The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced a $1.385 million grant for the Brent Spence Bridge spanning Kentucky and Ohio.
These Large Bridge Grant funds, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Bridge Investment Program, will address congestion and safety issues on the bridge as well as easing delays in the movement of freight, which is contributing to higher costs for American families, according to a Jan. 4 news release.
“This grant to improve Kentucky and Ohio’s Brent Spence Bridge demonstrates the transformational investments we are making to support President Biden’s commitment to rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure,” FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in the release.
There is currently more than $400 billion worth of freight being transported over the Ohio River via the Brent Spence Bridge, the second-worst truck bottleneck in the nation, the release reported. It will reduce travel time and improve freight passage by separating I-75 traffic from local traffic.
“We are pleased to partner with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and see work get underway to modernize the Brent Spence Bridge, which will have a real impact on the quality of life for thousands of residents and motorists traveling between Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio, who will benefit from these improvements for decades to come," Bhatt said in the release.
This is part of President Joe Biden's initiative to provide funding to transportation departments around the country to improve crumbling infrastructure, particularly economically significant bridges, the release reported. Biden has made it clear infrastructure is a priority for the administration and has acted several times to provide more funding for U.S. infrastructure, which is in dire need of improvements.
The release reported grants are available for projects estimated to cost more than $100 million, with a minimum grant amount of $50 million and a maximum grant amount of 50% of the project's total cost. Grants were awarded to projects that were ready to begin construction in the first round.
