The new programme, which will be administered by the Federal Highway Administration, will provide US$26.5bn to states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico over five years and US$825m for Tribal transportation facilities. This year’s allocation totals more than US$5bn.
“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 US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Modernising 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.”
“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,” said deputy federal highway administrator Stephanie Pollack. “It will also modernise 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 travellers, school buses, first responders or trucks carrying freight,” she added.
Nationwide, the Bridge Formula Program is expected to help repair approximately 15,000 highway bridges. In addition to providing funds to states to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect, and construct highway bridges, the scheme has dedicated funding for Tribal transportation facility bridges as well as ‘off-system’ bridges, which are generally locally- owned facilities not on the federal-aid highway system.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
