An $800m project has been announced to replace the 75-year-old I-55 Bridge over the Mississippi between the states of Arkansas and Tennessee.
Some $394m will come from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) with a further $250m each from the states.
The structure will add capacity and improve safety. By 2050, it is expected to accommodate 64,000 vehicles a day, up from the current 48,000.
Butch Eley, Tennessee’s transport commissioner, said: “This historic project is four times larger than anything we have previously built.”
Lorie Tudor, his opposite number at Arkansas, added: “I’m proud of the collaboration between Arkansas, Tennessee and other regional stakeholders to help secure this important infrastructure funding for our region.”
The DOT notes that the funding is part of a larger $5bn investment from the Biden administration’s Bridge Investment Programme, which will be split between 13 bridges in 16 states.
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