U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project awards through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) competitive Bridge Investment Program.
The grants will fund the reconstruction, repair, and restoration of 13 bridges in 16 states. These projects will also address safety issues and make the bridges more resilient to extreme weather.
The grants have been increased from Fiscal Year 2022, in which the Bridge Investment Program invested $2.4 billion in the planning and construction of 37 bridges in 29 states across the country.
“For too long America let bridges fall into disrepair, which left people less safe, disrupted our supply chains, and cost people time and money,” said Buttigieg in a press release announcing the funding. “There are currently about 3,000 fewer bridges in poor condition than when our administration began, and today we are proud to announce funding to repair or replace 13 of America's largest and economically significant bridges.”
“Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment Program, we are reinvesting in our infrastructure and ensuring vital connections for Americans who need to get to a job, a class, or a doctor,” said Shailen Bhatt, Federal Highway Administrator, in the press release. “These grants are helping to advance critical bridge projects across the nation that will improve overall quality of life and ensure this country’s infrastructure works for everyone.”
Below are some of the 13 Large Bridge Project Grants awarded in this round:
- The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $1.4 billion for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, to replace two aging vertical lift bridges that carry Interstate 5 over the Columbia River.
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will receive $993 million for the Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to replace the bridge, which experiences high crash rates and congestion, and improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and goods over the Canal.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $500 million for the Interstate 83 South Bridge Replacement Project in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to replace a bridge originally built in 1960, and widened in 1982, that carries more than 125,000 vehicles per day over the Susquehanna River.
- The Tennessee Department of Transportation will receive $394 million for the America’s River Crossing Project in Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas to replace the 75-year-old Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River.
- The West Virginia Department of Transportation will receive $88 million for the Market Street Bridge Replacement Project in East Steubenville, West Virginia and Steubenville, Ohio, to replace a historic bridge built in 1904.
The Large Bridge Project Grants under the Bridge Investment Program are available for bridges with total eligible project costs over $100 million, with minimum grant awards of $50 million and a maximum award of 50% of the total eligible project costs. Priority consideration is given to projects ready to proceed to construction.
The complete list of awarded projects can be found on USDOT’s website.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
