NAICS 237310 Quarterly Industry Report
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 237310Sector: Construction (23)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (NAICS 237310) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Federal Highway Administration[7], Bureau of Labor Statistics[10], and SBA size standards database[8]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, transportation construction analysts, and infrastructure investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the highway, street, and bridge construction industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (NAICS 237310) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the construction of highways (including elevated), streets, roads, airport runways, public sidewalks, or bridges per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Work performed includes new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included if primarily engaged in activities related to highway, street, and bridge construction such as guardrail installation, highway line painting, and culvert construction.
Roughly 13,444 firms employ 318,812 workers generating $124.3 billion in revenue with $22.8 billion in annual payroll per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data, making this the largest classification within the heavy and civil engineering construction subsector. State departments of transportation represent the primary public sector clients, with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law providing $110 billion in new federal highway funding over five years per Federal Highway Administration[7] program data. Granite Construction, Tutor Perini, and Flatiron Construction operate among the largest highway and bridge contractors. Lane Construction, Walsh Group, and regional paving and bridge firms maintain additional large-scale operations.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], the size standard is $45 million in average annual receipts. Federal Highway Administration standards and AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) design guidelines govern highway and bridge design. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) establishes traffic control standards for highway construction work zones. OSHA[9] construction safety standards apply to all highway job sites, with work zone traffic safety representing an additional hazard specific to highway construction. Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to all federally funded highway and bridge projects. ADA accessibility requirements govern sidewalk, curb ramp, and pedestrian facility construction. Buy America provisions require domestic steel and iron for federally funded highway and bridge projects.
What's Included in This Industry
- Highway and interstate new construction and widening
- Street and local road paving and reconstruction
- Bridge construction, rehabilitation, and replacement
- Airport runway and taxiway construction
- Public sidewalk and pedestrian facility construction
- Highway guardrail and barrier installation
- Pavement marking and highway striping
- Culvert, storm drain, and drainage structure construction
- Highway resurfacing and overlay programs
- Work zone traffic control and temporary signage
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Construction | 23 |
| Subsector | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237 |
| Industry Group | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 2373 |
| NAICS Industry | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 23731 |
| National Industry | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 237310 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 237110 | Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction | Water and Sewer Line Construction coordinates underground utility work with highway projects, with road construction frequently requiring water main relocation, storm sewer installation, and utility conflict resolution before pavement construction can proceed |
| 237130 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | Power and Communication Line Construction relocates overhead and underground utilities affected by highway widening and bridge replacement, with utility relocation scope often preceding road construction activities and requiring coordination between transportation and utility construction schedules |
| 237210 | Land Subdivision | Land Subdivision constructs internal street networks that connect to the public highway system, with subdivision road design meeting county or municipal standards for pavement section, curb profile, and intersection geometry before acceptance into the public road maintenance system |
| 327320 | Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing | Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing supplies the concrete for bridge decks, pavement, curbs, and drainage structures that highway projects consume in large volumes, with batch plant proximity to construction sites directly affecting concrete delivery logistics and pour scheduling on highway projects |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 8.7% | 798 |
| 2 | California | 7.9% | 731 |
| 3 | Florida | 5.2% | 479 |
| 4 | New York | 4.4% | 402 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 3.9% | 362 |
| 6 | Illinois | 3.9% | 362 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 3.5% | 321 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3.5% | 318 |
| 9 | Ohio | 3.2% | 298 |
| 10 | New Jersey | 3.0% | 276 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
800
Total SBA Loans
$526.1M
Total Loan Volume
$658K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.01%
Average Interest Rate
13,840
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (NAICS 237310) has a size standard of $45 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[11] support equipment acquisition, bonding capacity, and business expansion for qualifying highway and bridge construction firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Bank of the Lake | 16 | $44.1M | $2.8M |
| 2 | Alerus Financial, National Association | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | Bank of San Francisco | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 4 | Independent Bank | 32 | $38.5M | $1.2M |
| 5 | Renasant Bank | 16 | $34.6M | $2.2M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for road and bridge construction?
NAICS 237310 covers highway, street, and bridge construction including roads, airport runways, sidewalks, guardrails, and pavement marking per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard for highway construction?
The SBA size standard[8] is $45 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the highway construction industry?
Roughly 13,444 firms employ 318,812 workers generating $124.3 billion in revenue per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data, making this the largest classification within the heavy and civil engineering construction subsector.
How much federal highway funding did the Infrastructure Law provide?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $110 billion in new federal highway funding over five years per Federal Highway Administration[7] program data, representing the largest federal investment in roads and bridges since the creation of the Interstate Highway System.
What design standards govern highway construction?
FHWA[7] standards and AASHTO design guidelines govern highway and bridge design, with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices establishing work zone traffic control standards and state DOT supplemental specifications adding jurisdiction-specific construction requirements.
Do prevailing wages apply to highway construction?
Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to all federally funded highway and bridge projects per Department of Labor[14] regulations, with wage determinations setting minimum pay rates for each craft classification working on federal-aid highway construction contracts.
What are Buy America requirements?
Buy America provisions require domestic steel and iron for federally funded highway and bridge projects per FHWA[7] procurement regulations, with manufactured products including structural steel, reinforcing bars, and bridge components subject to domestic sourcing requirements.
Who are the largest highway contractors?
Granite Construction, Tutor Perini, and Flatiron Construction rank among the largest highway and bridge contractors per industry data, with Lane Construction, Walsh Group, and regional heavy civil firms maintaining additional large-scale transportation construction operations across multiple states.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]Federal Highway Administration fhwa.dot.gov
- [8]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [9]OSHA osha.gov
- [10]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [11]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
- [14]Department of Labor dol.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.