Five Huge Bridge Projects Coming to the U.S.
Major infrastructure projects underway include the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada, the $1.3 billion movable rail bridge in Connecticut, and the I-55 bridge replacement between Tennessee and Arkansas. Other significant projects include replacing the I-5 bridge between Oregon and Washington and the Sagamore Bridge in Massachusetts, all focused on improving safety, efficiency, and connectivity.
According to Newsweek, from the northern border to the the Volunteer State of Tennessee, this is a list of some of the biggest projects, which may be near you.
Gordie Howe International Bridge
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project will connect the U.S. and Canada with what one of the developers behind it says will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. While the bridge deck is now connected, there’s still plenty of work to be done. The project team is now focused on tasks such as re-stressing the stay cables, post-tensioning the deck, and installing electrical, fire suppression and drainage systems. Other essential work includes adding road barriers, signage, lighting, deck paving and finishing the pedestrian and bicycle paths.
$1.3 Billion Movable Bridge, Connecticut
The new bridge will be located just south of the current structure and feature modern track, signal, catenary, power, communication and other essential rail infrastructure, according to an Amtrak statement. The design allows for a maximum operating speed of 70 mph, a significant increase from the current 45 mph. Amtrak says the new bridge will enhance reliability and reduce delays for its intercity services, the Connecticut Shore Line East commuter line, and freight operators along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), the busiest rail corridor in the United States. Designs for the new bridge are reportedly fully complete. Construction is slated to begin in late summer or early fall this year.
I-55 Bridge Replacement Connecting Tennessee and Arkansas
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently announced an $800 million project to replace the aging Interstate 55 bridge that connects Tennessee and Arkansas.”This unprecedented investment in Memphis marks the single-largest transportation investment in Tennessee state history and will be transformative for our infrastructure,” said Lee. “The new I-55 Bridge will not only enhance safety and efficiency, but also improve multimodal connectivity and strengthen our economic vitality by facilitating smoother freight movement and improving accessibility in our region.” Known as America’s River Crossing Project, the initiative seeks to replace the 75-year-old bridge and will be funded via state and federal money.
Washington-Oregon Bridge
The Oregon Department of Transportation is set to receive $1.4 billion for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, which aims to replace the two aging vertical lift bridges that carry I-5 over the Columbia River, connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) says the new bridges will be modern, seismically resilient and multimodal, offering safe and accessible options for driving, walking, biking, rolling and riding transit.
Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project, Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is set to receive $993 million for the Sagamore Bridge Replacement Project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.This funding will be used to replace the bridge, which suffers from high crash rates and congestion, aiming to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of transporting people and goods over the canal.
