Highway Bridge Program

Book excerpt: The Aug. 1, 2007, collapse of a Minnesota bridge raised nationwide questions about bridge safety and the Dept. of Transportation¿s ability to prioritize resources for bridges. The Highway Bridge Program (HBP), the primary source of fed. funding for bridges, provided over $4 billion to states in FY 2007. This study examines: (1) how the HBP addresses bridge conditions; (2) how states use HBP funds and select bridge projects for funding; (3) what data indicates about bridge conditions and the HBP¿s impact; and (4) the extent to which the HBP aligns with generally accepted principles, and fed. laws and regulations, for re-examining surface transportation programs. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.