US$5 billion for US bridges

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is making US$5 billion available to repair or replace 13 large bridges. This package of Large Bridge Project Grants is being made available through president Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program.

The funding will pay for the reconstruction and repair of 13 important bridge projects in 16 states. These structures serve as critical corridors for freight travel. The work will boost capacity as well as address important safety issues and make the bridges more resilient to extreme weather.

“For too long America let bridges fall into disrepair, which left people less safe, disrupted our supply chains, and cost people time and money—but now the Biden-Harris Administration is changing that with the biggest investment in our bridges since the Eisenhower era,” said US Department of Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. “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 Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “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.”

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 I-5 over the Columbia River. The modern, seismically resilient, and multimodal replacement bridges will provide safe and accessible options for driving, walking, biking, rolling, and riding transit.

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. This project was also awarded a $372 million Mega grant earlier this year.

The Alabama Department of Transportation will receive $550 million for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Replacement and Bayway Multimodal Project in Mobile, Alabama to improve safety, reliability, and mobility for residents in the project area. The improved bridge will support local small businesses and the national economy through a more efficient movement of goods along Interstate 10, a critical corridor for the country.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $500 million for the I-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 bridge is the major cross-river connection, linking Pennsylvania’s capital region with Baltimore.

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 I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River. This is a nationally significant corridor for commerce and serves as a critical connector for residents, workers, and freight movement between Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The new structure will add capacity.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will receive $251 million for the I-95 15: Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Economy Project in Providence, Rhode Island, to improve the condition of 15 bridges critical to the local economy.