Federal Highway Administration Awards $150 Million to Replace 45 Deteriorating Rural Highway Bridges

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the award of $150 million in competitive grants through the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), delivering targeted capital to replace 45 structurally deficient and weight-restricted rural highway bridges in 14 states.

Removing Weight Detours on Critical Rural Supply Routes

The grant packages finance complete engineering replacements of aging timber-pile and fractured steel girder bridges along key rural agricultural corridors in Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Replacing these bridges removes 30-mile heavy detour routes for loaded grain trucks, timber haulers, and emergency ambulances, saving regional agricultural economies millions in diesel fuel and transit time.

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt stated that investing in rural bridge infrastructure keeps local communities connected, protects motorists, and strengthens American domestic supply chains.

Farm Bureau and County Road Supervisors Praise

County judges and rural highway supervisors praised the 80% federal cost-share grants for replacing bridges that local county tax bases could not afford to finance alone.

National grain grower cooperatives commended the removal of weight restrictions ahead of peak harvest.

Engineering and Construction Schedule

Procurement for bridge replacement engineering packages will commence across all 14 state DOTs in November 2026.