President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law on November 15, 2021. Considering how the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave American bridges a “C” rating and our roads a “D” rating last year, the IIJA was a crucial step in improving our communities. It has been a little over a year since the $1.2 trillion investment bill was enacted, and now is the perfect time to look at the work that has been done since then.
The Stats So Far
According to the American Roads & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), nearly 29,000 new improvement projects began across America, with states committing $53.5 billion in highway and bridge formula funds. The IIJA is supporting repair and construction efforts on structures through the National Highway System, which includes interstates and the major roads that connect airports, ports, rail and truck terminals, pipeline terminals, and intermodal facilities. You can track the funds here.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that every $1 billion in highway and bridge infrastructure investments supports at least 13,000 jobs. These jobs include retail, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, food services, and a multitude of other industries. Nearly 90% of the IIJA's highway funds are dispersed by existing formula to states, with the remainder distributed through discretionary grant awards and other allocated programs.
Projects in Motion
Many projects have begun, supported by formula funding from the IIJA. According to ARTBA, here is a list of the 20 largest IIJA projects happening right now:
1. Texas – Expanding Loop 1604 on I-10 in San Antonio ($291 million).
2. Texas – 635 East Project in Dallas ($225 million).
3. New York – Van Wyck Expressway Capacity & Access Improvements to and from JFK International Airport ($211 million).
4. Arizona – Roadway Widening on I-17 Split ($200 million).
5. Texas – I-35 Widening in Travis County ($192 million).
6. South Carolina – Phase 1 Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project ($145 million).
7. Ohio – I-70/71 Downtown Ramp Up Project in Columbus ($123 million).
8. California – Rehabilitation of Pomona Freeway between the Long Beach and San Gabriel River Freeways ($121 million).
9. California – Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project in San Luis Obispo ($119 million).
10. Illinois – Interchange Reconstruction and Bridge Replacement on I-57 at I-74 Interchange in Urbana-Champaign ($107 million).
11. Georgia – State Road 2/State Road 515 Roadway Reconstruction Project in Northern Georgia ($104 million).
12. California – State Route 55 Improvements Project in Orange County ($101 million).
13. California – Rehabilitation of Route 10 Near Coachella ($100 million).
14. Tennessee – Interchange Modification on I-55 at Crump Boulevard in Memphis ($99.6 million).
15. Texas – Widen Loop 375 in El Paso ($95 million).
16. New Jersey – Route 18 Drainage and Pavement Rehabilitation in East Brunswick ($91.7 million).
17. Tennessee – Improvements at I-75, I-24 Interchange near the Tennessee-Georgia Border ($91.2 million).
18. South Carolina – Phase 2 Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project ($90 million).
19. California – SAC 5 Corridor Enhancement Project in Sacramento ($88 million).
20. Texas – Irving Interchange Project in Dallas ($80 million).
Work is only just beginning across the U.S., helping improve our communities and infrastructure from possibly the largest amount of funding we will see in our lifetime. Be sure to check out our past articles on the IIJA, and check back next week when we dive into more IIJA funding.
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Source: ARTBA, ASCE, FHWA
