Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced nearly $635 million for 22 small and medium-sized bridge projects in rural and urban areas across the country as part of the Bridge Investment Program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The BIL dedicates $40 billion over five years to tackle a backlog of bridge projects, which will improve safety and support economic competitiveness and America’s supply chains, restoring connections that are vital to commuters, emergency responders, truck drivers, and public transit riders.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, more than 11,000 bridges in communities across America are finally getting the repairs they’ve long needed with funding from our infrastructure law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With the awards we’re announcing today, another 22 major projects will move forward, making sure that people and goods can get where they need to go, safely and efficiently.”
The FHWA wants to connect communities, according to Kristin White, acting Federal Highway Administrator.
“This infrastructure is critical to safely get people to where they need to go and to support our nation’s economy by advancing efficient delivery of goods.”
To date, the Bridge Investment Program has invested $8.1 billion into 100 bridge projects in 44 states across the country, and an additional $21 billion in dedicated bridge formula funds – the full amount provided by BIL over 2022-2025 – has been distributed to states.
Below are a few of the Bridge Investment Program Fiscal Year 2024 projects:
- Alaska: $13,395,509 to the National Park Service to replace the Ghiglione Bridge, a seismically deficient bridge in Denali National Park and Preserve.
- Arizona: $27,507,200 to the Arizona Department of Transportation for the I-40 Window Rock and Lupton Traffic Interchange Enhancement project located in Apache County, Arizona, immediately west of the New Mexico border.
- Arkansas and Mississippi: $43,920,000 to the Arkansas Department of Transportation for the Helena Bridge Rehabilitation project.
- Colorado: $13,713,060 to the City of Pueblo for the Union Ave Bridge Replacement project.
- Iowa: $38,640,000 to Washington County for the Building Bridges Today Helping Feed America Tomorrow project that will remove and replace seven bridges in poor condition in six rural counties.
- Maine: $69,659,473 to the Maine Department of Transportation for the I-95 Accessibility Improvements Minimizing Heavy-Truck Impacts project that will replace six bridges carrying rural roads over Interstate 95 in Kennebec County, Maine.
- Maine: $63,016,563 to the Maine Department of Transportation for the I-395 Bridge Bundle project that will replace six damaged and degrading bridges along Interstate 395.
- Wyoming: $23 million to the National Park Service to preserve, protect, and extend the life of the historic Gardner River Bridge in Yellowstone National Park.
The full list of projects is available on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Enidnews.com
