USDOT Allocates $310 Million for Interstate Freight Bridge Reconstruction and Seismic Retrofits

ST. LOUIS — The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced on Monday the distribution of $310 million in competitive Bridge Investment Program grants to reconstruct, widen, and seismically fortify twelve structurally deficient interstate highway bridges across eight states.

The funded spans carry more than 480,000 vehicles and $14 billion in commercial freight daily, connecting vital agricultural, automotive, and intermodal freight corridors between the Midwest, Southern logistics hubs, and Pacific shipping ports.

Major Bridge Projects Funded Key awards under the $310 million package include:

• I-70 Mississippi River Bridge Approach (Missouri/Illinois): $85 million to replace deteriorated structural steel superstructures and widen freight merge lanes.
• I-5 Columbia River Interstate Slough Bridge (Oregon/Washington): $65 million for seismic isolation bearings and foundation pile strengthening.
• I-80 Des Moines River Crossing (Iowa): $45 million to replace two six-lane bridge decks with high-performance corrosion-resistant concrete.
• I-10 Mobile River Relief Bridge (Alabama): $40 million to elevate flood-prone bridge approaches above 100-year storm surge levels.
• I-65 Green River Bridge (Kentucky): $35 million for complete deck replacement and substructure rehabilitation.
• I-90 Yellowstone River Bridge (Montana): $40 million for bridge replacement accommodating heavy commercial oversize vehicle loads.

Modernizing Freight Logistics and Safety Federal Highway Administrator officials noted that the investments will reduce commercial shipping detour delays by an estimated 1.8 million hours annually, saving freight operators over $120 million in fuel and maintenance costs.

Construction schedules mandate that all replacement projects utilize American-manufactured structural steel and precast concrete under statutory Buy America requirements, supporting domestic metal fabrication plants and union ironworkers.