Hawaii will receive $339 million in new federal funding over five years to repair and improve the state’s bridges, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced in a Friday statement.
The money is part of a $26.5 billion program administered by the Federal Highway Administration, with funding provided the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed into law in November.
“This historic investment will help rebuild bridges across Hawaii, making them safer and more resilient for everyone,” said Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “The bipartisan infrastructure law is already helping our state, and I’m proud to have supported it.”
Schatz said Hawaii will receive its first round of funding — $67.8 million — this year.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes an incentive for states to direct the new Bridge Formula Program funds to bridges owned by a county, city, town or other local agency. While states normally must match federal funding with up to 20% state or local funding, the guidance issued Friday notes that federal funds can be used for 100% of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating such locally owned bridges.
“We have been kept in the loop. We have been working closely with the (state Department of Transportation) and looking at what kinds of federal monies are available,” said Ikaika Rodenhurst, the county’s Department of Public Works director. “It is a very important source of revenue to use for the county and the state, so we have been in talks with the DOT, anticipating these funds.”
Rodenhurst said the county will receive $6.5 million this fiscal year and a combined $41 million over the five-year period. The funds will be provided to the county through the state DOT.
Rodenhurst identified the county’s current bridge priorities that qualify for the funding.
They are: Wailuku Bridge on Wainaku Street in Hilo; Waipahoehoe Bridge on Kaumana Drive in Hilo; Keopu Bridge on Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona; the 7-Mile Saddle Road Crossing in Hilo; Wailoa Bridge on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo; and Kaumalumalu Bridge on Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona.
It is estimated that there are 84 bridges in poor condition in Hawaii, including 17 bridges in Hawaii County.
Six of those bridges are on state highways; the remaining 11 are on county roads.
Some of the poor-rated bridges carry high traffic volumes and are several decades old.
They include: the 72-year old Wailuku Stream bridge in Hilo, also known as the “Singing Bridge,” which carries an estimated average of 16,600 vehicles daily; the 73-year old Waiolama Canal bridge on Pauahi Street in Hilo, which carries 9,150 vehicles daily; and the 87-year old Kealakaha Stream bridge on the Hamakua Coast, which carries 7,200 vehicles daily.
A $1.2 million contract was awarded by the DOT on Dec. 8 to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. for repairs on three bridges on Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19): the aforementioned Wailuku Stream Bridge on the northern outskirts of Hilo; the Hakalau Stream Bridge at the 15-mile marker; and the Nanue Stream Bridge at the 18-mile marker.
The Nanue Stream Bridge is 70 years old, and the Hakalau Stream Bridge is 69 years old. Both carry an estimated 7,200 vehicles daily, and both are on the poor-condition list.
According to a DOT document, construction on those three bridges hasn’t started.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.