"As we get into 2014, we'll see even more of that, especially once the health care bill" is fully understood, he adds.

Texas is one of the top five states for highway and bridge construction so far in 2013, MHC's outlook says. But future work will be limited by constraints to the Texas Dept. of Transportation's budget.

According to TxDOT's August 2013 forecast for its letting program for 2014, the agency will let $5.55 billion in projects, up from 2013's $5.08 billion. But for 2015, it's $3.6 billion, then $2.57 billion in 2016.

"Unless additional funds become available, TxDOT's transportation program will remain constrained," says Marc Williams, TxDOT's director of planning.

For now, work will certainly continue.

"A couple examples of large-scale improvements to the Texas transportation system projected to be awarded/let in 2014 include the State Highway 183 managed lanes Comprehensive Development Agreement in the Metroplex area, which has an estimated capital cost of $1.3 billion and State Highway 71 Design-Build project in the Austin area, which has an estimated capital cost of $141 million," Williams notes.

Louisiana Advances

Louisiana is expected to see robust construction activity in 2014 and 2015.

A recent report, "Louisiana Economic Outlook: 2014 and 2015" out of the Louisiana State University, projects that eight of the state's metro areas will experience healthy job gains with significant construction activity in the southern part of the state.

"We think with the industrial expansion that's coming that we're going to see a lot of spin-off work in the infrastructure area, both in highways and in buildings," notes Ken Naquin, CEO of Louisiana AGC.

The city of Baton Rouge has $1 billion left on its sewer rehab program and there's still a lot of work in New Orleans post-Katrina, Naquin says.