Officials say the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is providing nearly $400 million to build a new Interstate 55 (I-55) bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas across the Mississippi River also known as America’s River Crossing.
The Transportation Department reportedly informed Congress it’s investing $393,750,000 to build the new bridge. The grant, awared to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), is funded through the Bridge Investment Program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is the largest grant ever received by ARDOT.
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.
The existing I-55 bridge was built in 1949 and is one of two bridges that connect Memphis with Arkansas.
A press event with the USDOT, TDOT, and ARDOT is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, in Memphis.
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