Obama and the Democratic Congress delivered a stimulus bill in 2009 that was largely "shovel-ready" infrastructure spending. Because of that, it was attacked by the GOP, who then took over Congress and has proceeded to underfund infrastructure as a means of weakening unions. And of course they're now flying an "America First" flag and wondering why things aren't better.
The power of companies in the political process is easy to overstate. Political movements are an industry unto themselves and sometimes easily overwhelm corporate priorities. The military as a cultural force in America politics is very powerful... military contractors essentially surf this wave. They didn't create it; they are far too stupid for that. It was created by veterans and politicians and the consulting ecosystem that supports them. It is in some respects the pendulum still swinging back from the darkest days of the post-Vietnam War period, when people would spit on vets and call them "baby killers."
At this point in time, construction workers--and especially unionized construction workers--are not nearly as strong a cultural force, so infrastructure companies have a much smaller wave to surf.
That could be changing with Trump, but who knows what is real with that guy. He is all talk on a large number of subjects... he has done what he said he would in trade and immigration, but not even close in healthcare or infrastructure. Ironically for all his talk of America First, Trump's personal attention is focused almost exclusively outward, at allies, trading partners, and immigrants.