The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced USD 2.1 billion investments to improve US bridge infrastructure on January 4, 2023. “Safe, modern bridges ensure that first responders can get to calls more quickly, shipments reach businesses on time, and drivers can get to where they need to go,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the official announcement of these key infrastructure investments.
USD 2.1 billion to improve four nationally significant bridges in US
The first round of Large Bridge Project Grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program has just been announced by FHWA. This is part of the large dedicated investment in highway bridges since the construction of the Interstate highway system in the US. These grants are going to provide significant investments for four projects spread over, five US states.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg added in at the official announcement that “the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to award this historic funding to modernize large bridges that are not only pillars of our economy, but also iconic symbols of their states’ past and future.”
The strategic value of the bridge infrastructure improvement projects in the country was further highlighted in the official statement by the Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg as she said that these “first Large Bridge grants will improve bridges that serve as vital connections for millions of Americans to jobs, education, health care and medical care and help move goods from our farms and factories.”
USD 144 million announced to improve bridges south of Chicago
FHWA announced a huge investment of USD 144 million to rejuvenate four important bridges on the southern part of Chicago which cross the Calumet River. This important Illinois’ project is to receive funding from the first round of Large Bridge Grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program. These bridges are critical part of the area’s economy as they provide a steady route for marine traffic to and from the Illinois International Port and surrounding industry and also provide a reliable connection between the communities on either side of the river.
“This grant to improve four bridges over the Calumet River in Illinois demonstrates the transformational investments we are making to support President Biden’s commitment to rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure,” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt at the official announcement of this bridge infrastructure improvement program.
USD 400 million to improve the Golden Gate Bridge in California
California’s project to reinvigorate essential structural elements on the Golden Gate Bridge to enhance its resiliency against the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes is now going to receive USD 400 million in the first round of Large Bridge Grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program. This investment is very important as the Golden Gate Bridge is vital to the region’s economy. An estimated 37 million vehicles cross the bridge per year, including 555,000 freight trucks, as well as waterborne commerce through the Golden Gate Strait connected to the Port of Oakland. It is indeed a vital transportation link allowing for the movement of people and freight along the California Coast.
“We are pleased to partner with the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and see work get underway to modernize the Golden Gate Bridge, which will have a real impact on the quality of life for thousands of residents and motorists traveling between San Francisco and Marin County who will benefit from these improvements for decades to come” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt at the announcement of this key investment for this important California infrastructure project.
Investments for Kentucky and Connecticut Departments of Transport
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will receive USD 1.385 billion to restructure the existing Brent Spence Bridge to improve interstate and local traffic flow between the interconnected Kentucky and Ohio communities on either side of the Ohio River. This bridge is known to be the second worst truck bottleneck in the nation and carries more than USD 400 billion in freight per year. Hence its rejuvenation would provide a great boost to the region’s economy.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation will receive USD 158 million for improvement measures directed towards the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, which is part of the Interstate 95 corridor over the Thames River between New London and Groton, Connecticut. The bridge reportedly carries 42,600 vehicles per day and is a vital connection on the I-95 corridor for people and goods traveling between New York and New England.
Advancing key priorities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), holds the central discussion theme in the US infrastructure community ever since it was signed into law by President Biden in 2021. The law promises a historical sum of USD 1.2 trillion in investments to improve America’s ageing infrastructure.
Such a huge amount of investment brings in with it questions, regarding how the trillion plus dollars will be utilized. For instance how to identify the most in need of the investments within the infrastructure sector or which area of spend would be most beneficial— upgrades, maintenance, or repairs? The latest round of Bridge infrastructure innovations announced would further strengthen the key priorities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Overall nearly USD 40 billion investments have been planned over five years that will help repair or rebuild ten of the most economically significant bridges in the country along with thousands of bridges across the nation.
Geospatial support for a reliable bridge infrastructure
As a nation’s infrastructure ages, comprehensive asset management of roads and bridges grows in importance. Geospatial solutions are important to the review of critical infrastructure that supports safe travel on roads and bridges. Applications of geospatial technology to strengthen infrastructure are continuously advancing. Its value is today felt at all stages of infrastructure management projects from monitoring to actual project implementation and evaluation phases.
One of its most important contribution is the provision of accurate real time geospatial data which is essential for the overall health management of such key infrastructure initiatives. This information is liberally used by the US Department of Transport in strengthening its decision support system. Well integrated geospatial technology enables the government authorities to make quicker decisions. In fact geospatial data is a critical component across all levels of the US government, including Federal, State, and local agencies. Over the past few decades, several advanced geospatial tools have emerged that provide comprehensive mapping of infrastructure and topography across different landscapes. Data that is captured by these tools is vital for many aspects of highway and bridge construction.
A strong bridge infrastructure is a recognition of a nation’s overall healthy transport infrastructure system. Bridges play a strategic role in connecting people, good and transports. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a bridge’s close down can be a major obstacle for the economic progress of any nation. Hence all efforts to enhance the bridges of a country are very important initiatives indeed.
“The Bridge Investment Program reflects President Biden’s commitment to rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure and represents a historic reinvestment in our economy,” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt at the official announcement made for the bridge infrastructure rebuilding project investments. “These Large Bridge Project Grants are going to projects that are construction ready and will have a real impact for vehicles, transit, pedestrians and bicyclists traveling on America’s roadways who will benefit from these improvements for decades to come” he summarized.
The multi-million dollar investments just announced for improving and rebuilding important bridges of the country will certainly wield a great role in providing a catalyst for boosting the economy of the nation interlinked to these infrastructure components.
Also Read: FHWA Announces Innovations for the US Transportation Industry
