The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced a $407.7 million investment in rural infrastructure. The awards will enable 12 states to repair and replace 119 bridges.
A total of 14 projects were selected to receive funding through the Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP). The program targets infrastructure in states with a population density of less than 115 people per square miles. In addition, they must have less than 26% of bridges classified as in good condition or greater than or equal to 5.2% in poor condition.
Projects that received the most amount of funding through the program’s latest round include:
South Dakota will spend its $65 million share toward the $258.3 million SD 44 Platte-Winner Bridge and Andes Creek Structure Replacements project. The effort will consist of the state replacing two bridges – one state-owned and the other county-owned.
Another $65 million will support the $103.1 million West Virginia West Kanawha County Bridge Bundle Project. Plans include replacing and rehabilitating two state-owned bridges. The Dunbar Toll Bridge will be replaced, creating needed redundancy along Interstate 64 by creating a reliable crossing over the river. The Kanawha Turnpike I-64 Overpass will be rehabilitated for additional redundancy and connectivity to both the turnpike and local roads.
The state of Maine will allocate $38.7 million to supplement the $48.4 million Critical Connections: Preserving Mobility for Rural Economies initiative. The project will replace 11 state-owned bridges across Maine, providing isolated communities with access to essential services and economic opportunities. All structures are in poor conditions, exhibiting severe deterioration, compromised load carrying capacity and hydraulic vulnerabilities.
Iowa will receive $34.7 million for the $43.4 million Better Bridges Brighter Opportunity initiative. Among the more ambitious projects receiving federal support, Iowa will replace 33 bridges across 13 project bundles. Out of these structures, two are state-owned, 28 are county-owned and three are city-owned. Each bridge is in poor condition and must be replaced to secure reliable transport of goods between agricultural centers and the national and global markets.
Mississippi will use its $34.7 million share to advance the $49 million North Mississippi Bridge Replacement Bundle initiative. The project vision calls for replacing three state-owned bridges in Tallahatchie County. The bridges along this section of MS 32 do not meet modern design standards and must be fully replaced to maintain safe, reliable travel.
Photo by Vincent Hens from Pexels
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