$9.7 billion available for small bridge improvements nationwide

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is making $9.7 billion available for projects that improve and protect bridges and related infrastructure across the country.

The grants will support planning, repair and replacement projects of less than $100 million. They are available for fiscal years 2023 to 2026 through the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), a competitive program that funds projects on existing bridges.

The grants are divided into two categories:

“Bridge Project” grants, which will provide minimum awards of $2.5 million and maximum awards of up to 80% of eligible costs to replace, rehabilitate, preserve and protect bridges.
“Planning Project” grants will support planning, analysis and revenue forecasting for projects that receive maximum “Bridge Project” grants.

State and local governments have until Feb. 19, 2024, to apply for FY2023 and 2024 planning grants. The deadline for FY2023-24 project grants is March 19, 2024.

The FHWA in September made $10 billion available for Large Bridge Projects with total costs exceeding $100 million. The deadline is Aug. 1, 2024, for FY2025 funds and Aug. 1, 2025, for FY2026.

In FY 2022, the BIP allocated $2.4 billion to 37 projects across 29 states, including:

$72 million to rehabilitate the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge that connects Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
$73 million to replace the 85-year-old Lafayette Avenue Bridge over the Saginaw River in Bay City, Michigan, with a safer and more reliable structure.
$51.2 million to update six rural bridges in Union County in northwest South Carolina.

^{Strategic Partnerships, Inc.}^{can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact}^{research@spartnerships.com}^.