Three Years In, the Infrastructure Push Is Rebuilding Bridges Coast to Coast

The bridge repair program funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law has moved decisively from paperwork to pavement, with thousands of projects now under construction across the country. Officials say the effort is beginning to make a dent in a maintenance backlog that took decades to accumulate.

States received flexible funding to prioritize their own worst structures, and the results vary by region. Pennsylvania, long home to some of the nation's most deficient bridges, has a full slate of replacements underway. Oregon and Michigan report similar momentum.

From backlog to build

Engineers caution that repairing bridges is slow, unglamorous work. Many projects require rerouting traffic for months, and supply costs for steel and concrete have complicated budgets. Even so, the pace represents a marked change from the trickle of funding in prior years.

Local officials say the visible progress has changed the conversation in their communities, where a crumbling overpass can become a symbol of neglect. Ribbon cuttings, once rare, now happen with some regularity.

The bigger test comes later, when the initial wave of funding tapers and states must decide how to keep pace with ongoing wear. For now, the cranes and detour signs are a sign the money is moving.