On Friday, the Arkansas and Tennessee Departments of Transportation announced their joint receipt of a nearly $400 million Bridge Investment Program-Large Bridge Project grant to support replacement of an I-55 Mississippi River span known as the America’s River Crossing Bridge. The new funding will allow the $800 million bistate project to move forward. Each state is also dedicating up to $250 million to the construction effort. According to the news release, “The new I-55 bridge will provide redundancy, improve resiliency, meet modern seismic code, and improve connectivity and economic vitality along this major freight corridor.” A significant repair project is underway on the existing bridge, which is not tolled. Tolling of the replacement span is not contemplated. Environmental studies are currently ongoing and public hearings are scheduled for next month.
WATN notes that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) said the project represents the single-largest transportation investment in his state’s history.
WREG also covers this story.