridges are being addressed in that state under its infrastructure initiative.
  
• Manistee Route Rehab: Manistee, Michigan is using grants to rehabilitate sections of a truck route (Old U.S. 31), including water service replacements, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and pavement overlay. One contract is ~$1.58 million.
  

Suggestions for Effective Project Planning and Execution
To maximize benefits and minimize disruption, here are practices and solutions worth considering:

• Phased Construction: Breaking large projects into smaller segments helps manage traffic detours, staging material logistics, and funding flow.
  
• Community Engagement: Proactively informing residents, businesses, and commuters about timelines, detours, and lanes closures helps reduce friction and builds public support.
  
• Use of Performance Metrics: Track things like traffic delays, accident rates, environmental compliance, cost per mile of road built, etc., to gauge whether things stay on track.
  
• Innovative Materials & Methods: Employing longer-life pavement materials, accelerated bridge construction techniques, or prefabricated components to reduce downtime.
  
• Sustainability & Resiliency Design: Designing drainage, flood mitigation, and materials suited for extreme temperatures or climate stress to avoid frequent maintenance.
  

Conclusion
The United States is entering a major phase of road infrastructure investment. With many projects valued in the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars, the scale is significant. The benefits—reduced congestion, improved safety, more durable infrastructure—promise to be substantial, though not without challenges. A combination of strong funding, careful planning, modern engineering practices, and community collaboration will be key to making these roadwork projects successful.