The Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program (BIP) is a competitive grant program focused on existing bridges. It supports work to reduce the number of bridges in poor condition and address fair-condition bridges at risk of becoming poor. For public agencies with a bridge project to advance, BIP may help pay for planning or project delivery. Start with the official Bridge Investment Program page for current application materials and notices.
What it funds
BIP has grants for planning, bridge projects, and large bridge projects. The program is intended to support existing bridges and projects that address their condition. Planning grants can help move a bridge project toward readiness. Bridge and large bridge grants support eligible project costs, subject to program requirements and the applicable funding notice.
Applicants should review the current notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and templates to confirm eligibility, required analyses, and the scope of costs that may be included. FHWA provides a benefit-cost analysis tool to help applicants summarize costs and benefits and prepare economic analysis for bridge and large bridge applications.
Who applies
Eligible applicants include states and federal lands management agencies, as well as metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments. These entities can apply directly to FHWA. The program's expanded applicant eligibility gives local and tribal owners a path to seek funds for projects that meet community needs.
Firm owners can help public owners assess a bridge project, prepare supporting materials, and coordinate technical work. The public agency remains the grant applicant and must meet FHWA's requirements.
Award size and funding available
For Large Bridge Project grants, eligible project costs must be over $100 million. The minimum grant award is $50 million, and the maximum award is 50 percent of total eligible project costs.
Bridge Project grants apply to bridges with total eligible project costs up to $100 million. The minimum award is $2.5 million, and the maximum is 80 percent of total eligible project costs. Planning Project grants can cover up to 80 percent of total eligible project costs.
Cycle and current status
The official program page lists application opportunities for fiscal years 2023 through 2026. It says FHWA posted an amendment to the Large Bridge Project NOFO on June 2, 2025, and amendments to the Bridge Project and Planning Project NOFOs on May 14, 2026. The listed FY 2026 deadlines were August 1, 2025, for Large Bridge Project applications, June 15, 2026, for Planning Project applications, and June 29, 2026, for Bridge Project applications.
Those dates have passed. Check the official program page for current status and any new notices.
How consultants win the design work
Agencies apply for BIP funds. Consultants are selected by the agency through qualifications-based selection (QBS) for planning, benefit-cost analysis, grant writing support where allowed, design, and construction phase services. A grant award does not itself select the consultant. Procurement rules apply, so owners should follow the requirements that govern their agency and funding.
Firm owners can support an agency's project development and delivery, but the agency controls the application and consultant procurement. Confirm the scope, selection process, and any restrictions before starting grant-related work.
What owners should do now
- Review the official program page and current NOFO to confirm whether an application window is open.
- Document bridge condition, project scope, cost estimate, and readiness, then confirm the project fits the appropriate grant category.
- Plan for the required benefit-cost analysis and gather the data needed to support it.
- Set a procurement approach for consultant services that follows applicable rules, and coordinate roles early with the agency applicant.
Official program page: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bip/. Check it for current notices of funding opportunity before advising a client.
