BIT3 Program Covers 100 Percent of Costs to Replace or Rehabilitate County Bridges Over Bureau of Reclamation Structures

The Federal Highway Administration is offering $25 million in fully federal-funded grants for counties in 17 western states that own bridges crossing water conveyance structures operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Applications are due July 16, 2026. This program requires no matching funds; the federal share is 100 percent of all eligible project costs. Awards are cost-reimbursable, meaning the county incurs project costs and requests reimbursement after a grant agreement is executed. No minimum or maximum award amount has been established; DOT will fully fund as many qualifying projects as available funds allow and will fund remaining projects at scalable amounts until all $25 million is expended.

Assistance Listing Number: 20.198
Opportunity Identification Number: FHWA-BIT3-26-001
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Application Deadline: July 16, 2026

Eligible Institutional Structures and Geographic Priorities

Only county governments are eligible to apply, and only those counties that own a bridge classified as a Type 3 bridge by the Bureau of Reclamation that crosses a USBR dam, spillway, canal, or associated facility. This is an eligibility determination made by USBR, not by the county or by DOT. Counties should contact their local USBR office to confirm the USBR Bridge Number for any bridge they wish to include in an application.

The 17 western states where USBR owns water conveyance structures are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Counties outside these states are not eligible. There is no limit on the number of applications a county may submit, and counties may bundle eligible bridges into a single application if those bridges cross the same water conveyance structure in the same general location.

Financial Mechanics and Match Requirements

Total available funding is $25 million, awarded as cost-reimbursable grants with no minimum or maximum award size. The federal share is 100 percent of eligible project costs. Counties using other federal funds alongside BIT3 funds must comply with cost-sharing requirements for those other programs separately. DOT will attempt to fully fund selected projects at their requested amounts and will then fund additional projects at reduced scalable amounts until all funds are used. Applications should include scalable project options to help DOT maximize the number of projects funded.

Administrative Compliance and Post Award Oversight

Awards are administered under 2 CFR Part 200. Build America Buy America requirements apply: steel, iron, and manufactured products must meet domestic content requirements, and construction materials must meet the domestic preference requirement established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Before the grant agreement is signed, each selected county must demonstrate that physical and cybersecurity risks for the transportation project have been assessed and addressed. NEPA review must be completed or on a credible completion schedule before funds can be obligated.

Recipients submit semi-annual progress reports and Federal Financial Reports. FHWA works with each awardee to establish at least two performance measures for the project, measuring outcomes related to bridge condition, water delivery improvements, and safety of the movement of people and goods. Awards are reimbursement-based; project costs incurred before the grant agreement is executed are not eligible for reimbursement unless DOT authorizes them in writing.