Mary Scott NabersTransportation infrastructure projects, especially related to bridge work, continue to roll through pre-construction phases throughout the country. Bridge replacement projects carry extremely high price tags, and although bridge upgrade projects tend to be somewhat less costly, they are still multimillion-dollar initiatives. Additionally, many bridge projects include roadway work, which increases the cost of delivery significantly.
Road and bridge safety projects have not suffered any funding interference yet, and these types of contracting opportunities are projected to be abundant in the next several years.
A new coastal replacement bridge project with an estimated price tag of $100 million will launch soon in Indian River County, Florida. Design phase and solicitation documents are expected to be released in October 2025. This transportation infrastructure project will involve both bridge and roadway work. The existing bridge was constructed in 1964, and although it is functional, it has been deemed structurally deficient with outdated vertical clearance, narrow shoulders and no pedestrian or bicycle accommodation.
The new bridge will span approximately 1,544 feet and will be built just east of the existing structure. Key design specifications include two 12-foot travel lanes that will accommodate vehicular traffic and two 8-foot shoulders to provide enhanced safety space for vehicle breakdowns. Plans call for two 12-foot barrier-separated shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as two fishing piers and observation areas located beneath each end of the bridge. Drainage improvements and flight diverters will be required to address stormwater control, safety and ecological protection.
The adjacent roadway will be widened with 7-foot paved shoulders and resurfaced to extend service life and improve user safety.
A major infrastructure initiative to replace a key river crossing bridge in the city of Fort Benton, Montana, is in the planning phase. The existing bridge, built in 1962, remains structurally sound but has significant deficiencies. Its deck, or driving surface, is in poor condition and requires repair, and the bridge’s shoulders are very narrow. The limited width of the shoulders no longer meets the standards required for freight and vehicular traffic.
A new 730-foot-long $30 million bridge is being designed with four-span continuous steel plate girders. It will be much wider and allow for two 12-foot travel lanes and 6-foot shoulders to accommodate freight and wide-load vehicles. A temporary detour bridge will be constructed alongside the new structure to maintain uninterrupted two-way traffic during construction. The project will reduce the number of piers, which will better support ecology in the Missouri River, and the construction process will not affect water intake for the upstream water treatment plant.
Transportation officials in the city of Austin, Texas, are moving forward with a $40 million project to address safety and accessibility concerns associated with a 100-year-old local bridge. Originally built in 1925 and widened in 1946, the bridge is a key part of the city’s transportation network as thousands of vehicles cross over it daily. However, its narrow lanes, outdated sidewalks, and lack of safe space for cyclists are of high concern to city leaders.
The project calls for the entire structure to be replaced and the new crossing will be designed to meet safety and accessibility standards. It will span approximately 109 feet and be designed with separate lanes for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. The bridge also will have updated railings, new lighting fixtures and distinctive architectural elements. Bid solicitations and the selection of a contractor are both slated for late 2026, with construction expected to begin in 2027.
Officials in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, are preparing for a major infrastructure bridge project overhaul in response to worsening traffic flow, aging structural conditions and inadequate accommodation for pedestrians and cyclists. This repair project carries a projected cost of $25 million. Local officials cite growing safety concerns and daily congestion. These are major issues since this is one of the region’s busiest east-west corridors for traffic.
The planned rebuilding effort will improve vehicular mobility capacity with wider lanes. It will also reduce traffic bottlenecks through on-off-ramps. The new structure will span approximately 270 feet in length and the wider expansion, when completed, will accommodate three standard-width traffic lanes in each direction. The bridge overhaul effort will also include two 10-foot-wide shoulders and a 12-foot-wide shared-use path separated from vehicle traffic.
Accessibility will also be significantly upgraded with ADA-compliant pedestrian walkways and a dedicated lane for cyclists. The design phase is currently underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027. During an estimated eight-month timeline, the existing crossing will be closed entirely, with detours in place for vehicular traffic.
Bridge projects require many areas of expertise—engineering, land work, technology, professional services and various types of skilled operators of large equipment. Many of the projects are moving quickly because of structural concerns due to increasingly severe weather events. Successful bidders often select local subcontractors who are known and have successful histories with similar efforts.
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