The Biden-Harris Administration has awarded Houston $2 million as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program to explore the rehabilitation of eight bridges along Buffalo Bayou. The grant, announced on August 7, will fund a feasibility and hydrology analysis to assess the potential for repairing and elevating bridges across a 15-mile stretch in Houston.
Houston City Council applied for the grant in May, with Houston Public Works submitting the formal application. The awarded funds will cover the costs associated with planning activities, including stakeholder engagement and project development.
The Bridge Investment Program, established by President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Law in 2022, aims to address the significant backlog of bridges in need of repair across the nation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the importance of these grants, stating, “The Bridge Investment Program Planning grants announced today will provide much-needed resources to communities nationwide so they can complete the plans and studies required to move forward with important bridge projects.”
To date, the program has distributed $7.4 billion to 78 projects across 38 states. This latest round of funding included $26.5 million for 28 projects in 18 states, with Texas receiving $2.6 million. Houston will receive $2 million, while the city of Boerne will receive $600,000.
Houston’s funding will be used to conduct a study determining whether the bridges can be elevated above the floodplain, thereby reducing future deterioration and preventing detours during flood events. The study will also explore improvements for bicycle and pedestrian connections.
The bridges under consideration include Kirkwood Bridge, Wilcrest Bridge, Dairy Ashford Bridge, and Sabine Bridge. The study is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete, though a construction timeline has not yet been established as of August 9.
