U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Announces $61.6 Million for States in Bridge Discretionary Funds

Topics:  Rodney E. Slater

Federal Highway Administration
January 18, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 18, 2001

Contact: Jim Pinkelman

Tel.: 202-366-0660

FHWA 5-01

U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced that $61.6
million in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary funds for 15
bridge projects will be provided to 14 states.
"This funding will strengthen our transportation system, create jobs
across the country, and yield significant dividends in terms of safety, mobility
and economic growth," Secretary Slater said. "Strategic investments in
transportation like these have been an important result of President Clinton and
Vice President Gore’s commitment to improve America’s transportation
system."
FHWA discretionary funds are made available upon selection of projects by the
U.S. Secretary of Transportation after it is determined that requests from
states for funds meet criteria established by federal law and U.S. Department of
Transportation (USDOT) regulations and procedures. Congress also makes decisions
on recipients of some grants.
The Discretionary Bridge Program (DBP) was established by the Surface
Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 and has been continued through subsequent
legislation, including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(TEA-21), which President Clinton signed into law in June 1998. DBP consists of
two categories: Replacement and Rehabilitation, and Seismic Retrofit. For fiscal
1998 through fiscal 2003, TEA-21 authorized $525 million for the DBP. This
amount includes $25 million annually for seismic retrofit for fiscal 1998
through fiscal 2003 and $75 million annually for replacement and rehabilitation
for fiscal 1999 through fiscal 2003.
"Bridges are a critical link in America’s transportation
network," FHWA Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said. "These grants
represent the kind of strategic economic investment that will make our overall
transportation system stronger."
Funds for replacement and rehabilitation projects under the discretionary
bridge program are administered by the FHWA, an agency of the USDOT. The
Department will announce funds for an additional project under this program
tomorrow. Further information about the bridge program is on the Internet at
Following is a list of the 15 projects:

  

    
State
    
Project
    

      
Funding
  
  

    
Alabama
    
Clement C. Clay Bridge,

      US 231 over the Tennessee River
    
$8,683,000
  
  

    
California
    
Oaklawn Pedestrian Bridge,

      South Pasadena
    
$ 438,500
  
  

    
California
    
Santa Clara River Bridge,

      Ventura County
    
$5,700,900
  
  

    
Connecticut
    
Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Q Bridge),

      I-95 across New Haven Harbor
    
$2,806,600
  
  

    
Florida
    
Florida Memorial Bridge, Clearwater
    
$8,770,700
  
  

    
Hawaii
    
Waimalu Viaduct on the H-1 Freeway,

      Honolulu
    
$2,982,000
  
  

    
Kansas
    
US 54 across the Marmaton River,

      Fort Scott
    
$1,754,100
  
  

    
Maine
    
Fairfield-Benton crossing over the

      Kennebec River
    
$3,508,300
  
  

    
Mississippi
    
Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Jackson
    
$2,806,600
  
  

    
Missouri
    
Chouteau Missouri River Bridge,

      Kansas City
    
$4,385,300
  
  

    
Montana
    
Powell County bridges (11 bridges)
    
$1,315,600
  
  

    
Rhode Island
    
Washington Bridge, Providence
    
$5,262,400
  
  

    
Vermont
    
Missisquoi Bay Bridge,

      Vermont Route 78
    
$3,069,700
  
  

    
Virginia
    
14th Street Bridge and the

      George Washington Memorial Parkway

      (Humpback Bridge)
    
$4,385,300
  
  

    
West Virginia
    
Star City Bridge, Monongalia County
    
$5,700,900
  
  

    
Total Amount
    

    
$61,569,900
  


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