Top Video Interviews of 2025

The premise for Infrastructure Insider is simple: hop on a Zoom call with a guest, hit record, and there you go: a video interview that’s short, informative and, we hope, entertaining. We’re bringing you the Infrastructure Insider interviews of 2025, with conversations that take a closer look at how infrastructure dollars are showing up on the ground. 

From bridges and report cards to tourism and economic development, the series looks at progress, challenges and what’s ahead in 2026.

Bridge Construction Signals Early Impact of IIJA Spending

With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) at its midpoint, Roads & Bridges Senior Managing Editor Gavin Jenkins sat down with Maria Lehman to talk about where U.S. infrastructure stands today.

Lehman, Gutteridge Haskins & Davey’s U.S. infrastructure market leader and former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), said things are improving, even if the pace doesn’t always feel fast. Large projects, she added, take years to move from planning and design into construction.

That shift is now underway, with bridge construction and other transportation projects becoming more visible across the country, thanks to the IIJA. 

The conversation also touched on ongoing challenges, including supply chain pressures, labor shortages and the need for long-term thinking. IIJA is an important first step, but continued investment will be needed as work on bridges, ports, rail and airports moves forward.

What the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card Says About U.S. Roads and Bridges

Every four years, the ASCE releases its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which looks at the condition and performance of the nation’s roads and bridges. TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, provides data on roads and bridges for the report.

To break down the 2025 Report Card and what it shows, Jenkins spoke with Rocky Moretti, TRIP’s director of policy and research. They talked about how TRIP collects its data, how this year’s report compares with the previous one and what it says about the condition of roads and bridges across the country. 

The conversation also touched on how urban and rural roads and bridges are faring a few years into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and what still needs to happen to see lasting improvements.

As background, the 2025 report card shows that while the overall grade improved to a C, the highest yet, roads and bridges are still in only fair condition, with aging infrastructure, congestion and maintenance needs continuing to be issues.

Lt. Gov. Links Route 66 Improvements to Tourism, Economic Growth

In a conversation with Jenkins, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell discussed how infrastructure investment is shaping growth, tourism and the state’s long-term economy.

The talk centered on preparations for Route 66’s 100th anniversary in 2026, which Pinnell described as a chance to celebrate the road’s history while also strengthening the economy. He shared how Oklahoma is preserving the route and making upgrades to better serve travelers and local communities.

From there, the conversation expanded to how infrastructure connects to tourism, workforce growth and the state’s image. Roads, bridges and public spaces, he said, shape how states compete for visitors and new business.

With Route 66 drawing attention from around the world, Oklahoma is working to turn its history and new infrastructure into long-term gains.