FHA announces $5B to repair large bridges across the country

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHA) announced it had awarded more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project funds.

The awards, part of the Bridge Investment Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will fund the reconstruction, repair and restoration of 13 major bridges in 16 states across the country. The projects will not only connect communities to jobs and resources, officials said, but also address important safety issues while making the ridges 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,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “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.”

Among the awards were $1.4 billion for the Oregon Department of Transportation to fund the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program connecting Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington that will replace two aging vertical lift bridges over the Columbia River. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will receive $394 million for the America’s River Crossing Project in Memphis, Tennessee that will replace the 75-year-old bridge over the Mississippi River to West Memphis, Arkansas. And the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will receive $251 million for the Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Economy Project in Providence, Rhode Island to improve 15 bridges throughout the city.

“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,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “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 Large Bridge Project Grants are for eligible projects with costs over $100 million. Minimum awards are $50 million and maximum awards are 50 percent of the total eligible project costs. Priority is given to projects ready to proceed with construction.

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