Largest New York state DOT paving investment in history to take place in 2026

Paving investment leverages $800 million secured in current state budget to reinforce NYSDOT’s capital plan; nearly 2,150 lane miles to be paved in every region of state in addition to department’s core road and bridge program; view list of paving projects broken down by region here 

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul 

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an unprecedented investment to renew dozens of vital state roadways across New York state during the 2026 construction season. Leveraging the $800 million she secured in the most recent state budget to augment the final two years of its five-year, $34.3 billion capital plan, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will invest more than $600 million in over 180 paving projects across the state to be completed next year.

These projects, which total almost 2,150 lane miles, are in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT’s core programs and, taken together, represent the most ambitious annual road resurfacing agenda ever put forward by NYSDOT. This historic investment is part of Hochul’s commitment to improve public safety through critical investments in transportation infrastructure, enhancing quality of life for all New Yorkers. In 2022, Hochul secured full funding for NYSDOT’s 2022-27 capital plan, the largest in the agency’s history.

“As someone who has ridden on virtually every mile of every state road across New York, I know firsthand every curve and every pothole, and next year we will be making an unprecedented investment to improve state roads across New York,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers will be seeing crews out there like never before next year, rejuvenating highways, enhancing the safety of the traveling public, and laying a solid foundation for economic development across the Empire State.”

Under Hochul’s leadership, New York is investing in road and bridge infrastructure more than ever before in state history. The $34.3 billion, five-year capital plan, the largest in state Department of Transportation history, helps fulfill the governor’s vision for a modern transportation system that serves all New Yorkers. That plan was bolstered in the most recent state budget with an additional $800 million to augment NYSDOT’s purchasing power. Thanks to that funding commitment, and taking into account the Department of Transportation’s core paving program in its current capital plan, a total of over 250 pavement renewal projects across the state are planned for 2026, a nearly $1.2 billion investment that will resurface more than 4,000 lane miles.

NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Today’s historic announcement firmly demonstrates Gov. Hochul’s commitment to fundamentally investing in building back our roadway network to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Now, thanks to the governor’s unprecedented investment, we are putting that commitment into high gear with an historic paving agenda for 2026 that will provide easier travel on roads from one end of the state to the other. Infrastructure investments like these are foundational to the future of the New York that Gov. Hochul is building – a future that is affordable, safe and healthy for all residents.”

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Every New Yorker and visitor to our state who drives our roads understands how critical it is to maintain them, especially after the wear and tear of our winters. This record-breaking capital plan ensures that 2026 will be the biggest year of road paving in New York’s history, reaching more communities in every region of the state. Investing in our infrastructure strengthens safety, supports local economies, and improves quality of life. I’m proud that, under the Senate Democratic majority, we've secured historic funding to upkeep our infrastructure. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Gov. Hochul and my colleagues in the Assembly for their partnership in making this vision a reality.”