Numbers released last week revealed that fewer infrastructure projects are being built in the U.S.
Dodge Data & Analytics reported a 31% decline in the nonbuilding sector, which includes work such as roads, bridges and pipelines, and a report earlier this month found that infrastructure projects worth $9.6 billion have been canceled or delayed due to COVID-19.
In response to a Construction Dive survey last week, readers said they are worried about the future of infrastructure projects, with 83% of respondents saying they have seen civil projects delayed or halted due to coronavirus-related funding challenges.
Some blamed the White House and Congress for failing to provide enough long-term funding for projects like new or upgraded roads, bridges and dams.
"The lack of leadership by the federal government regarding infrastructure funding is creating widespread uncertainty across all market sectors," wrote one reader. Others pointed to a decline in tax revenue at the state and local levels that has caused officials to cut back on infrastructure plans.
Conversely, 39% of respondents said that they have seen infrastructure projects accelerate this year, as state transportation leaders take advantage of lessened traffic on roads, highways and bridges. One said that the Caltrans I-5 road rehabilitation project in the Los Angeles area is moving along and another wrote that water and sewer projects are staying busy in his area.
While infrastructure projects finish up, contractors worry about what will happen going forward. One respondent from the Northeastern section of the U.S. said that COVID-19 has practically halted all new bidding.
"The longer it lasts, it will create a feeding frenzy when any work is released and competition will be through the roof as contractors take work just to keep the doors open," the reader said.
