Title 23 › CHAPTER 1 — FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS › § 124
Creates a Bridge Investment Program that gives competitive grants to pay for replacing, fixing, protecting, or preserving one or more bridges listed in the National Bridge Inventory. An eligible project can be a single bridge, a bundle of bridge projects, or culvert work that improves flood control and fish habitat. A large project is any eligible project with more than $100,000,000 in costs. Eligible applicants include States, groups of States, big metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and their subdivisions, special districts or public authorities with transportation roles, Federal land agencies, Tribal governments or consortia, and multi-jurisdiction groups. Grants must be big enough, with minimum awards of $50,000,000 for large projects and $2,500,000 for others, and federal funding generally can cover no more than 50% of a large project or 80% of other projects (off-system bridges may get up to 90% federal help). The program aims to make bridges safer, more reliable, and better for people and freight, and to reduce the number and use of bridges in poor or worsening condition. Projects compete and are scored on benefits like avoided costs, safety, mobility, resilience, environment, innovation, and maintenance savings. Large projects get a special review and must score at least “medium” on several key tests to be recommended. Large projects that get at least $100,000,000 may use multiyear grant agreements with a payout schedule that finishes within 4 fiscal years. The Secretary may approve work done before a grant (and later reimburse it) if approved in writing and NEPA requirements are met. The Secretary must notify Congress 30 days before any grant, publish an annual list of awarded projects by August 1, and send an annual recommendation report for large projects by the first Monday in February. For fiscal years 2022–2026, at least 50% of Highway Trust Fund money for the program must go to large projects, and a Tribal bridge set-aside is $16,000,000 (2022), $18,000,000 (2023), $20,000,000 (2024), $22,000,000 (2025), and $24,000,000 (2026). Not more than 5% of each year’s program funds may be used only for culvert projects.
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Highways, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
23 U.S.C. § 124
Title 23, Highways
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110