Texas DOT Backlog Report - July 2026
Before the Next Letting, $19.17B Is Already on the Books
Every new TxDOT letting enters a market that already has substantial active work in progress. TxDOT's current workload reveals a considerable active backlog, not evenly distributed across districts. The statewide active backlog stands at $19.17 billion, tied to 3,405 active projects across 25 districts.
Active backlog represents the remaining value linked to ongoing projects, while change orders capture value added to contracts after award. Currently, the Dallas District has the largest active backlog at $4.71 billion, whereas the Fort Worth District has the highest change order percentage at 21.1%. These districts illustrate contrasting aspects within the overall market dynamics, emphasizing the need to examine both district totals and individual active projects. The current active market reflects significant irregularities in workload concentration and project distribution.
Interactive District View
The interactive district view shows how active backlog and change orders are distributed across Texas. One view highlights where remaining active backlog is concentrated, while the other view reveals where approved change orders are most prominent. Together, they highlight different segments of the active market. Dallas stands out in the backlog view, and Fort Worth leads in change orders, illustrating diverse market characteristics.
Dallas Is Carrying the Largest Remaining Workload
Dallas holds the largest active backlog, totaling $4.71 billion across 298 active projects. This contrasts with Austin and Houston, the second and third largest districts, which have active backlogs of $2.23 billion and $2.14 billion, respectively, but each carries a higher project count—156 and 384 projects. While Fort Worth has a significant backlog of $1.12 billion, its standout metric is its change order percentage at 21.1%, reflecting substantial contract adjustments post-award. The distribution of project numbers and backlog values highlights that project count alone does not fully explain the concentration of remaining dollars.
| Rank | District | Active backlog | Projects | Change order % | Change orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DALLAS | $4.71B | 298 | 1.6% | $129.76M |
| 2 | AUSTIN | $2.23B | 156 | 4.7% | $211.23M |
| 3 | HOUSTON | $2.14B | 384 | 7.8% | $481.23M |
| 4 | SAN ANTONIO | $1.47B | 186 | 3.8% | $208.46M |
| 5 | FORT WORTH | $1.12B | 186 | 21.1% | $626.10M |
| 6 | BRYAN | $881.73M | 159 | 5.9% | $88.31M |
| 7 | BEAUMONT | $721.28M | 140 | 6.2% | $106.14M |
| 8 | PHARR | $680.99M | 122 | 5.1% | $63.97M |
| 9 | YOAKUM | $590.54M | 149 | 2.5% | $50.98M |
| 10 | EL PASO | $555.92M | 108 | 12.0% | $173.05M |
| 11 | CORPUS CHRISTI | $535.88M | 162 | 4.2% | $50.37M |
| 12 | AMARILLO | $398.20M | 88 | 1.6% | $16.64M |
| 13 | PARIS | $391.11M | 158 | 6.0% | $79.04M |
| 14 | LAREDO | $387.25M | 88 | 3.3% | $27.21M |
| 15 | TYLER | $372.94M | 163 | 6.9% | $63.81M |
| 16 | ODESSA | $370.08M | 153 | 6.0% | $72.42M |
| 17 | WICHITA FALLS | $336.73M | 82 | 1.4% | $13.37M |
| 18 | WACO | $295.75M | 98 | 3.1% | $23.30M |
| 19 | ATLANTA | $205.22M | 86 | 6.4% | $37.70M |
| 20 | LUFKIN | $181.91M | 79 | 2.6% | $18.89M |
| 21 | LUBBOCK | $180.31M | 79 | 3.7% | $25.34M |
| 22 | ABILENE | $139.29M | 63 | 2.7% | $9.04M |
| 23 | BROWNWOOD | $99.97M | 110 | 6.4% | $18.22M |
| 24 | SAN ANGELO | $87.51M | 68 | 7.6% | $23.94M |
| 25 | CHILDRESS | $83.88M | 40 | 8.5% | $15.69M |
Change Orders Add a Second View
The statewide change order percentage is currently 5.7%, indicating the extent to which contract values have grown post-award. Fort Worth notably leads with a change order percentage of 21.1%, significantly higher than other districts. It also has the highest total for approved change orders at $626.10 million. Austin and Houston follow in change order activity, with percentages of 4.7% and 7.8%, respectively. The disparity in change order percentages across districts reveals variances in contract management and execution, underscoring that high change orders are not uniformly spread among the largest backlogs.
Notable Active Projects
Examining individual active projects shows where significant backlog values and change orders are situated. The largest active backlog project is in Dallas, CCSJ 2374-01-137, with a backlog of $1.71 billion, reflecting the district's overall leading position. In terms of change orders, CCSJ 0008-13-125 in Fort Worth has received $451.41 million in change orders against a backlog of $752.82 million, marking it as a critical project. The interplay of high active backlog and significant change orders emphasizes the diverse profiles within the TxDOT landscape.
The table below shows the largest active projects by remaining backlog.
| CCSJ | Project | District | Active backlog | Change orders | Change order % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2374-01-137 | CCSJ 2374-01-137 (project NH 1902(389)) | DALLAS | $1.71B | $0 | 0.0% |
| 0008-13-125 | CCSJ 0008-13-125 (project F 2022(675)) | FORT WORTH | $752.82M | $451.41M | 28.4% |
| 0009-11-254 | CCSJ 0009-11-254 (project F 2025(365)) | DALLAS | $749.58M | $3.42M | 0.4% |
| 0049-12-110 | CCSJ 0049-12-110 (project F 2025(274)) | BRYAN | $535.75M | $2.87M | 0.4% |
| 0015-13-428 | CCSJ 0015-13-428 (project F 2024(833)) | AUSTIN | $528.87M | $753,983 | 0.1% |
Projects like CCSJ 0008-13-125 in Fort Worth highlight the potential for considerable financial impacts due to change orders.
What the Current Active Market Looks Like
Currently, the active TxDOT market displays a statewide backlog of $19.17 billion, tied to 3,405 active projects. Dallas leads with the largest backlog, while Fort Worth commands the highest change order percentage. Notable contrasts exist, such as the project count and backlog concentration in districts like Austin and Houston. These dynamics illustrate a multifaceted market, with varying project profiles contributing to the overall landscape.
