Pennsylvania’s September Iron Index is 45 (Soft). A Dauphin County bridge contract dominates Pennsylvania’s September 24 cycle; paving and site preparation complete the four-project mix.
One score summarizing project activity, demand, capacity, operating pressure, and near-term opportunity.
The September 24 public-record cycle totals $53.2 million across four contracts.
Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) diesel: $6.531/gallon, September 28.
Construction employment: 262,900 in September, preliminary.
For readers who want the detail behind the score, signals, regional outlook, and operating recommendations.
Executive read: Pennsylvania’s September Iron Index is 45 (Soft). A Dauphin County bridge contract dominates Pennsylvania’s September 24 cycle; paving and site preparation complete the four-project mix. The Iron Index is Iron Sheepdog’s proprietary market assessment. Contract values are not hauling budgets or guaranteed loads.
The public record lists a $39,250,000.00 contract amount and October 7 award date. Bid-tab items include bridge construction, bridge removal and piles. Confirm phase-specific material delivery, excavation and disposal needs.
Cumberland US 15 project 116119 lists $11,985,107.00, awarded October 6. Elk SR 321 project 123443 lists $1,894,894.00, also awarded October 6, with paving and culvert work. Chester project 82115 lists $90,430.00 for demolition and site preparation, awarded October 1.
Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) diesel was $6.531 per gallon for the week of September 28. This is a regional benchmark, not a Pennsylvania pump price. Include fuel adjustments, return mileage and waiting time when comparing route economics.
Seasonally adjusted Pennsylvania construction employment was 262,900 in September, a 0.5% decline from a year earlier. September is preliminary. Employment provides a capacity proxy, not a count of available trucks or drivers.
The September 24 cycle totals $53,220,431.00; bridge construction and demolition account for $39,340,430.00. Current bid-tab item extensions reconcile to the listed contract amounts. Historical coverage uses rank-one contract amounts on projects displaying an award date, not A+B bid totals. One historical project, 118069, has a $2,163,390.55 listed amount but no award date and remains outside coverage. This is a public-record basis, not independent verification of every executed historical contract.
Transportation, Heavy Civil, regional fuel and the employment-based capacity proxy are assessed. Project Pipeline and Broker Opportunity remain unavailable because comparable forward-project dollar coverage is not established. This inaugural report has no month-over-month Index trend.
Prepared October 28, 2026. Observations are anchored to September.
The Iron Index is Iron Sheepdog’s proprietary market assessment. Its derivation is proprietary and is not published. Scores are not forecasts or guarantees. Project values do not establish hauling revenue or guaranteed work.
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