USDOT Invests $426 Million in Freight Highway Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced $426 million in federal funding for highway and freight infrastructure projects across 12 states.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the funding on October 1. The money will come through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program, commonly known as INFRA.

The projects include highway widening, new interchanges and improvements to major freight corridors. Several are specifically designed to address Freight Bottlenecks that affect commercial truck traffic and supply chains.

For truck drivers, the projects could eventually mean additional highway capacity and changes to heavily traveled freight routes in states including Florida, California, Georgia, Kansas and Louisiana.

$426 Million Targets Freight Bottlenecks

USDOT said the new investments are intended to reduce congestion, increase capacity on critical bypass routes and improve highways that handle significant freight traffic.

The INFRA program provides competitive grants for transportation projects considered nationally or regionally significant. Eligible projects include highway freight corridors, bridges, intermodal facilities, border crossings and other infrastructure important to moving goods.

The latest round includes projects in 12 states, although USDOT highlighted five projects in its October 1 announcement.

Among them is a Kansas project involving a freight corridor expected to handle approximately 5,000 trucks each day.

Florida Gets $85 Million for I-4 Expansion

Florida will receive one of the largest grants announced by USDOT.

The Florida Department of Transportation will receive $85 million to add a general-use lane in each direction along approximately 20 miles of Interstate 4.

The project stretches between State Road 434 and State Road 472 in Seminole and Volusia counties.

USDOT said the additional lanes are intended to increase freight capacity and reduce bottleneck congestion along the corridor.

I-4 is a major transportation corridor through Central Florida, connecting freight and passenger traffic across the region.

Kansas Project Targets Top Freight Bottleneck

Kansas will receive $53.5 million for a project involving K-96 in Wichita.

The City of Wichita and Kansas Department of Transportation plan to reconstruct and widen approximately 2.5 miles of K-96.

The highway will expand from four lanes to six between Hydraulic Avenue and a point approximately half a mile east of Oliver Street.

USDOT describes the location as Kansas’ top-ranked freight bottleneck.

The route is projected to carry approximately 5,000 trucks per day, making the project particularly relevant to commercial freight movement.

The additional capacity is intended to improve a critical bypass route and reduce congestion affecting freight traffic.

Louisiana Receives $28 Million for US-90 Project

Another significant project will address a nationally recognized freight bottleneck in Louisiana.

The Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government will receive $28 million to replace an existing signalized intersection with a grade-separated interchange.

Plans include ramps, flyover bridges and other roadway improvements along approximately 2.2 miles of Kaliste Saloom Road and 3.5 miles of US-90.

According to USDOT, the project will eliminate one of the country’s top 100 freight bottlenecks.

Separating traffic movements through an interchange instead of a traditional signalized intersection could help freight move through the area without the same stopping patterns created by traffic lights.

Savannah Project Improves Port Logistics Route

Georgia is also receiving funding for a project with a direct connection to freight and port activity.

The City of Savannah will receive $11.3 million to help construct a new four-lane divided connector between I-516 and a realigned White Bluff Road.

The project includes storm culvert improvements along what USDOT identifies as a critical hurricane evacuation and port logistics route.

USDOT said the project will increase corridor capacity as industrial demand grows in the area.

Savannah’s project is smaller than several of the other awards, but its connection to port logistics makes it notable for freight transportation.

California Project Includes Freight and Safety Improvements

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $25 million for another project addressing Freight Bottlenecks.

The project will convert a congested four-lane expressway into an eight-lane freeway.

Plans include median barriers and auxiliary lanes.

USDOT said the corridor has a collision rate approximately 30% above the statewide average. The department says the project will provide safety improvements while also eliminating a critical freight bottleneck on the National Highway System.

The combination of additional capacity and safety improvements distinguishes the California project from some of the other grants.

What Is the INFRA Program?

INFRA stands for Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects.

The competitive grant program is designed to support projects that improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of moving freight and people.

Eligible projects can include highway freight projects on the National Highway Freight Network, highway and bridge projects on the National Highway System, certain intermodal and rail projects, grade separations and infrastructure connected to international border crossings.

USDOT’s fiscal year 2026 funding notice also specifically identified improvements to freight bottleneck corridors and expansion of safe commercial motor vehicle parking among the program’s objectives.

Freight Projects Could Affect Major Truck Routes

The October 1 announcement does not mean construction will immediately begin on every project.

The grants provide federal funding toward projects that will move through their individual development and construction schedules.

However, the projects show where federal infrastructure money is being directed toward Freight Bottlenecks and heavily traveled transportation corridors.

For trucking, the Kansas project is particularly notable because USDOT expects the bypass to handle around 5,000 trucks each day. Florida’s I-4 expansion adds capacity along approximately 20 miles of interstate, while the Louisiana project targets a freight bottleneck ranked among the top 100 nationally.

The Savannah project also connects the funding directly to port logistics.

Together, the $426 million in grants will support projects in 12 states aimed at increasing highway capacity, addressing congestion and improving freight movement.