# WSP CEO Alexandre L'Heureux Sees Buoyant Infrastructure Demand Despite Project Delays > WSP Global's CEO says U.S. infrastructure demand remains strong despite longer waits between award and work, as the firm's backlog reaches a record. - Published: 2026-11-06T20:19:29+00:00 - Section: Earnings & Results - Author: News Desk - URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-06/wsp-global-record-backlog-infrastructure-power - Source: [Yahoo](https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/wsp-hits-record-backlog-remains-192318038.html) ## Key takeaways - WSP CEO Alexandre L'Heureux said the U.S. infrastructure market is buoyant and that the firm has seen backlog growth in the U.S. - L'Heureux attributed longer gaps between project award, funding authorization and start of work to federal funding reviews and permitting reform. - American Electric Power picked WSP as a delivery partner for projects in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. WSP Global CEO Alexandre L'Heureux told analysts on the firm's third quarter earnings call that U.S. infrastructure demand remains strong even as project start dates slip, and the company reported a record backlog. [Yahoo](https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/wsp-hits-record-backlog-remains-192318038.html) published the Construction Dive report on November 6, 2026. ## WSP's Record Backlog and the Pace of U.S. Work [WSP Global](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002c3e/wsp-global) is a Canada-headquartered engineering and professional services firm with 72,000-83,000 professionals across more than 40 countries, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). L'Heureux said the issue is not demand but timing: "Since our second quarter results, we have longer timeframes between project award, funding authorization and the start of work" in the public sector. He attributed the delays to federal funding reviews by the Government Accountability Office and permitting reform. "Look, since the administration was elected in late '24, as you've seen and witnessed, there's been a lot of changes in priorities by this administration, certainly in the infrastructure spend," L'Heureux said. He added that WSP would keep monitoring client and funding authorizations along with developments from the midterm elections, which he said put Democrats in control of both chambers of Congress. On the market itself, L'Heureux was direct: "I think it's a buoyant market. The demand is there. More importantly, the needs are there, and we have seen backlog growth in the U.S. market." Asked about Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding running to December 11, he said: "I think December 11 will get extended for the new Congress to review what they intend to do and the negotiation they intend to have with the president." ## American Electric Power Picks WSP for Transmission Work L'Heureux pointed to [American Electric Power](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000n4q/american-electric-power), which selected WSP as a delivery partner for projects in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. American Electric Power raised its quarterly dividend to $0.97, with the annual payout covering 59% of its 2026 earnings guidance, 247wallst reported on November 5, 2026. L'Heureux also cited [TRC Companies](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0005w7n/trc-companies), which WSP agreed to buy in 2025 for $3.3 billion in cash; TRC's power and energy market posted double-digit net revenue growth in the first nine months of 2026 compared with before the acquisition, per the firm. ## WSP's Power Platform and Funding Record WSP priced a $1.5 billion private offering of senior unsecured notes in March 2026, split between $650 million due 2031 at 5.039% and $850 million due 2036 at 5.714%, with proceeds primarily to repay credit facility borrowings tied to the TRC acquisition, according to akta.pro funding records. The same records list full-year 2025 revenue of $18.29 billion, up 13.1% year over year, and 2026 full-year net revenue guidance of $16.0-$17.0 billion. ## WSP's Earlier Moves in Power and M&A In September 2026, WSP said it was expanding its power and energy platform to capture grid and data-center demand, citing a record CAD 20 billion backlog and CAD 6 billion invested, Yahoo reported. That month WSP also withdrew its proposed offer for Arcadis N.V. under Dutch takeover bid rules, Financial Post reported. In September 2026, WSP acquired Hulley & Kirkwood, a 122-strong Glasgow building services consultancy founded in 1953, Insidermedia reported. ## What Comes Next for WSP L'Heureux said he expects the December 11 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding date to be extended for the new Congress to review. ## Companies in this story - [WSP Global company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002c3e/wsp-global) · website: https://www.wsp.com - [American Electric Power company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000n4q/american-electric-power) · website: http://aep.com - [TRC Companies company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0005w7n/trc-companies) · website: https://www.trccompanies.com --- News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt