The Federal Highway Administration, part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), said on Monday that nearly $4.9 billion is being made available for bridge projects across the United States, along with up to $500 million for replacing or repairing bridges in rural areas.
The department said the funding will help fix tens of thousands of bridges across the country, including about 42,000 that are in poor condition and in “dire need of repair.”
The DOT has eliminated diversity and environmental requirements to receive the funding.
One policy under the Biden administration required applicants for bridge financing to detail how the project considers “climate change and environmental justice in the planning stage and in project delivery.”…