Infrastructure Bill Provides ‘Amazing News’ for Off-System Bridges

The U.S. Department of Transportation launched the historic Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection, and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program), made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The program, to be administered by FHWA, represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system – providing $26.5 billion to states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico over five years and $825 million for Tribal transportation facilities.

A Biden administration official said, “This money is needed to address the 43,000 bridges across our country that are in poor condition.” The official added that the program is expected to upgrade as many as 15,000 bridges nationwide.

(View Federal Highway Administration state-by-state funding allocation)

The American steel industry is the cleanest and most energy-efficient of the leading steel industries in the world.

Infrastructure Law Includes Incentive for Off-System Bridges

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes an incentive for states to direct the new Bridge Formula Program funds to off-system bridges owned by a county, city, town or other local agency.

While states generally must match federal funding with up to 20 percent state or local funding, the guidance issued notes that federal funds can be used for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating such locally owned off-system bridges.

There are a total of 281,184 off-system bridges in the United States, according to the National Association of Counties, defined as bridges that are located on a public road that are not part of the federal-aid highway system.

Press-brake-formed steel tub girder bridges can last 100 years or more, with minimal maintenance over their long service lives.

According to Businesshala, administration officials said this would serve as an incentive to state and local governments to take up projects that are usually not prioritized.

If states want to use federal money for bridges that are part of the federal highway system, they will still have to kick in 20 percent of the cost of those projects.

Clarence Anthony, National League of Cities CEO and executive director, said of off-system bridges, “This is simply amazing news for smaller rural communities, places that have been hit hard economically.”

The Falcon Ridge buried steel bridge fish passage structure provided easy fish passage for the local spawning trout and steel head.

Steel Bridges Save Time and Cost for County and State Bridge Officials

More than 220,000 U.S. bridges, representing 36 percent of the national bridge inventory, need major repair work or should be replaced, according to an American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) analysis.

According to ASCE, more than 30% of existing bridges have exceeded their 50-year design life. This situation presents a significant challenge for cash-strapped state and local governments.

Whitman County, Washington, saved 32 percent over concrete by using a steel superstructure for this off system project.

The SSSBA has developed technological and design innovations for bridges under 140 feet that save significant time and costs for county and state bridge officials.

Over the past 10-years, over 16,000 bridge owners and designers have learned about the cost and time advantages of short span steel bridges in SSSBA workshops and conferences throughout North America.

And now, the SSSBA is offering complimentary customized educational guest speakers/webinars and workshops (on-site or virtual) specifically for county engineers, state DOTs, and design firms. The webinars/workshops are taught by industry experts with decades of experience in the cost-effective design and construction of short span bridges.

The workshops can be set up as:

• 1-2 hour webinar on a specific topic (can be used as a “guest speaker” for your event).
• 3-4 hour (half-day) workshop to provide practical information on the safe and cost-effective design, detail, fabrication and installation of short span steel bridges.
• 6 hour (full-day) session to provide an in-depth overview of short span steel bridges.

View Sample Agenda

Suggested topics to select from include:

• Practical and Cost-Effective Steel Bridge Design
• Free Design Tools (eSPAN140 and SIMON)
• Pre-engineered Bridge Solutions
• Coating Solutions (galvanized, painted, and weathering steel)
• Innovative/Accelerated Bridge Construction Options
• Case Studies (from local counties)
• Buried Soil Steel Bridge Structure Alternatives
• Life-Cycle Analysis

For more information or to customize a workshop for your organization, please contact:

• Dan Snyder (Director of the SSSBA) at dsnyder@steel.org or 301-367-6179.
• Michael Barker (University of Wyoming & SSSBA Director of Education) at barker@uwyo.edu