The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently made $3 billion in federal funding available to state, local and tribal governments to repair or replace aging and structurally deficient bridges across the nation.
IS NEW FEDERAL FUNDING OPENING MORE DOORS FOR FRP IN INFRASTRUCTURE?
The monies are being distributed to local agencies in the form of grants. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that “for too long, essential infrastructure has been held hostage by red tape…” The funds are clearing a path for faster, more efficient restoration of aging structures. It may also expand the use of FRP in bridges and bridge decks.
WHAT IS THE BRIDGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM’S BOTTOM LINE?
The program is being managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The funds are earmarked for rehabilitating existing bridges, building total replacements and expanding access for smaller-scale community improvements. Priorities include project readiness, safety and community resilience according to the FHWA. The agency is giving special consideration to projects that keep supply chains moving and fix structurally deficient infrastructure. The program was designed to give local governments the ability to decide how to most effectively speed up bridge construction in their respective communities. Submission of applications for specific projects was completed in June 2026. Progress on the status of the grants can be tracked at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bip/.
Under the program’s new rules approved bridge and planning projects [starting at $2.5 million] can now receive grants covering up to 80 percent of eligible costs.
INFRASTRUCTURE SNAPSHOT
Recent reports reveal that there are more than 623,000 bridges across the country. Forty-nine percent have been rated in fair condition, 44.1 percent are classified in good condition and 6.8 percent are in poor condition. Bridges in fair condition can be preserved more cost effectively than bridges ranked in poor condition. While bridges received a boost through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), $27.5 billion for the Bridge Formula Program and $12.5 billion for the Bridge Investment Program, an estimated additional $191 billion is needed to complete bridge-related rehabilitation. Strategic asset management and maintenance are required to prevent bridges from falling into further decay and decline. In addition to age, extreme weather events also pose a threat. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) offers a robust alternative able to withstand the effects of weather, chemicals and age.
WHY FRP IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR BRIDGE REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT
FRP has become the preferred choice for bridge repair because of its resistance to corrosion, superior strength-to-weight ratio and fast installation. State DOTs see FRP as a cost-effective way to extend structural lifespans without adding dead weight or requiring extended road closures. Creative Composites Group designs and manufacturers composite pedestrian bridges, bridge decking, vehicle bridge decking, cantilever sidewalks and heavy duty planking.
In addition to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), CCG works with ASTM, UL and ANSI to create codes for FRP to make sure products meet requirements such as H-5 loading, a common light truck AASHTO standard required for structures with clear deck widths between seven and 10 feet. Broad adoption of FRP also prompted the need for a new standard.
This year AASHTO published the second edition of the LRFD Guide Specifications for the Design of FRP Pedestrian Bridges to give structural engineers, transportation officials and manufacturers a road map on how to use FRP. The new standard updates the 2008 AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for the Design of FRP Bridges which was created to lay groundwork for standardized, safe design criteria for FRP truss bridges bolted with pultruded elements. It can be found at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials website.
Whether your bridge project needs repairs, rehabilitation or replacement, we can show you why FRP is the right choice. Our in-house engineering team’s end-to-end process coupled with the design flexibility of FRP allow us to customize our products to a project’s unique specifications. Call us or email us. We would love to talk with you about your needs.
