White House Announces $300 Million for Bridge Improvements

What happened: Eight states and Washington, D.C., will receive grants to improve bridges thanks to Bridge Investment Program discretionary funds. This is the third round of bridge grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), following the Large Bridge Project and Bridge Planning Grant awards.

Why it matters: The funds will help state and local DOTs repair and reconstruct bridges in both rural and urban areas, enhancing safety, freight movement, and quality of life.

Selected projects include:

• Washington, D.C.: $72 million to restore the 14th Street Bridge (pictured above).
• California: $24 million to rehabilitate and preserve San Diego’s Palm Avenue/Interstate 805 Bridge.
• Michigan: $73 million to replace the 85-year-old, Lafayette Bascule Bridge over the Saginaw River.
• South Carolina: $51.2 million to replace six rural bridges that range in age from 68 to 101 years.

See the complete list of projects.

Vice President Kamala Harris April 13 announced a grant to overhaul the 14th Street Bridge connecting Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, part of nearly $300 million in new bridge investments from the IIJA. ARTBA General Counsel Rich Juliano was among those invited.