An estimated 15,000 bridges nationwide will receive $27 billion in funding to help improve, replace, preserve, and build highway bridges, the Department of Transportation announced Friday.
The Bridge Formula Program will be administered by the Federal Highway Administration and is a part of President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was signed into law on Nov. 15.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will see the funding distributed over a five-year period, with $5.3 billion being made available in fiscal 2022.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Of that $27 billion, $825 million will be available for Tribal transportation facilities, including $165 million in 2022.
“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,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
“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,” he added.
The legislation includes an incentive for states to direct the new program's funds to off-system bridges owned by a county, city, town or other local agency.
While states generally must match federal dollars with up to 20 percent of state or local funding, the Bridge Formula Program funds can be used for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating locally owned off-system bridges.
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“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,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack.
She said the Bridge Formula Program "will also modernize bridges to withstand the effects of climate change,” making them safer for all users including cyclists and pedestrians.
Specific to the Federal Highway Administration, Biden’s infrastructure bill provides more than $350 billion over five fiscal years for surface transportation programs.
For a map of bridges, please see https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ and USDOT Bridge Formula Program Funding and Condition by State.
Here is State-by-state BFP funding for fiscal years 2022-2026.
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