Pending highway bill ‘significantly higher’ than IIJA: Granite CEO
Summary
Granite Construction's CEO highlights that proposed highway funding is significantly higher than the IIJA, with a focus on securing public infrastructure funding and potential acquisitions in the sector.
Why It Matters
The discussion around increased highway funding is crucial as it indicates a strong bipartisan push for infrastructure investment, which can stimulate economic growth and job creation. Understanding these dynamics helps stakeholders in the construction industry prepare for upcoming opportunities and challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Proposed highway funding exceeds the $1.2 trillion IIJA, signaling robust bipartisan support.
- Granite Construction reported a record backlog of $6.97 billion, indicating strong demand in the construction sector.
- Only half of the original IIJA funds have been spent, providing a stable funding runway for future infrastructure projects.
- Granite is competing for $40 billion in border infrastructure work, reflecting a shift towards larger contracts.
- The company plans to pursue acquisitions, particularly in materials, to enhance its business portfolio.
An article from Dive Brief Pending highway bill ‘significantly higher’ than IIJA: Granite CEO The California-based contractor also noted an acceleration of about $40 billion in federal border infrastructure spending and said it was looking to buy more companies. Published Feb. 12, 2026 Joe Bousquin Senior Editor Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google Spencer Platt via Getty Images Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Dive Brief: Granite Construction President and CEO Kyle Larkin said surface transportation reauthorization amounts being discussed in Congress are “significantly higher” than those in the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Larkin made his comments Thursday on Granite’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, where the company reported higher revenue and profits for the quarter and year. The firm also notched a record backlog of $6.97 billion, up 32% from a year ago. With the IIJA expiring in September, Larkin said securing more public funding for infrastructure was a priority for lawmakers. “What we hear really from industry today is that there’s still bipartisan support,” Larkin said on the call. “There’s still a huge focus on coming up with another investment mechanism and I think the really good news is the investment amount is significantly higher.” Dive Insight: Larkin’s comments echoed those from other public const...
