Indiana DOT reports higher interstate construction costs in FY2026 amid inflation, materials and project complexity
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on Oct. 2, 2026 that the Indiana Department of Transportation said its FY2026 average cost to build a centerline mile of interstate rose amid inflation, higher prices for steel and concrete, and inclusion of unusually complex projects in the agency’s fiscal-year mix.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on 2026-10-02 that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) said its FY2026 average cost to construct a centerline mile of interstate increased, driven by inflation, large jumps in steel and concrete prices and a fiscal-year portfolio that included some unusually complex projects.
The article quotes INDOT and industry observers saying higher material costs, demand pressures from other sectors, and INDOT’s practice of bundling projects contributed to the higher FY2026 average; it also notes INDOT’s procurement approach (competitive bidding, occasional alternative-delivery contracts) and the agency’s use of 20-year asset-management plans to guide interventions.
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