Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP)

The purpose of the CHBP is to provide grants to States that have a population density of less than 115 individuals per square mile and less than 26 percent of total bridges classified as in good condition or greater than or equal to 5.2 percent of total bridges classified in poor condition for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads that demonstrate cost savings by bundling multiple highway bridge projects. States meeting the population criteria and that have greater than 14 percent of total bridges classified as in poor condition are eligible to receive no less than $32.5 million, pursuant to a determination that projects are eligible and sufficient to fund such amount.

This Assistance Listing 20.267 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.205, please refer to former ALN 20.205 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.267 will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.

The purpose of the CHBP is to provide grants to States that have a population density of less than 115 individuals per square mile and less than 26 percent of total bridges classified as in good condition or greater than or equal to 5.2 percent of total bridges classified in poor condition for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads that demonstrate cost savings by bundling multiple highway bridge projects. States meeting the population criteria and that have greater than 14 percent of total bridges classified as in poor condition are eligible to receive no less than $32.5 million, pursuant to a determination that projects are eligible and sufficient to fund such amount.

Population density is calculated based on the latest available data from the decennial census conducted under 13 United States Code (U.S.C.) 14(a) as of March 9, 2024, the date on which the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, became law. Resident population density is used. Percentages of bridge counts are based on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) as of June 2023. The percentages are based on number of bridges throughout the State regardless of ownership, e.g., total number of bridges classified as in poor condition compared to the total number of bridges in the NBI that meet the definition of a bridge on a public road.

For example, based on these requirements, eligible applicants for the FY24 NOFO were the States of Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. States that are eligible to receive no less than $32.5 million include Iowa, Maine, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

Varies by project. Generally, FHWA publishes a notice of funding, soliciting applications for assistance, reviews these applications, and determines which applications are most qualified for award. Please see the individual notice of funding for details.