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United States Of America – The historic Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection, and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program), which was made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was officially inaugurated today by the United States Department of Transportation.
The program, which will be administered by the Federal Highway Administration, represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system, providing $26.5 billion to states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico over a five-year period, as well as $825 million for Tribal transportation facilities, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
In Fiscal Year 2022, a total of $5.3 billion will be made available to states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with an additional $165 million made available to tribes. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) also provided preliminary instructions on the new scheme.
“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..”
“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.”
-U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The Bridge Formula Program is projected to assist with the repair of about 15,000 roadway bridges across the country.
More than $27 billion to states and tribal transportation facilities to fix an estimated 15,000 bridges nationwide
“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,”
“It will also modernize 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 travelers, school buses, first responders or trucks carrying freight..”
-Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack
In addition to providing funds to states for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of highway bridges, the Bridge Formula Program has set aside funds for Tribal transportation facility bridges as well as “off-system” bridges, which are generally privately owned facilities that are not part of the federally financed highway infrastructure.
There is an incentive under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act for states to divert new Bridge Formula Program monies to bridges owned by counties, cities, towns, or other local governments that are not part of the federal highway system.
However, while states are normally required to match federal monies with up to 20% in state or local expenditures, the guidance provided today adds that federal funds can be used to cover the whole cost of repairing or rehabilitating off-system bridges that are owned by local governments.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure that will spur economic growth, improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace, create good jobs, and make our transportation system more sustainable and equitable, among other things.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which is exclusive to the Federal Highway Administration, provides more than $350 billion over five fiscal years for surface transportation programs.
FHWA released the first tranche of Bridge Formula Program funding to states for Fiscal Year 2022 in addition to the program guidance. For a map of bridges, please see https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ and USDOT FY 2022 State Bridges Funding and Condition (arcgis.com). Here is State-by-state BFP funding Fiscal Years 2022-2026.
