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Aug 2026

2026 Civil Infrastructure Construction Index: Third Quarter

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Q3 2026 Civil Infrastructure Construction Index: Confidence Rebounds, Cost Pressure Builds

FMI’s quarterly index of heavy civil and infrastructure firms shows backlog and confidence recovering. 

FMI’s Civil Infrastructure Construction Index (CICI) tracks quarterly sentiment across backlog, cost, competition and outlook for heavy civil and infrastructure contractors. The Q3 2026 edition finds the index back above the neutral 50 line, driven by a sharp rebound in backlog and pipeline health, even as materials, labor costs and margins continue to tighten. Contractors also flagged leadership succession and bench readiness as growing concerns.

In This Report, You’ll Learn:

  • Why the index rebounded to 52.3, and which components carried it.
  • How backlog is refilling, and what the swing in book-to-burn says about the pipeline.
  • Why margins stay compressed even as demand improves, with roughly 80% of firms reporting tougher competition.
  • What separates firms with a ready leadership bench from those without.
  • How near-term, 12-month and three-year outlooks differ across highway and bridge, public and private utility, and other heavy civil segments.