America’s roads are in trouble. They’re old, worn out, and overwhelmed by today’s traffic. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimates that 43% of U.S. public roads are in poor or mediocre condition—a staggering figure for a country that prides itself on its infrastructure. But for Murillo Aquino de Carvalho, CEO of Pennsylvania-based MACINFRAROAD LLC, this challenge is also an opportunity.
Carvalho’s company is at the cutting edge of highway and urban pavement infrastructure, specializing in diagnostics that could transform how the U.S. maintains its roadways. “The importance of our specialized focus cannot be overstated,” Carvalho says. “We approach infrastructure not just as a technical challenge but as a vital component of national well-being and economic competitiveness.” In other words, MACINFRAROAD isn’t just in the business of fixing potholes—it’s in the business of future-proofing America’s roads, and by extension, its economy.
Founded on Carvalho’s decade-long experience as a civil engineer, MACINFRAROAD LLC has earned a reputation for its meticulous approach to pavement analysis. The company’s bread and butter is the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), a high-tech device that measures how pavement responds to a load. Essentially, it’s a tool that simulates the stress caused by vehicles driving on the road, allowing engineers to assess structural integrity with pinpoint accuracy. This data informs decisions about when and where maintenance is most urgently needed, helping cities and states avoid costly, inefficient repairs.
It’s a method that feels increasingly necessary as the U.S. faces a mounting infrastructure crisis. Many of the country’s roads were built decades ago and are simply not designed to handle the modern volume of cars, trucks, and buses that now roll over them daily. As traffic surges and heavy commercial vehicles become more common, road surfaces deteriorate at a faster pace, exacerbating an already serious problem. And when roads degrade, the costs go beyond simple repairs—drivers feel the pain, too. According to a 2020 report from TRIP, a national transportation research group, deteriorating roads cost U.S. drivers $130 billion annually in repairs and extra vehicle operating costs.
This is where MACINFRAROAD LLC steps in, armed with both technology and expertise. Carvalho’s firm has made a name for itself in optimizing infrastructure performance through precision diagnostics. “We’re not just focused on patching up problems,” he explains. “We’re focused on making sure the solutions we provide are sustainable and will keep the roads functioning properly for decades to come.”
That future focus is especially critical as climate change adds a new layer of complexity. U.S. roads are being pounded not just by traffic but by increasingly extreme weather. Heatwaves can cause roads to buckle, while intense storms and flooding can wash away entire sections of highway. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has already warned that the costs of maintaining the nation’s roads will balloon in the coming years unless more resilient materials and smarter construction methods are used.
MACINFRAROAD is positioning itself as a leader in tackling this problem. By combining precise pavement analysis with forward-thinking infrastructure solutions, the company is helping municipalities and states prepare for the new normal of extreme weather. In many cases, Carvalho’s team can recommend specific materials or construction techniques that offer better resistance to the kinds of stress that climate change will bring.
But there’s another element that makes MACINFRAROAD’s work so vital: the economic impact. Efficient, well-maintained roads are not just a matter of convenience—they’re an economic necessity. In 2021, the ASCE gave the overall U.S. road infrastructure a grade of “D,” a glaring reminder that the country’s transportation networks are in desperate need of an upgrade. Poorly maintained roads lead to higher transportation costs, slower delivery times, and increased wear and tear on vehicles—all of which affect the competitiveness of U.S. businesses.
Carvalho sees this economic dimension as central to his mission. “We believe that the work we do directly supports America’s standing in the global market,” he says. “If businesses can’t move goods efficiently, the entire economy suffers. We’re committed to ensuring that doesn’t happen.” By providing data-driven insights into which roads need the most urgent attention, MACINFRAROAD LLC helps public agencies prioritize spending and allocate resources more effectively. This, in turn, reduces long-term maintenance costs and improves transportation efficiency—benefits that ripple out to every sector of the economy.
Yet, even with the best diagnostics and cutting-edge tools, the U.S. faces another major challenge: a skilled labor shortage. As the baby boomer generation retires, the construction and infrastructure industries are grappling with a shortage of trained engineers and workers. This shortage puts added pressure on the firms that remain in the game. MACINFRAROAD is tackling this head-on by offering specialized, precision-driven services that help make the most of limited manpower. By focusing on smarter, more efficient diagnostics, Carvalho’s team can deliver impactful results without requiring massive workforces.
Looking forward, MACINFRAROAD’s role in the U.S. infrastructure landscape seems poised to grow. As traffic increases, weather becomes more extreme, and the demand for better roads intensifies, Carvalho’s company is positioned to lead the way with its blend of technology, expertise, and commitment to long-term solutions. “We’re not just here for quick fixes,” Carvalho emphasizes. “We’re here to make sure America’s infrastructure can meet the demands of the future.”
In an era when infrastructure conversations often center around billion-dollar projects and political gridlock, MACINFRAROAD LLC offers a refreshing approach: precision, practicality, and a clear-eyed focus on what the country’s roads need most. And under Murillo Aquino de Carvalho’s leadership, that approach might just help save America’s crumbling roads—before anyone notices they’re broken.