Administration Announces $5.5 Billion for Bridges

What happened: The Federal Highway Administration Jan. 14 released the first installment of a five-year, $27.5 billion bridge formula program included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The funding is dedicated for projects in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and tribal transportation programs.

See details:

FY 2022 funding levels by state and program guidance

Five-year totals by jurisdiction

Why it matters: Unlike core highway programs that are subject to annual appropriations, this $5.5 billion annual funding is appropriated in the IIJA law.The allocation is divvied up according to bridge needs and conditions in each jurisdiction, as compared to the others, while also ensuring each locality receives at least $45 million each year. States and localities have discretion over which bridge projects are selected for funding. While the size and scope of this dedicated bridge investment is unique at the federal level, jurisdictions can still, as they have prior to the IIJA, use other federal and local resources to help plan and build bridges.