Bennet, Hickenlooper Applaud First Round of Largest Federal Investment Ever in Colorado Bridges Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

Press Release

Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper announced that Colorado is receiving the first portion of $225 million in funding to fix hundreds of bridges in poor condition. The funding is part of the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which Hickenlooper helped write. This is the largest investment ever to fix America's bridges.

"I'm pleased to welcome the first round of this critical funding from the Federal Highway Administration to help Colorado repair and modernize bridges across the state," said Bennet. "Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure bill, we are finally making significant overdue investments to create jobs, boost our economy, and support our Colorado communities.

"Colorado's bridges are vital but too many are near the point of failure," said Hickenlooper. "Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is restoring our infrastructure one road, one lead pipe, and one bridge at a time."

"On the local level, we are very pleased to welcome this FHA Bridge Formula Program as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)," said Bud Starker, Mayor or Wheat Ridge. "Many of these bridges date from the initial construction of the Interstate highway system and are in need of repair or replacement. This will provide greater safety and convenience for the motoring public, as well as creating good jobs in our local communities. We applaud our federal partners for this bipartisan investment in our future."

"The Biden-Harris Administration is thrilled to launch this program to fix thousands of bridges across the country -- the largest investment of its kind in U.S. history," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Modernizing America's bridges will help improve safety, support economic growth and make people's lives better in every part of the country -- in rural, suburban, city, and tribal communities."

Colorado will receive $45 million for bridges in Fiscal Year 2022, and a total of $225 million over the next five years. The funds, which are part of the Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Formula Program, will help Colorado replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect, and construct highway bridges. Colorado has 481 bridges in poor condition.

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, states and tribal transportation facilities will receive $27.5 billion over the next five years to fix approximately 15,000 bridges nationwide. Federal funds will pay 100 percent of these costs.

More information on the funding announced today can be found HERE.

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