On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was launching a historic Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), invests $26.5 billion over five years for states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and $825 million for Tribal transportation facilities. The investment represents the largest single dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is thrilled to launch this program to fix thousands of bridges across the country – the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the Interstate highway system,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Modernizing America’s bridges will help improve safety, support economic growth, and make people’s lives better in every part of the country – across rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities.”
The Bridge Formula Program is expected to help repair approximately 15,000 highway bridges. The program will provide funds to states, allowing them to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect and construct highway bridges. Additionally, a portion of the funding is dedicated to Tribal transportation facility bridges, as well as “off-system” bridges that are generally locally-owned and not on the federal-aid highway system.
“This record amount of funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will allow states and Tribal governments to fix the bridges most in need of repair,” Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said. “It will also modernize bridges to withstand the effects of climate change and to make them safer for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. Every state has bridges in poor condition and in need of repair, including bridges with weight restrictions that may force lengthy detours for travelers, school buses, first responders or trucks carrying freight.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes incentives for states to direct the Bridge Formula Program funds to off-system bridges that would allow the states to use the federal funds for 100 percent of the cost of repair or replacement instead of matching up to 20 percent with local or state funding.
The Transportation Workers Union of America said it supported the investments.
“We have gone far too long in this country without adequate investments to repair and modernize our nation’s transportation infrastructure, and it has taken a real toll on transportation workers and passengers alike,” said TWU President John Samuelsen. “This desperately needed investment will fix thousands of bridges across the country and make an immediate impact in the lives of our members. By fortifying the bridges that our public transit systems and Amtrak rely on each day, we will create good transportation jobs with the strongest possible worker protections and build the infrastructure necessary to truly grow our transportation systems.”