National Bridge Restoration Project Gives $5 Billion in Federal Funds to 16 States

Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in North Carolina. (Courtesy of North Carolina Department of Transportation)

A federally funded $5 billion restoration project of large bridges is underway that will repair 13 “nationally significant” bridges in 16 states.

The project is a part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda that involves legislation such as the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“For too long America let bridges fall into disrepair, which left people less safe, disrupted our supply chains, and cost people time and money,” Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release.

He said the investment in bridges is the largest “since the Eisenhower era.”

“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.”

The Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program awarded the restoration grants to 13 state transportation departments.

The $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Act authorized the disbursement of $40 billion for bridge repairs over five years.

Oregon will receive $1.4 billion for a complete replacement of two vertical lift bridges connecting Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver, Washington.

“The modern, seismically resilient, and multimodal replacement bridges will provide safe and accessible options for driving, walking, biking, rolling, and riding transit,” the DOT said. “The project will help reduce travel times and congestion along this critical corridor, improve safety and quality of life, and lower carbon emissions.”

Massachusetts will get $993 million for the Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The bridge is frequently congested and has a high crash rate, the DOT said,

Alabama will get $550 million to replace its Mobile River Bridge and fund its Bayway Project.

In a press release from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, the grants were described as the largest federal grants “ever received for an Alabama project.”

“This federal funding will be a game-changer, not just for Mobile and Baldwin Counties, but for our entire state and region,” Ms. Ivey said.

“This is exactly how our infrastructure dollars should be spent, and I thank the federal government for their recognition of and support for this critical project.”

Other Major Bridge Projects

Pennsylvania will receive $500 million for the replacement of its South Bridge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The bridge was built in 1960, widened in 1982, and sees over 125,000 vehicles daily, the DOT said.

Tennessee will receive $394 million for a project to replace a 75-year-old bridge that connects Memphis, Tennessee, to West Memphis, Arkansas, crossing the Mississippi River.

“This unprecedented investment in Memphis marks the single-largest transportation investment in Tennessee state history and will be transformative for our infrastructure,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said in a press release.

“The new I-55 Bridge will not only enhance safety and efficiency, but also improve multimodal connectivity and strengthen our economic vitality by facilitating smoother freight movement and improving accessibility in our region.”

Rhode Island will receive $251 million for the improvement of 15 bridges “critical to the local economy” of Providence, Rhode Island, the DOT said.

North Carolina will get $242 million for the replacement of the 54-year-old Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in Wilmington, North Carolina, and South Carolina will get $175 million to replace four bridges crossing Lake Marion in Santee, South Carolina.

Other restoration grant awards will be doled out to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at $124 million; Miami-Dade County in Miami, Florida, at $101 million; the West Virginia Department of Transportation at $88 million; the New Mexico Department of Transportation at $72 million; and the Kansas Department of Transportation at $63 million.

“These grants are helping to advance critical bridge projects across the nation that will improve overall quality of life and ensure this country’s infrastructure works for everyone,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.