The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is providing $225 million to bridge projects in 18 states, as part of the Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) — of which only 25 states met the necessary qualifications.
The law dictates CHBP funds had to be issued to states with population densities of less than 100 people per square mile. The focus, therefore, is on rural work, be it outright replacement or rehabilitation. In all, 20 projects were selected, each for upgrades that U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has labeled vital.
Beyond the population requirement, to be eligible states had to demonstrate funds would be used for public roads that leverage the efficiencies associated with bundling a minimum of two highway bridge projects under one contract — something the USDOT says provides cost and time savings alike and actively attack the backlog of transportation projects nationwide.
“The projects funded under the program will serve as models for similar bridge improvement projects throughout the nation,” Federal Highway Administrator Nicole Nason said. “They are examples of how to achieve time and cost savings through innovation.”
In this case, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota all benefited. Iowa was the largest recipient, at $33,4420,000 for improvements to as many as 77 bridges currently operating at poor or fair condition or that are load posted and will use accelerated bridge construction technologies. The smallest recipient was South Dakota, at just $2,247,000 for improvements to four bridges currently operating in poor condition, but which they believe could stand to improve the local and regional economy.
The CHBP grant program was funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018.