INDOT says average interstate construction cost per centerline mile rose from 2015 to FY2026

The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) data showed the average cost to construct a centerline mile of interstate rose from a 2015 level to a higher average for the 2026 state fiscal year. The newspaper said those figures appeared on a slide shared at a late‑August State Budget Committee meeting.

According to the Chronicle, INDOT spokespeople and industry sources cited broad inflation, large increases in steel and concrete costs, more complex urban and bridge work, and competition from data‑center construction for materials and equipment as contributors. The article said INDOT told the committee the reported figures include multiple project elements, that the 2026 average included two specifically named complicated projects, and that INDOT uses bundling, competitive bidding, 20‑year asset‑management plans and alternative delivery methods.

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