AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Get Big Bridge Project Grants from FHWA

The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $5 billion in grants from its Bridge Investment Program – a program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA – to fund the reconstruction, repair, and restoration of 13 “nationally significant” bridges in 16 states.

[Above photo by WVDOT]

The agency said in a statement that those bridge projects – the majority by state departments of transportation – offer critical “community connections” to jobs and resources, support for economic activity, and provide critical links for national freight corridors.

These projects will also address important safety issues and make the bridges more resilient to extreme weather, FHWA noted.

The 12 state DOT bridge projects receiving grants via this round of funding are:

The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $1.4 billion for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, connecting Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA, to replace two aging vertical lift bridges that carry I-5 over the Columbia River. This project also received a $600 million “Mega” grant in January.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will receive $993 million for the Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project in Cape Cod. This project also received a $372 million “Mega” grant in January.
The Alabama Department of Transportation will receive $550 million for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Replacement and Bayway Multimodal Project in Mobile. The improved bridge will support local small businesses and the national economy through a more efficient movement of goods along Interstate 10.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $500 million for the I-83 South Bridge Replacement Project in Harrisburg; replacing a bridge originally built in 1960 and subsequently widened in 1982.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will receive $394 million for the America’s River Crossing Project in Memphis, TN, and West Memphis, AR, to replace the 75-year-old I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will receive $251 million for the “I-95 15: Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Economy Project in Providence” to improve the condition of 15 bridges critical to the local economy.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will receive $242 million for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement Project in Wilmington to replace a 54-year-old structure that carries US 17/US 76/US 421 across the Cape Fear River between New Hanover and Brunswick Counties.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation will receive $175 million for the “I-95 Over Lake Marion Bridge Replacement Project” in Santee, which seeks to replace four bridges that were constructed in 1968 over Lake Marion as part of Interstate 95.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will receive $124 million for the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge Replacement Project in Byran and Marshall Counties to replace the structure that carries US-70 over Lake Texoma. The bridge – originally built in 1942 – no longer meets current traffic needs nor future traffic demand.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation will receive $88 million for the Market Street Bridge Replacement Project in East Steubenville, WV, and Steubenville, OH, to replace a historic bridge built in 1904. The damaged bridge cannot meet current capacity and is at the end of its useful life. The replacement bridge will allow for the safer and more efficient movement of people and goods along this regionally significant route, connecting communities in the region and supporting its economic livelihood.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive $72 million for the Nogal Canyon Bridge Replacement Project in Socorro County to replace the two bridges that carry Interstate 25 over Nogal Canyon in Socorro County. The existing truss bridges are deteriorating rapidly and are at the end of their useful life, the agency noted.
The Kansas Department of Transportation will receive $63 million for the 18th Street Bridge Replacement Project in Kansas City, KS, to replace a major river crossing built in 1959 that has undergone numerous rehabilitations over its 60-year life, including emergency repairs to extend its service life.

FHWA said that such grants via its Bridge Investment Program are available for bridge projects that cost over $100 million, with minimum grant awards of $50 million and a maximum award of 50 percent of the total eligible project costs.

The agency noted that priority consideration is given to projects ready to proceed to construction, with the program also aiming to fund projects that require pre-construction work and benefit from a multi-year grant agreement.