The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) were jointly awarded a $393,750,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to use toward the replacement of the Interstate 55 (I-55) Bridge over the Mississippi River between West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee – also known as America’s River Crossing.
The announcement was made Friday.
ARDOT and TDOT were co-applicants for the grant to replace the aging, 75-year-old bridge. On Friday, July 12, the USDOT announced the historic grant, allowing the project to progress.
The grant, which is funded through the Bridge Investment Program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is ARDOT’s largest grant ever.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a federal statute enacted by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15, 2021.
According to a release from ARDOT, the new I-55 bridge will provide redundancy, improve resiliency, meet modern seismic code, and improve connectivity and economic vitality along this major freight corridor.
The project is estimated to cost approximately $800 million. In addition to the nearly $400 million investment from the USDOT, ARDOT and TDOT have each committed up to $250 million.
“I’m proud of the collaboration between Arkansas, Tennessee, and other regional stakeholders to help secure this important infrastructure funding for our region,” said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. “Thank you to the USDOT for recognizing the significance of this project and choosing to invest in this critical link between Arkansas and Tennessee. I’d like to give a special thanks to Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation for their support and advocacy of this project.”
“Arkansas is where America’s road, river, and rail infrastructure meet. Today’s announcement – the largest shared infrastructure project in our two states’ history – will help cement Arkansas’ status as a transportation and logistics leader while bringing more visitors to our state,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I’m thankful to Governor Bill Lee and the other state and local leaders who got it done.”
Environmental studies are currently underway, and public hearings are scheduled for August.
A press event with the USDOT, TDOT, and ARDOT is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, in Memphis.
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