Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
January 14, 2022
Program will direct $506 million over five years for West Virginia’s bridges
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today applauded the news that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched the Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection, and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program), which is a core component of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program, which is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system and will provide West Virginia with $506 million over a five-year period to support bridge improvements.
“West Virginia’s bridges, roads and highways are among the worst in the nation, making tourism, business and everyday travel difficult for all West Virginians. In particular, our state has the highest percentage of bridges in poor condition in the country. Without considerable investment now, that number could jump significantly, representing a safety hazard for West Virginians. When we negotiated the bipartisan Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, I fought tirelessly to ensure that rural states like West Virginia got our fair share of the funds. Because of my efforts, West Virginia will receive $506 million over the next five years to address our crumbling bridges to ensure that every West Virginian is driving on safe roads, bridges and highways in the Mountain State,” Senator Manchin said.
“I have been a long-time champion of additional resources to address West Virginia’s bridges,” Ranking Member Capito said. “I am proud to have led efforts to address the significant need in West Virginia and nationwide. Today’s announcement is great news for West Virginia and will provide states not only with historic formula funding for bridges, but also the long-term certainty they need to plan and complete projects.”
BACKGROUND:
In addition to providing funds to states to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect, and construct highway bridges, the Bridge Formula Program has dedicated funding for Tribal transportation facility bridges as well as “off-system” bridges, which are generally locally-owned facilities not on the federal-aid highway system.
Specifically, the program includes $27.5 billion in dedicated resources for bridges nationwide. Of the portion of this funding that is distributed by formula, West Virginia will receive approximately $506 million over five years specifically for bridge infrastructure.
FHWA released the first tranche of Bridge Formula Program funding to states for Fiscal Year 2022 in addition to the program guidance.
For a map of bridges, please see https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ and USDOT Bridge Formula Program Funding and Condition by State.