Highway Construction Under Davis-Bacon

Roads, streets, alleys, parking lots, and street-level transportation infrastructure.

Quick Answer

Davis-Bacon "highway" rates apply to construction, alteration, or repair of roads, streets, highways, runways, and related transportation surfaces.

✓ Typically classified as Highway Construction

  • Roads, streets, highways, expressways
  • Airport runways and taxiways
  • Parking lots and pads
  • Bus terminals (paved areas)
  • Concrete or asphalt overlays and resurfacing
  • Curb and gutter, sidewalks
  • Traffic-signal and signage installation
  • Highway bridges and overpasses
  • Storm drainage incidental to a road

✗ Usually classified differently

  • Rail lines and rail-yard work (→ Heavy)
  • Tunnels (→ Heavy)
  • Standalone signal towers, control buildings (→ Building)
  • Sewer and water lines not incidental to roadwork (→ Heavy)

Edge cases & how to decide

Bridges are highway when they carry a road; they shift to Heavy when they carry rail or are part of a larger transportation system (e.g., a swing bridge for shipping). A parking lot or paved area incidental to a building project usually follows the building WD; if it is the primary scope (e.g., a large standalone parking facility), Highway typically applies.

Typical trades on Highway Construction WDs

Power equipment operators, truck drivers, laborers, ironworkers (structural and reinforcing), carpenters (formwork), cement masons, asphalt workers, traffic-control personnel.

Find a Highway wage determination

Highway WDs are published per county. Browse by state to find rates for your project location.

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