In 2026, New York State will embark on its biggest road resurfacing in years, as the state's Department of Transportation has earmarked about $600 million in financing for the project. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the paving effort would not be possible without the $800 million identified in the most recent state budget that was used to supplement the last two years of NYSDOT’s five-year capital program of $34.3 billion, which is the largest program the agency has ever had.

The additional funding will create approximately 180-185 new pavement renewal projects beyond those already included in the core capital program, for a total of over 250 resurfacing projects planned for 2026 and over 4,000 lane-miles to be resurfaced statewide. 

Hochul made these statements at a press conference in Latham and said this additional funding would allow projects to remain on schedule while addressing the dramatic increase in the costs of asphalt, concrete, and steel driven by inflation and the numerous potholes and damaged pavements that drivers observe and encounter while driving.

Resurfacing work in 2026 covers each part of the state from western New York (the Finger Lakes) to the Capital Region through to Long Island, New York City (NYC), and the rest of New York. According to documentation from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), regional reports show more than 80 million dollars' worth of construction in NYC, while the single largest regional allocation will be approximately 120 million dollars for the Mid-Hudson Region.

According to state and local officials, the resurfacing program will improve safety for drivers and increase the lifespan of the road surface. The resurfacing program is part of an overall strategy to enhance and upgrade freight shipments for commercial and commuter traffic.

In addition to the resurfacing work in 2026, New York State has two additional significant transportation capital investments in progress, including the TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) program ($1.9 billion loan from the US Department of Transportation) to rebuild the aging Midtown Bus Terminal in Manhattan and a proposed $1 billion highway construction project in Buffalo that will reconfigure the Kensington Expressway. Combined, these projects represent a significant investment in the future of transportation in New York State and the State's continued commitment to address a long history of neglected, deferred maintenance of thousands of miles of roadways.