Federal Highway Administration Makes $225 Million Available for Highway Bridge Improvement Grants

Federal Highway Administration
5 September 2018

FHWA 18-18
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – The Federal Highway Administration today published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Federal Register for rural states to compete for $225 million in Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grants.

"Bridges are an integral part of our infrastructure, and these funds will help rural states ensure that their bridges remain safe and well-maintained," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

By law, the funds are restricted to states with a population density of less than 100 people per square mile. Twenty-five states qualify: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The funds must be used for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads that leverage the efficiencies associated with "bundling" at least two highway bridge projects into a single contract.

"This program represents an important funding source to repair and replace bridges," said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. "Bundling projects will relieve rural bridge owners of administrative burden and capitalize on buying in bulk which will make it easier for bridge repairs or replacement projects to begin."

Congress funded the CHBP grant program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, from the U.S. Treasury's General Fund. State Departments of Transportation in the eligible states are invited to apply under the program.

The NOFO is available at the Federal Register.