AASHTO Journal - FHWA Awards $635M in Grants to 22 Bridge Projects

The Federal Highway Administration issued nearly $635 million in grants this week to 22 small and medium-sized bridge projects in both rural and urban areas of the country via the Bridge Investment Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA.

[Above photo by Arizona DOT]

The FHWA noted in a statement that, to date, more than 11,000 bridges are being rebuilt, repaired, or modernized thanks to the IIJA, with the Bridge Investment Program investing $8.1 billion into 100 bridge projects in 44 states across the country. The agency said that it has distributed an additional $21 billion in dedicated bridge formula funds to the states as well.

Nine of those 22 bridge projects are being overseen by state departments of transportation. They are:

The Arizona Department of Transportation received $27.5 million for the I-40 Window Rock and Lupton Traffic Interchange Enhancement project located in Apache County immediately west of the New Mexico border. The project replaces four I-40 bridges built in 1963 while incorporating safe and accessible pedestrian facilities.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation received nearly $44 million for the Helena Bridge Rehabilitation project; a structure that carries U.S. Route 49 across the Mississippi River between Helena, AR and Lula, MS.
The Maine Department of Transportation received two grants from this round of FHWA bridge program disbursements. The first, for nearly $70 million, supports the I-95 Accessibility Improvements Minimizing Heavy-Truck Impacts project that will replace six bridges carrying rural roads over I-95 in Kennebec County. The second, for more than $63 million, supports the I-395 Bridge Bundle project that will replace six damaged and degrading bridges along I-395.
The Michigan Department of Transportation received more than $34 million for the Michigan Urban Bridges Revitalization project that will replace seven deteriorating bridges.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation received $67.5 million for the Central Bridge Bundle project to replace a total of 13 bridge structures in central Mississippi.
The Montana Department of Transportation received $28.4 million for the Sportsman’s Bridge Replacement project to replace an existing two-lane facility – which was originally built in 1955 – with a more resilient structure to maintain and improve access over the Flathead River on Montana Highway 82 in Flathead County.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation received two grants from this round of FHWA bridge program disbursements. The first, for $9.4 million, supports the “Safe & Resilient Passages at Standing Rock” project that will replace two deteriorating bridges located along ND Highway 1806 in Morton and Sioux Counties. The second, for $2.7 million, supports the Viking Bridge Reconstruction project to redesign the structure – originally built in 1969 – with features to prevent scouring and improve resilience against flooding events.