Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 2026 Bridge Investment Program, Large Bridge Project Grants

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023–2026 Bridge Investment Program, Large Bridge Project Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: 693JJ323NF00019), administered by the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), provides funding for large bridge projects with total eligible costs exceeding $100 million. This grant program aims to improve bridge infrastructure across the United States by supporting major construction, rehabilitation, and replacement projects that enhance safety, economic benefits, and mobility. The program is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which allocates a total of $9.62 billion for these projects over the four-year period. The program seeks to address significant bridge needs by funding projects that offer substantial improvements in terms of safety, durability, and economic efficiency. It prioritizes projects that can demonstrate large-scale impact on regional or national transportation networks. Eligible costs can include construction, reconstruction, and other associated expenses necessary for the completion of a large bridge project. The grants aim to help communities maintain and improve critical transportation links, reduce maintenance costs, and facilitate economic development. The grant's funding structure specifies that individual awards will range from a minimum of $50 million to a maximum of $3 billion. Matching funds are required, with cost-sharing arrangements in place to ensure that the applicant provides a portion of the project costs. The program follows a "rolling application" process, with different closing dates depending on the fiscal year for which funding is sought. For FY 2023 and FY 2024 funds, applications must be submitted by December 4, 2023. Applications for FY 2025 and FY 2026 funds must be submitted by August 1, 2024, and August 1, 2025, respectively. Eligible applicants for this grant include state governments, city or township governments, county governments, Native American tribal governments, special district governments, metropolitan planning organizations serving areas with populations over 200,000, Federal Land Management Agencies, and various other political subdivisions and multijurisdictional groups. This broad eligibility ensures that a range of entities responsible for bridge infrastructure can access funds to undertake significant bridge projects. The application process involves submitting detailed project proposals that meet the program's requirements for safety, economic benefits, project readiness, and environmental impacts. The FHWA will evaluate applications based on criteria such as the project's potential to reduce maintenance backlogs, support economic growth, improve safety, and enhance mobility for all users.