Highways Global Market Report 2026

A highway is a primary road that links towns or cities, known for its width and higher speed limits, contributing to reduced travel time.

The primary types of highways are road construction and maintenance, as well as highway construction and maintenance. Road construction and maintenance encompass activities involved in the building of roads, railroads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure related to road construction and upkeep, which may include grading or excavation. The various components encompass hardware, software, and services, with product technologies including smart traffic management systems, smart transport management systems, monitoring systems, and communication systems.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the highways market by increasing the cost of imported construction machinery, raw materials, and smart monitoring hardware, resulting in higher project expenses and delays across road and highway construction and maintenance segments. Regions relying heavily on imported steel, machinery, and electronic componentsparticularly Asia-Pacific and parts of Europeare experiencing the greatest disruptions. However, tariffs are also encouraging domestic manufacturing, localized sourcing, and investment in regional infrastructure capabilities, which may support long-term resilience and cost stability for the sector.

The highways market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides highways market statistics, including highways industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a highways market share, detailed highways market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the highways industry. This highways market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The highways market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $430.53 billion in 2025 to $451.4 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in national infrastructure programs, increasing vehicle traffic requiring new roads, early adoption of mechanized construction equipment, rising need for routine maintenance activities, expansion of urbanization driving highway connectivity.

The highways market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $555.88 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investment in smart mobility infrastructure, growing demand for predictive maintenance solutions, rising focus on climate-resilient road designs, adoption of AI-enabled monitoring systems, expansion of large-scale highway modernization initiatives. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for highway expansion projects, increased focus on long-term asset maintenance, growing adoption of advanced construction materials, expansion of emergency repair capabilities, greater use of specialized highway maintenance equipment.

The highway market is expected to witness growth due to increasing urbanization. Urbanization, driven by economic development and industrialization, transforms rural areas into urban centers. The development of highways is essential for connecting these urban areas, fostering economic growth, and improving overall accessibility. According to the World Bank Group, over half of the global population currently resides in urban regions, and by 2045, the urban population is projected to reach 6 billion, marking a 1.5 times increase. The ongoing trend of urbanization is a significant driver for the highways market.

Major companies in the highways market are concentrating on creating innovative solutions, such as GIS-based highway monitoring software, to incorporate advanced technologies for real-time traffic management, enhanced safety, and minimized environmental impact. GIS-based highway monitoring software is specialized software that utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to gather, analyze, and visualize data pertaining to highway infrastructure and operations. For example, in September 2024, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introduced GIS-based software to oversee 100 toll plazas on national highways, with the objective of improving traffic flow and alleviating congestion. This advanced system allows for real-time monitoring of queue lengths, waiting times, and vehicle speeds, while also issuing congestion alerts and recommendations for lane management. The software facilitates extensive data sharing, which includes traffic conditions, weather updates, and local events, enabling proactive traffic management. Initially aimed at 100 toll plazas identified through user feedback, the initiative plans to expand further.

In June 2024, VINCI Construction, a construction engineering company based in France, acquired Newport Construction for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to enhance VINCI's public works and road construction capabilities in North America, particularly in the northeastern U.S. and Quebec, thereby increasing its footprint in the expanding mobility infrastructure market. Newport Construction operates as a heavy highway civil construction company in the U.S., focusing on serving federal, state, and local public clients.

Major companies operating in the highways market are Granite Construction Inc., Fujian Expressway Development Co. Ltd., Hunan Communication & Water Conservancy Group Ltd., Construction Partners Inc., Tutor Perini Corporation, Stanley Road Construction, Muscat Road Construction & Civil Works LLC, PNC Infratech Limited, New Road Construction Management, Kokosing Construction Company, Sanders Brothers Construction Company Inc., Rogers Group Inc., R.S. Audley Inc., Kiewit Corporation, The Lane Construction Corporation, Skanska USA, Fluor Corporation, AECOM Inc., Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Clark Construction Group LLC, PCL Construction Enterprises Inc., McCarthy Building Companies Inc., The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Swinerton Inc., Mortenson Constructions, DPR Construction, Gilbane Building Company, JE Dunn Construction, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, Sundt Construction Inc., Ryan Companies US Inc., The Boldt Company, Gray Construction Services Inc.

North America was the largest region in the highways market in 2025. The regions covered in the highways market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the highways market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The highways market includes revenues earned by entities by constructing and maintaining highways. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The highways market also includes sales of pothole patchers, hydro excavators, street sweepers, leaf vacuums, and highway monitoring devices and equipment used in providing highway construction services and maintenance. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Highways Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses highways market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for highways ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The highways market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Road Construction And Maintenance; Highway Construction And Maintenance
• 2) By Component: Hardware; Software; Service
• 3) By Product Technology: Smart Traffic Management Systems; Smart Transport Management Systems; Monitoring Systems; Communication System
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Road Construction And Maintenance: New Road Construction; Road Rehabilitation And Resurfacing; Routine Maintenance; Emergency Repairs; Road Expansion Projects
• 2) By Highway Construction And Maintenance: New Highway Construction; Highway Widening Projects; Bridge Construction And Maintenance; Interchange Development; Highway Rehabilitation And Repair
• Companies Mentioned: Granite Construction Inc.; Fujian Expressway Development Co. Ltd.; Hunan Communication & Water Conservancy Group Ltd.; Construction Partners Inc.; Tutor Perini Corporation; Stanley Road Construction; Muscat Road Construction & Civil Works LLC; PNC Infratech Limited; New Road Construction Management; Kokosing Construction Company; Sanders Brothers Construction Company Inc.; Rogers Group Inc.; R.S. Audley Inc.; Kiewit Corporation; The Lane Construction Corporation; Skanska USA; Fluor Corporation; AECOM Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; Clark Construction Group LLC; PCL Construction Enterprises Inc.; McCarthy Building Companies Inc.; The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company; Swinerton Inc.; Mortenson Constructions; DPR Construction; Gilbane Building Company; JE Dunn Construction; Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company; Sundt Construction Inc.; Ryan Companies US Inc.; The Boldt Company; Gray Construction Services Inc.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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