Biden Administration Announces $5 Billion for Large Bridge Projects

What happened: Grants totaling $5 billion will go to support 13 upcoming large bridge projects nationwide, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced July 17. Awards include:

• The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $1.4 billion to replace two aging vertical lift bridges that connect Oregon and Washington, carrying I-5 over the Columbia River.
• The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will receive $993 million to replace the Sagamore Bridge in Cape Cod, which experiences high crash rates and congestion.
• The Alabama Department of Transportation will receive $550 million for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Replacement and Bayway Multimodal Project in Mobile to improve safety, reliability, and mobility along one of the most economically important corridors in the country.

Why it matters: The Large Bridge Grant Program, a subcategory of the Bridge Investment Program included as part of 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, targets “nationally significant” projects valued at over $100 million.

What’s next: Two remaining years of funding under this program remain. Applications for FY 2025 and FY 2026 resources are due Aug. 1.