Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury, Leger Fernández Announce Largest Investment Ever In Bridges Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, New Mexico To Receive $225 Million

WASHINGTON (Jan. 14, 2021) – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are announcing that New Mexico will receive a total of $225 million over five years as part of the largest bridge formula program in American history, made possible by the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. New Mexico will receive $45 million for Fiscal Year 2022 under the new program to address highway bridge needs. The funding is available to improve the condition of 207 bridges in poor condition across the state.

“The new Infrastructure Law is delivering critical investments to allow us to fix what’s broken and also deliver on what’s possible in New Mexico,” said Heinrich. “With this historic funding, we will put people to work repairing and improving over 200 New Mexico bridges to make them safer—and this is only the beginning. New Mexico will continue reaping the benefits of the infrastructure package as we expand access to high-quality broadband, build out new pipelines for clean drinking water, look for new ways to charge up our public transit systems, and so much more.”

“This infrastructure law is a victory for all New Mexicans,” said Luján. “The investments in New Mexico’s infrastructure – including significant funding for broadband buildout, bridges, and roads – will connect New Mexicans and benefit our state for generations to come. This law will tackle ongoing challenges to lower costs and improve the lives and safety of all New Mexicans, while putting folks to work in good-paying jobs to rebuild our bridges, highway, and roads.”

"New Mexico families and small businesses rely on our bridges to deliver crucial goods and get us where we need to go, but over 200 of our state's bridges are in urgent need of repair," said Stansbury. "I am proud that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering the first wave of $45 million to New Mexico today as part of a record $225 million to repair our bridges and improve climate resilience. As we get this funding and future broadband, water, and transit funding out the door, I’ll be working with local and Tribal leaders to make sure these dollars make a difference for our communities.”

“Our bridges connect la gente to the services they need. They are the connections that drive our economy forward and create jobs. We have hundreds of bridges that need repair in New Mexico, including a bridge near Jemez Springs that cannot even hold a firetruck and a bridge near Gallup that can’t hold a school bus. This jeopardizes public safety and access to education in our communities.” said Leger Fernández. “These investments will solve problems we’ve known about but never had the funds to fix and sow the seeds of a more prosperous future for our communities.”

Nationwide, the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Formula Program is expected to help repair approximately 15,00 bridges. In addition to providing funds to states to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect, and construct highway bridges, the Bridge Formula Program has dedicated funding for Tribal transportation facility bridges as well as “off-system” bridges, locally owned facilities which are those not on the federal-aid highway system. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes an incentive for states to direct the new Bridge Formula Program funds to off-system bridges owned by a county, city, town or other local agency. While states normally must match federal funding with up to 20 percent state or local funding, the guidance issued today notes that federal funds can be used for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating such locally owned off-system bridges. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow the economy, enhance U.S. competitiveness in the world, create good jobs, and make our transportation system more sustainable and equitable. Specific to the FHWA, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides more than $350 billion over five fiscal years for surface transportation programs.