The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP), administered by the DOT Federal Highway Administration, provides funding for bridge projects in eligible states.

Overview

The FY 2026 CHBP will award up to $350 million in funding through cost reimbursable grants. The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice is subject to the availability of funds. Eligible states with greater than 14 percent of total bridges classified in poor condition are to receive no less than $32.5 million, provided the state submits eligible application(s) with a total value that meets or exceeds $32.5 million. There is no minimum award amount for states that do not meet this condition. No state shall be awarded more than $55 million.

Funding and Benefits

• Total Program Funding: $350,000,000
• Maximum Award: $55,000,000
• Expected Number of Awards: 15
• Funding Instrument Type: Grant
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes. The federal share of the cost is in accordance with 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 120. Applicants that do not provide at least the minimum non-federal cost share will be classified as ineligible.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: State governments.

Additional Information: Eligible applicants under FY 2026 CHBP are states with:

• A population density of less than 115 individuals per square mile; or a population of less than 1.1 million individuals; and
• Less than 26 percent of total bridges classified as in good condition; or greater than or equal to 4.9 percent of total bridges classified as in poor condition.

Population density is calculated based on the latest available data from the decennial census conducted under 13 U.S.C. § 141(a) as of February 3, 2026. Percentages of bridge counts are based on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) as of June 2024. Based on these requirements, eligible applicants are the states of Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. States eligible to receive no less than $32.5 million include Iowa, Maine, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia. FY 2026 CHBP projects may only be administered by State Departments of Transportation (State DOT).

Deadline and Timeline

• Closing Date: July 27, 2026
• Posted Date: June 26, 2026
• Archive Date: August 26, 2026

Contact Information

Grantor Contact: Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726
Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays.
Email: Grants.gov Customer Support at support@grants.gov