Industry developments

Pavement Market Watch

The few U.S. asphalt and paving industry developments each week that should change a decision: plant sales and closures, binder and fuel prices, road funding, and rules that affect pavement and sitework jobs. Each one separates what is confirmed from what we think it means, names its original source, and links to the plants, contractors and tools on the directory that it affects.

Last updated November 10, 2026

Lead developmentBinder, fuel & material pricesIn effect

U.S. Diesel Drops 16.5 Cents but Remains Above $6 a Gallon

Event: November 9, 2026
Reported: November 10, 2026
Where: United States · West Coast · California

Confirmed development

The national average price for on-highway diesel declined 16.5 cents to $6.127 per gallon on November 9, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite the weekly decline, diesel remained $2.290 per gallon higher than one year earlier. Regional averages included $5.920 on the East Coast, $6.201 in the Midwest, $6.206 in the Rocky Mountain region and $7.110 on the West Coast. California remained the country’s highest reported market at $7.897 per gallon.

Why it matters

The weekly decline provides some relief, but diesel remains high enough to materially affect asphalt hauling, equipment mobilization and delivered material costs. Regional differences are still too large for a single national fuel assumption to produce dependable paving-cost estimates. Contractors should continue using dated fuel assumptions, round-trip haul times and quote-expiration language. TPD should update Haul Planner and cost-calculator references while preserving the price date and selected region.

Related tool assumptions updatedNational diesel average declined 16.5 centsDiesel remains $2.290 above its year-ago levelCalifornia diesel remains near $8 per gallonRegional hauling-cost exposure remains highly unevenAsphalt Paving ContractorsAsphalt Maintenance ContractorsDrainage & Grading ContractorsAsphalt Repair ContractorsSitework & Excavation Contractors

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Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (opens in a new tab) · Also: EIA Daily Energy Prices · Last verified November 10, 2026

Latest developments

Funding & public programsAnnounced

Federal Highway Programs Face December 11 Funding Deadline

Event: November 9, 2026
Reported: November 9, 2026
Where: United States

Confirmed development

Congress returned to Washington on November 9 with federal surface-transportation programs operating under a temporary extension that expires December 11, 2026. FHWA has apportioned approximately $11.21 billion for federal-aid highway programs during the October 1–December 11 extension period. The temporary authority covers programs including the National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program and National Highway Freight Program. Congress must approve another extension or longer-term legislation to prevent a lapse after December 11.

Why it matters

State DOTs and public agencies depend on predictable federal authorization when scheduling road, bridge, safety and resurfacing work. Continued uncertainty could delay bidding or planning for projects involving asphalt paving, pavement markings, ADA improvements, concrete, drainage and sitework. Contractors should not assume that currently awarded projects will stop, but they should monitor agency bid schedules and funding notices. TPD should track enacted legislation before changing geographic priorities or describing proposed funding reductions as final.

Federal highway authorization expires December 112026Public-project bid schedules may face increased uncertaintyLong-term funding levels have not been finalizedAsphalt Paving ContractorsStriping & Pavement Marking ContractorsConcrete Sitework ContractorsADA & Accessibility ContractorsDrainage & Grading ContractorsPavement Preservation ContractorsSitework & Excavation Contractors

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Source: National Asphalt Pavement Association (opens in a new tab) · Also: FHWA funding apportionment, FHWA obligation limitation · Last verified November 10, 2026

Plant ownership & dealsCompleted

Construction Partners Acquires Piedmont Paving and Newnan Asphalt Plant

Event: November 4, 2026
Reported: November 4, 2026
Where: Georgia · Metro Atlanta · West-Central Georgia · Interstate 85 Corridor

Confirmed development

Construction Partners completed its acquisition of Piedmont Paving on November 4, 2026. The Newnan, Georgia-based company performs site development and asphalt paving for public and private projects in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The acquired operation includes a hot-mix asphalt plant and more than 110 employees. Construction Partners placed the operation within its Georgia platform company, The Scruggs Company. Sunbelt Asphalt subsequently announced that the Piedmont Paving team will operate under the Sunbelt Asphalt name while continuing to serve the west-central Georgia market.

Why it matters

The acquisition expands Construction Partners’ asphalt-production and sitework presence along the Interstate 85 corridor between Atlanta and Columbus. Contractors and asphalt buyers should verify whether the Newnan plant’s sales contacts, dispatch procedures, available mixes, hours or outside-customer policy change during the transition. For TPD, the transaction requires an updated ownership and operating-brand relationship while preserving Piedmont Paving as a searchable former-name alias. The plant’s actual production address should be verified before a new plant record is published.

Plant ownership updatedPublic-sales status requires verificationPiedmont Paving operations rebranded as Sunbelt AsphaltNewnan plant production address requires verificationSalesdispatchhours and mix availability require verificationConstruction Partners expanded its west-central Georgia operating footprintAsphalt Paving ContractorsDrainage & Grading ContractorsSitework & Excavation Contractors

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Source: Construction Partners, Inc. (opens in a new tab) · Also: Sunbelt Asphalt, SEC filing · Last verified November 10, 2026