Dive Brief:
- Virginia is injecting billions of dollars into infrastructure and transportation work as the state’s DOT on Wednesday approved a $28.5 billion infrastructure plan, allocating the funds for the next six fiscal years, starting July 1.
- The Six-Year Improvement Program, administered by the Virginia DOT and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, will upgrade over 4,300 road, bridge, rail, transit and bicycle and pedestrian paths, per the announcement.
- The gargantuan investment stands out, even among states such as Ohio, Texas and Utah that, as recently as this spring, have unveiled infrastructure megaprojects planned for the construction season. Though those states outlined hundreds of construction improvements — as many as 977 projects collectively worth $3.4 billion in Ohio, for example — the plans were limited to 2026, as opposed to Virginia’s six-year agenda.
Dive Insight:
These initiatives also occur as, on the federal level, builders and construction professionals await the long-discussed surface transportation reauthorization bill. The urgency grows as the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorization is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30.
For the coming fiscal year, some of the largest projects planned for Virginia include the $3.9 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel project; the $3.1 billion Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project; and the $926 million Interstate 81 Ironto Widening program in Roanoke County.
Overall, VDOT’s funding breakdown leads to:
- $930 million to support public transportation programs.
- $500 million to improve 43 VDOT and locality-maintained bridges.
- $239 million in state funds for 143 projects through the Revenue Sharing Program, which matches funds from localities to state dollars for qualifying construction projects.
- $85 million for 57 nontraditional transportation projects.
For FY 2027, VDOT has an annual budget of $9 billion. That breakdown includes $2.8 billion for construction and $2.5 billion for road maintenance and operations.
