Davis-Bacon on Highway and Transportation Projects
May 5, 2026
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded projects — including interstate highways, bridges, and transit projects — are subject to Davis-Bacon under the Federal-Aid Highway Act, one of more than 60 Davis-Bacon Related Acts (DBRA).
Highway WD vs. Building WD
Highway projects use the highway construction wage determination for the project county. This is a separate WD from building construction — rates for the same trade (e.g., laborer, equipment operator) may differ between construction types.
Multi-County Projects
Highway projects often span multiple counties. The applicable WD for each segment of work is the WD for the county in which that work is performed. Payroll must track work locations to apply the correct rates.