Eighteen states will receive $225 million in grants dispersed for bridge improvement projects, augmenting bond financing along the way.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the grants for the Competitive Highway Bridge Program for 20 projects this week. By law, the funds are restricted to states with population densities of less than 100 people per square-mile based on census data. Twenty-five states met those qualifications.
“This $225 million in federal funding will enable 18 states to make vital upgrades to select bridges in rural areas,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
Funds have to be used for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads and are associated with bundling two highway bridge projects into a single contract. Congress funded the CHBP program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, from the U.S. Treasury’s General Fund.
Maine snagged $25 million in the CHBP grants for its Franklin County and I-295 Bridges Projects. Grants will be used to improve seven bridges in poor condition and the applicants said it will benefit the region’s forest products industry and tourism.
The Franklin County Bridges Project is funded through state general obligation bonds, coming from state bonds approved by the legislature and taxpayers, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. That project received about $6 million from the U.S. DOT. The project itself will cost $10.8 million.
Maine’s I-295 project will also be funded through state general obligation bonds. The project will cost $32.9 million and it received about $18.9 million from the CHBP grants.
The department applied for $34.4 million in grants, which would have left $9 million in general obligation bonds, said Paul Merrill, public information officer for the Maine Department of Transportation. Since grants came in a bit lower, it’s estimated general obligation bonds will be closer to $18 million.
“We’re happy we’re getting the $25 million,” Merrill said. “Anytime our partners at the federal level can help us pay for important infrastructure, we’re thrilled.”
The earliest voters could vote on the bonding would be Nov. 2020.
Oregon received almost $16.5 million for its Douglas County Bridge Replacement Project to improve two bridges. Applicants said it would help maintain a link of county roads with access to the interstate.
“This grant is a good first step toward fixing the infrastructure for the residents of Douglas County, who, like so many people across our country, have been dealing with outdated and structurally deficient bridges in their communities for far too long,” Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said in a press release.
However, DeFazio considers the grant a down payment, noting that many bridges need attention.
There are 47,000 structurally deficient U.S. bridges according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. The average age of those bridges is 62 years, compared to 40 years for non-deficient bridges. Repair is needed for 38% of bridges, according to ARTBA.
The Norfolk Northeast Bridges Project also received about $8.5 million in CHBP grants to improve seven bridges in poor condition. Construction is expected to begin in 2021. The project will benefit the region’s truck traffic, farming and economy, according to the applicants.
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., a chairman of the Transportation and Safety Subcommittee said the grants were significant.
“I am proud to announce that northeast Nebraska will benefit from this significant grant,” Fischer said in a press release. “Nebraskans rely on these bridges every day, but too many are in poor shape. Replacing these bridges is crucial to safely connecting our families, local economies, and communities.”
