A bipartisan bill recently introduced by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) would establish a dedicated source of federal funding to repair America’s more than 45,000 structurally deficient bridges.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to ensure our bridge infrastructure gets much-needed funding for upgrades,” Rep. LaHood said. “I urge the Biden administration to find a compromise with Republicans on needed infrastructure investment.”
The Bridge Investment Act, H.R. 3718, which Rep. LaHood cosponsored on June 4 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) and fellow cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), also would streamline the bridge repair process for local and off-system bridges and create good-paying local jobs across the country.
“Investing in our local infrastructure is critical to growing our economy, particularly as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. LaHood. “Illinois ranks number three in the nation for the most bridges in poor condition and the 18th District of Illinois has over 400 structurally deficient bridges which makes up almost 10 percent of the state’s total structurally deficient bridges.”
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association estimates there is a $41.8 billion bridge repair backlog. According to Rep. LaHood’s office, no dedicated federal funding source currently exists to provide states the necessary resources to improve bridge conditions.
H.R. 3718 would direct states to obligate certain funding to repair, improve, rehabilitate, or replace bridges to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridge crossings, according to the congressional record bill summary.