The Biden administration will invest nearly $27 billion to fund repairs and replace bridges in need. To accomplish this, the Department of Transportation will launch the Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection and Construction Program, which will provide much-needed money to the states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico over five years; and $825 million for tribal transportation facilities.
“The Biden-Harris administration is thrilled to launch this program to fix thousands of bridges across the country – the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the Interstate highway system,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “Modernizing America’s bridges will help improve safety, support economic growth, and make people’s lives better in every part of the country – across rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities.”
The funding is part of the bipartisan infrastructure package that Biden signed into law in November. While the program is slated to help repair thousands of bridges across the country, the administration is also seeking to use the program to increase resiliency when it comes to climate change, as well as make bridges safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
“This investment in modernizing America’s bridges is a critical next step following the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will lead to improved safety, economic growth, job creation, and better quality of life for all Americans,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Transportation and Infrastructure Ed Mortimer. “We have been waiting decades for this kind of investment to fix our crumbling bridges. We commend the Administration for providing much needed funds to states and tribal transportation facilities to finally replace, repair, preserve and build bridges in their local communities.
“It is imperative that continued investment is provided to states to ensure they have the resources needed to advance our nation’s infrastructure. The Chamber is ready to work with our partners in business, labor and government to ensure this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize America’s infrastructure leads to long-term economic growth and improved quality of life,” Mortimer said.