Federal funding will account for nearly half of the money needed to replace the aging Burlington Street bridge in Iowa City.
The city was awarded a grant of more than $23 million to support the project, which is estimated to cost more than $57 million. The city announced the funding award on July 8 after being informed by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s office on July 7, according to a city news release.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. The USDOT awarded $1.73 billion in grant funding to 127 infrastructure projects across the country.
“We’re grateful to the USDOT for recognizing the importance of this crucial replacement of the Burlington Street Bridges over the Iowa River,” said City of Iowa City Public Works Director Ron Knoche in the release. “This is a vital project that will improve the safety of the bridge and enhance mobility for the thousands of local, regional, and state motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who use the bridge every day.”
Bridge replacement to transform city thoroughfare, UI’s west campus
The hallmark of the project is replacing the two bridges that make up the Burlington Street bridge that crosses the Iowa River with a single bridge to simplify maintenance and reduce the bridge’s footprint.
The City of Iowa City owns the eastbound bridge while the Iowa DOT owns the westbound bridge. Once the new bridge is built, the Iowa DOT will own and maintain the structure, according to the city.
The project would also transform the area in front of Slater Residence Hall into a pedestrian and transit hub, redirecting traffic onto Byington Road and Melrose Avenue, both of which would be converted into two-way streets. A large spiral pedestrian bridge currently allows foot traffic to cross above the busy Riverside intersection without impeding vehicles.
The entire project, including the street redesigns and pedestrian improvements, is estimated to cost more than $104 million. The city projects that the funding will include $50 million in federal grants, $33 million in city bonds, and $21 million in state grants, according to the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Program document.
100-year-old Iowa City bridge in ‘poor’ condition, needs replacement
A 2021 study found that the Burlington Street bridge was in “poor” condition and would need to be replaced after more than 100 years of use on its oldest portion.
A 2021 inspection by the Iowa Department of Transportation noted corrosion and rust on the structure; exposed rebar both above and below the waterline; and deteriorated or broken concrete and cracks along the arches and pier columns. Though city engineers stress that it is still safe, it needs to be replaced.
The city says its still in the design and planning phase, though construction could start as soon as 2027.
Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government, the University of Iowa, and crime for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City lands $23M federal grant for Burlington bridge replacement
Reporting by Liam Halawith, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liam Halawith, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
