The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) plans to renovate or replace several bridges with funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
A unique provision of the IIJA bridge program allows states to spend at least 15% of the state’s total bridge allocation to off-system bridges, which may include city bridges or other spans not owned by WVDOT.
The IIJA bridge program allows 100 percent federal funding for certain off-system bridges, which typically require a 20 percent local match. Even for municipal bridges that would still require matching funds, the IIJA funding allows the WVDOT room to work with municipalities to structure the matching money, Wriston said.
WVDOT is working with the city of Huntington to use IIJA funding to renovate or replace eight municipally owned bridges within city limits. The spans include two bridges in Wilson Court, the Enslow Boulevard Bridge, Whitaker Boulevard Bridge, Beechwood Bridge, Harvey Road Bridge, Madison Avenue Bridge, and the 12th Street Bridge in Ritter Park.
Huntington city officials say this money will be a big tool in upgrading the cities infrastructure.
“Essentially, we are being able to accelerate that and get all the bridges done within a couple year time frame,” Huntington Public Works Director Mark Bates said.
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Source: WVDOT, WSAZ
