Opportunity Information: Apply for FHWA BIT3 26 001
The Fiscal Year 2026 Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Competitive Grant Program (often referred to as the BIT3 Program) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Its core purpose is narrowly focused: paying for the replacement or rehabilitation of certain county-owned bridges that cross U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) water conveyance infrastructure in the western United States. In practical terms, this program is meant to address bridges that are not owned by USBR but sit over USBR-owned dams, canals, pipelines, pumping plants, or other Reclamation facilities or land interests, where bridge condition and safety can directly affect local transportation and also the protection and operation of federal water infrastructure.
Eligibility is restricted to counties. To apply, a county must own the bridge and the bridge must be classified by USBR as a Type 3 bridge. Type 3 has a specific technical definition under Reclamation policy: it generally includes any non-USBR-owned bridge over 20 feet in length, or a bridge-like structure between 6 and 20 feet in length, so long as it crosses a USBR dam, associated facility, power facility, or land interest. The program is not open to cities, states, tribes, or private entities unless they are applying through an eligible county that owns the bridge asset in question. Geographic scope is also limited to locations where USBR structures and lands exist, which the notice describes as 17 western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Projects must meet four main conditions to be eligible for funding. First, the project must be a bridge replacement or bridge rehabilitation effort, rather than unrelated roadway work. Second, the bridge must be county-owned. Third, the bridge must be formally classified as a Type 3 bridge by USBR. Fourth, the bridge and project must be eligible under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) under Title 23 of the U.S. Code (referenced in the notice as 23 U.S.C. 167 and related provisions). In addition, the bridge must cross a USBR-owned water conveyance structure. The notice also clarifies what Reclamation considers an "associated facility" (distinct from high- and significant-hazard dams), providing examples such as canals and distribution systems, drainage systems, pumping and pump-generating plants, tunnels, penstocks, siphons and pipelines, certain low-hazard diversion and storage dams and regulating reservoirs, fish passage and protective facilities including hatcheries, river channelization features, rural/municipal water systems, desalting and water treatment plants, facilities built under past loan programs, and recreation facilities.
A major financial feature of this program is that it does not require a minimum non-federal cost share. The federal share is stated as 100 percent of the funds requested for the eligible scope of work, meaning a qualifying county can request full federal coverage for the approved eligible project components. The opportunity is offered as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under the transportation funding activity category, with CFDA number 20.198. The grant opportunity number is FHWA BIT3 26 001. The listed award ceiling is $25,000,000, indicating the maximum award size the program will fund for a single project or applicant, depending on how FHWA structures selections under this notice.
Key dates included in the opportunity listing show a creation/posting date of June 2, 2026, and an original application closing date of July 16, 2026. The notice indicates it is a competitive program, so eligible counties should expect to submit an application that demonstrates the bridge meets the Type 3 and FLAP eligibility requirements, clearly documents that the crossing is over USBR-owned water conveyance infrastructure, and lays out a replacement or rehabilitation scope that fits within what the program will fund at 100 percent federal share.Apply for FHWA BIT3 26 001
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2026 Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Competitive Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.198.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY 2026 BIT3 (Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation) Grant FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Competitive Grant Program (BIT3)?
The Fiscal Year 2026 Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Competitive Grant Program (often called the BIT3 Program) is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The program is narrowly focused on funding the replacement or rehabilitation of certain county-owned bridges that cross U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) water conveyance infrastructure in the western United States.
What is the purpose of the BIT3 Program?
The program is intended to pay for bridge replacement or rehabilitation where a county-owned bridge crosses USBR-owned dams, canals, pipelines, pumping plants, or other Reclamation facilities or land interests. The goal is to address bridge condition and safety in a way that supports local transportation needs while also protecting and supporting the operation of federal water infrastructure.
Who administers this grant?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Is this a competitive grant or a formula allocation?
This opportunity is described as a competitive program, meaning eligible counties should expect to submit an application that demonstrates they meet the stated requirements and that the proposed project fits within the eligible scope.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to counties. To apply, the county must own the bridge, and the bridge must be classified by USBR as a Type 3 bridge.
Can cities, states, tribes, or private entities apply directly?
No. The program is not open to cities, states, tribes, or private entities unless they are applying through an eligible county that owns the bridge asset in question.
What does it mean for a bridge to be a "Type 3" bridge?
Type 3 has a specific technical definition under Reclamation policy. It generally includes any non-USBR-owned bridge over 20 feet in length, or a bridge-like structure between 6 and 20 feet in length, as long as it crosses a USBR dam, associated facility, power facility, or land interest. The notice indicates the bridge must be formally classified as Type 3 by USBR.
Does the bridge have to be owned by the county?
Yes. One of the core eligibility conditions is that the bridge must be county-owned.
Does the bridge have to be owned by USBR?
No. In fact, the focus is on bridges that are not owned by USBR but that cross over USBR-owned water conveyance infrastructure, facilities, or land interests.
Where must the bridge be located to be eligible?
The geographic scope is limited to locations where USBR structures and lands exist, which the notice describes as 17 western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Projects must be bridge replacement or bridge rehabilitation efforts. The opportunity description emphasizes that the project should not be unrelated roadway work; it should be focused on replacing or rehabilitating the bridge that meets the program requirements.
What are the main eligibility conditions a project must meet?
The opportunity description lists four main conditions: (1) the project must be bridge replacement or bridge rehabilitation, (2) the bridge must be county-owned, (3) the bridge must be formally classified by USBR as a Type 3 bridge, and (4) the bridge and project must be eligible under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) under Title 23 of the U.S. Code (referenced as 23 U.S.C. 167 and related provisions). In addition, the bridge must cross a USBR-owned water conveyance structure.
What does FLAP eligibility mean for this program?
The notice states that the bridge and project must be eligible under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) under Title 23 (referenced as 23 U.S.C. 167 and related provisions). The application should be prepared to demonstrate FLAP eligibility as part of meeting program requirements.
What USBR infrastructure must the bridge cross?
The bridge must cross USBR-owned water conveyance infrastructure. The description highlights crossings over USBR-owned dams, canals, pipelines, pumping plants, and other Reclamation facilities or land interests.
What does USBR mean by "associated facility" in this context?
The notice clarifies what Reclamation considers an "associated facility" (distinct from high- and significant-hazard dams) and provides examples. These examples include canals and distribution systems, drainage systems, pumping and pump-generating plants, tunnels, penstocks, siphons and pipelines, certain low-hazard diversion and storage dams and regulating reservoirs, fish passage and protective facilities including hatcheries, river channelization features, rural/municipal water systems, desalting and water treatment plants, facilities built under past loan programs, and recreation facilities.
What is the federal cost share for selected projects?
The opportunity states that there is no minimum non-federal cost share requirement. The federal share is stated as 100 percent of the funds requested for the eligible scope of work, meaning an eligible county can request full federal coverage for approved eligible project components.
Is a local match required?
No minimum non-federal cost share is required according to the opportunity description, because the federal share is stated as 100 percent of the funds requested for the eligible scope of work.
What is the maximum award amount?
The listed award ceiling is $25,000,000. This indicates the maximum award size the program will fund for a single project or applicant, depending on how FHWA structures selections under the notice.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered under the transportation funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 20.198.
What is the grant opportunity number?
The grant opportunity number is FHWA BIT3 26 001.
When was this opportunity posted?
The listing shows a creation/posting date of June 2, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date listed is July 16, 2026.
What should an eligible county be prepared to document in its application?
Based on the opportunity description, an application should demonstrate that the bridge meets the Type 3 and FLAP eligibility requirements, clearly document that the crossing is over USBR-owned water conveyance infrastructure, and describe a bridge replacement or rehabilitation scope that fits what the program will fund at a 100 percent federal share for the eligible scope of work.
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