September 2024
From the Hoover Dam in Nevada to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the United States is home to some of the most ambitious megaprojects in history. Today, the country continues to push the boundaries with new, billion-dollar construction projects spanning multiple industries, including infrastructure, renewable energy, science attractions and more.
But when the pandemic sparked supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and economic uncertainty, these mega construction projects were put on temporary hold, causing serious delays and cost overruns. Fortunately, as the world rebounds from the height of the pandemic, we’re seeing many of these projects get back on track.
For instance, in the previous edition of this series, we spoke about the California High-Speed Rail program, which aims to connect San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento through a high-speed railway. Of course, a massive infrastructure project like that will take years before completion, so while we wait to see the results, let’s look at some new megaprojects to watch in 2024 and beyond.
6 Megaprojects Underway in the U.S.A.
Here are the top six megaprojects currently under construction in the United States:
1. Southeast Connector (Dallas-Fort Worth Area)
The Southeast Connector is a 16-mile-long infrastructure project with an estimated total cost of $1.6 billion, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (DoT).
With construction already in progress, the project aims to accomplish several objectives:
- Widen I-20 to 10 traffic lanes, from I-820 to U.S. Route 287.
- Widen I-820 to eight traffic lanes, from I-20 to Rosendale Street.
- Rebuild the interchanges between the freeways and U.S. Route 287.
Texas DoT hopes the Southeast Connector will improve travel safety and efficiency, ease traffic congestion and promote trade around the Fort Worth area. While it is the project with the lowest construction cost on our list, it still represents the largest transportation infrastructure investment in the history of the state’s Fort Worth district.
2. Gordie Howe International Bridge (Detroit, MI)
At over half a mile (853 meters) long, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America when it’s complete. Connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, this massive infrastructure project has an expected construction cost of $4.5 billion. The goal is to reduce congestion on the nearby Ambassador Bridge — especially for commercial trucks.
With six lanes for traffic and a nearly 12-foot-wide walkway for pedestrians, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will facilitate greater cross-border travel to accommodate the expected increase in traffic over the next few years. On either side of the U.S.-Canadian border, both countries plan on building some of the largest border facilities in North America to help streamline international travel.
3. American Legion Bridge Replacement (Bethesda, MD)
The New American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan is designed to address one of the nation’s most significant traffic bottlenecks, connecting Maryland and Virginia. The comprehensive infrastructure project now not only emphasizes the construction of a new American Legion Bridge but also incorporates an extensive array of highway improvements and multimodal transportation solutions along I-270, stretching from the bridge to broader sections of the interstate.
Updated project details reflect Maryland’s renewed commitment, led by Governor Wes Moore, to more inclusive transportation solutions.
The relief plan comprises the following phases:
- Phase 1 (South): The first stage focuses on replacing the American Legion Bridge. It includes the introduction of two new High Occupancy Toll (HOT) managed lanes on I-495 and extends HOT lanes on I-270. Significantly, this phase now also emphasizes adding multimodal improvements, such as pedestrian and bicycle paths, and enhancing public transit options, marking a shift from the project’s initial scope.
- Phase 2 (North): This phase is still in the preliminary stages, involving comprehensive transportation studies to inform future improvements. Given the project’s evolving nature, specific details about the second phase’s scope may be subject to updates based on ongoing studies and community feedback.
While the initial estimated construction cost was $6 billion, recent changes in project scope — including a stronger focus on multimodal transportation and the potential impacts of inflation and project adjustments — may necessitate a reevaluation of this figure.
4. Related Santa Clara (Santa Clara, CA)
Related Santa Clara is a new mixed-use development currently underway, covering 240 acres with a variety of commercial, residential and retail properties. As a public-private partnership between the City of Santa Clara and Related Companies, this project aims to transform the current space from a golf course into an innovative, entertaining destination for locals and visitors alike.
At an estimated $8 billion, Related Santa Clara will be the largest mixed-use private project in Silicon Valley. With plans to incorporate expansive public spaces and transit upgrades with the city’s existing transportation network, the development will facilitate easy travel for residents, employees and tourists, putting more money into the local economy.
The project encompasses 9.2 million square feet of mixed-use development, including a city center of commercial office space, retail/entertainment offerings including a globally inspired food market, 1,680 residential units, 700 hotel rooms and approximately 5 million square feet of corporate office space. Additionally, the development is set to feature new roadways and a freshly created 30-acre city park, enhancing the community’s liveability and environmental sustainability.
Construction began in mid-2023, aiming to establish a pedestrian-oriented “live, work, play” environment adjacent to Levi’s Stadium. This ambitious initiative seeks to not only enrich the local community but also set a benchmark for sustainable urban development, being a LEED-certified project that champions green building practices and energy efficiency.
5. Hudson Tunnel Project (New York City, NY)
The Hudson Tunnel Project is part of the long-awaited Gateway Program — a network of construction projects with the shared goal of repairing and replacing the century-old railway tunnels that run under the Hudson River. While there were plans to repair the tunnel and add capacity as of 2009, there was little action until 2012, when Hurricane Sandy caused significant flooding. As a result of the damage, workers are unable to make repairs until they build new tunnels.
While the U.S. DoT recently invested $292 million in the infrastructure project, it’s only a fraction of the $16 billion expected construction costs. However, the Gateway Program estimates the new and repaired tunnels will generate $19 billion in economic activity throughout construction while providing long-term resiliency against extreme climate events.
6. JFK Airport Expansion (New York City, NY)
The JFK Airport in New York City is undergoing a complete overhaul with a total cost of $18 billion, including 23 new gates for several terminal projects. Terminal 8 completed its modernization in 2022, while Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are expected to advance soon and complete construction by around 2030.
Last year, the $9.5 billion Terminal 1 project broke ground, and the airport has just recently celebrated the start of the third and final phase. Meanwhile, construction is set to begin on the $4.2 billion Terminal 6 project — a 1.2 million-square-foot area with 10 new gates. Together, these terminal transformations will help JFK Airport accommodate more airplanes and passengers while facilitating faster, more efficient travel.
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Mega Project
While this list of megaprojects covers some notable examples from around the U.S., it’s far from comprehensive. If your organization is planning a megaproject, Contruent is here to help.
Contruent is the premier provider of capital project management solutions, enabling organizations to maximize efficiency, expand visibility, optimize spend and performance, and much more. We work across nearly every industry, from oil and gas, energy and mining to rail, infrastructure and construction. As an out-of-the-box software solution, Contruent Enterprise comes project-ready, so you can achieve better results even faster.
Want to see how Contruent can help you deliver projects on time and on budget? Request a demo today.