Federal Highway Administration announces Large Bridge Project Grants
In a move that introduced the largest dedicated investment in highway bridges since the highway system was in development, the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced the distribution of nearly $40 billion over the upcoming five years. This is the first round of Large Bridge Project Grants included in President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program.
Semi-trucks are likely to benefit from these investments in major ways. Repaired bridges will be able to support the weight of these vehicles, which are much heavier than passenger cars. This will allow big rigs to travel safely and efficiently across the country, without having to worry about avoiding bridges that may not be able to support their weight. Investments in highway bridge repair will also help to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries involving big rigs. Structurally deficient bridges are more likely to fail or collapse, which can be dangerous for both truck drivers and other vehicles on the road. By repairing these bridges, the risk of such incidents can be significantly reduced.
A tragic accident occurred on an Ohio highway when a semi-truck rear-ended a charter bus carrying students from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District, resulting in three fatalities and 15 injuries.