Report: 25,000 transportation projects underway in first year of the infrastructure law

Passed and signed into law just more than a year ago, the Biden administration's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill provides $110 billion for roads, highways and bridges, along with money for the buildout of an electric vehicle infrastructure, water projects, the expansion of high-speed internet service, environmental cleanup and public transit.

Nearly 90% of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) highway funds are dispersed by existing formula to states, with the remainder distributed through discretionary grant awards and other allocated programs.

States leveraged their fiscal year 2022 federal highway formula funds to jumpstart nearly 25,000 new improvement projects in communities across America during the first year of the IIJA, according to a review of U.S. Treasury Department data through Aug. 31.

"A key takeaway from the Treasury data is that the bipartisan infrastructure law is working in year one as intended, with state transportation departments disbursing their funds and projects breaking ground," said American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Chief Economist Dr. Alison Premo Black, who reviewed and compiled the data for the report.

"The economic and quality of life benefits of the infrastructure law will become even more apparent as funding continues in coming years," added ARTBA Chair Paula Hammond, a WSP USA senior vice president. "The beneficiaries of these long-term investments will be the American traveling public in their communities."

Public sentiment for road and infrastructure improvement is strong. Voters in 18 states this month approved 88% of 380 state and local ballot initiatives aimed at boosting transportation investment, according to initial results compiled by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center estimates the measures will generate $19.6 billion in one-time and recurring revenue for projects.

20 largest IIJA projects to date:

1. Texas – Expanding Loop 1604 on I-10 in San Antonio ($291 million) 
2. Texas – 635 East Project in Dallas  ($225 million)  
3. New York – Van Wyck Expressway Capacity & Access Improvements to and from JFK International Airport ($211 million)  
4. Arizona – Roadway Widening on I-17 Split ($200 million)
5. Texas – I-35 Widening in Travis County ($192 million)  
6. South Carolina – Phase 1 Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project ($145 million) 
7. Ohio – I-70/71 Downtown Ramp Up Project in Columbus ($123 million)
8. California – Rehabilitation of Pomona Freeway between the Long Beach and San Gabriel River Freeways ($121 million) 
9. California – Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project in San Luis Obispo ($119 million)  
10. Illinois – Interchange Reconstruction and Bridge Replacement on I-57 at I-74 Interchange in Urbana-Champaign ($107 million)
11. Georgia – State Road 2/State Road 515 Roadway Reconstruction Project in Northern Georgia ($104 million) 
12. California – State Route 55 Improvements Project in Orange County ($101 million)  
13. California – Rehabilitation of Route 10 Near Coachella ($100 million) 
14. Tennessee – Interchange Modification on I-55 at Crump Boulevard in Memphis ($99.6 million) 
15. Texas – Widen Loop 375 in El Paso ($95 million)  
16. New Jersey – Route 18 Drainage and Pavement Rehabilitation in East Brunswick ($91.7 million)  
17. Tennessee – Improvements at I-75, I-24 Interchange near the Tennessee-Georgia Border ($91.2 million)  
18. South Carolina – Phase 2 Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project ($90 million)  
19. California – SAC 5 Corridor Enhancement Project in Sacramento ($88 million)  
20. Texas – Irving Interchange Project in Dallas ($80 million)