To kick off the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project awards through the Federal Highway Administration’s competitive Bridge Investment Program.
Through these grants, 13 nationally significant bridges in 16 states will be reconstructed, repaired, and restored using American-made materials. These bridges provide transportation for jobs and resources, support the economy, and serve as critical corridors for freight travel. In addition, these projects will address safety issues and make the bridges more resilient to extreme weather, all while creating good-paying jobs.
“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,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “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.”
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Below are the 13 Large Bridge Project Grants awarded in this round:
- The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $1.4 billion for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, to replace two aging vertical lift bridges that carry I-5 over the Columbia River.
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will receive $993 million for the Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to replace the bridge, which experiences high crash rates and congestion, and improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and goods over the canal.
- The Alabama Department of Transportation will receive $550 million for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Replacement and Bayway Multimodal Project in Mobile, Alabama, to improve safety, reliability, and mobility for residents in the project area.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $500 million for the I-83 South Bridge Replacement Project in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to replace a bridge originally built in 1960 and widened in 1982 that carries more than 125,000 vehicles per day over the Susquehanna River.
- The Tennessee Department of Transportation will receive $394 million for the America’s River Crossing Project in Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas, 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, Rhode Island, 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, North Carolina, 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, South Carolina, to replace four bridges that were constructed in 1968 over Lake Marion as part of I-95.
- The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will receive $124 million for the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge Replacement Project in Byran and Marshall Counties, Oklahoma, to replace the structure that carries US-70 over Lake Texoma.
- Miami-Dade County will receive $101 million for the Venetian Causeway Bridge Replacement Project in Miami, Florida, to replace 11 Venetian Causeway bridges originally built in 1926 with newer, more resilient infrastructure anticipated to last 50 years, meeting updated design codes and improving safety.
- The West Virginia Department of Transportation will receive $88 million for the Market Street Bridge Replacement Project in East Steubenville, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio, to replace a historic bridge built in 1904.
- The New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive $72 million for the Nogal Canyon Bridge Replacement Project in Socorro County, New Mexico, to replace the two bridges that carry Interstate 25 over Nogal Canyon in Socorro County.
- The Kansas Department of Transportation will receive $63 million for the 18th Street Bridge Replacement Project in Kansas City, Kansas, 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.
The Large Bridge Project Grants under the Bridge Investment Program are available for bridges with total eligible project costs over $100 million, with minimum grant awards of $50 million and a maximum award of 50% of the total eligible project costs. Priority consideration is given to projects ready to proceed to construction. The program also funds projects that require pre-construction work and benefit from a multiyear grant agreement.