FHWA published a September 17 notice seeking comments by October 19 on a new information collection for up to $25 million in fiscal 2026 grants to replace or rehabilitate eligible county-owned Type 3 bridges.
The notice was published September 17
The Federal Highway Administration published a Federal Register notice on September 17, 2026 requesting comments on a new information collection for the Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation, or BIT3, Competitive Grant Program. FHWA has forwarded the request to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Comments are due October 19
The notice asks the public to submit comments by October 19, 2026. FHWA invites input on whether the collection is necessary, whether its burden estimate is accurate, how the information could be made clearer or more useful and how the burden could be reduced without lowering data quality.
Up to $25 million is available for fiscal 2026
FHWA says its Notice of Funding Opportunity will make up to $25 million in fiscal year 2026 funding available for BIT3 competitive grants. The program was established by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. The September 17 action concerns approval of the related information collection, not an award announcement.
Only a narrow bridge category is covered
The program is intended for county-owned bridges classified as Type 3 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that cross a USBR-owned water conveyance structure. This is not a nationwide grant for every deficient bridge, truck route or private structure. Eligibility turns on bridge classification, ownership and location described in the federal program.
The federal share can cover 100 percent
According to FHWA, the federal share for eligible BIT3 projects is 100 percent, so no local match is required. Eligible applicants are counties that own a qualifying Type 3 bridge. Counties should still review the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity and applicable federal requirements before treating a project or expense as eligible.
FHWA expects about 50 applicants
The agency estimates that roughly 50 county governments will apply. It projects about 240 total annual burden hours, with individual response time ranging from 0.5 to 4 hours depending on the application stage. These figures estimate paperwork burden; they are not a forecast of how many grants will be awarded.
The program links bridge condition with freight reliability
FHWA lists improving water delivery, bridge condition and the safety, efficiency and reliability of moving people and goods among the program's goals. For trucking, a repaired qualifying bridge can matter to route continuity and local access, but the notice does not identify award locations or promise that a specific freight corridor will receive funding.
A prior comment period drew no responses
FHWA says it published an earlier 60-day notice on May 21, 2026 and received no comments. The new notice is the OMB-stage request and provides another opportunity to address the proposed information collection. The October 19 deadline applies to this notice.
The notice creates no new driver rule
Nothing in the September 17 document changes CDL qualifications, truck size or weight limits, hours-of-service rules, routing restrictions or bridge-posting compliance. Drivers must continue to follow posted limits and current routing instructions. Future construction or detours would be communicated through separate project and traffic-control channels.
Carriers should separate funding news from route status
The availability of grant funding does not mean a bridge has reopened, gained capacity or become legal for a particular vehicle. Dispatchers should rely on current state and local restrictions, permits and posted signs. A project application, selection and construction can occur on different timelines, and the Federal Register notice does not replace route verification.
Counties should prepare reproducible information
An applicant should verify bridge ownership and Type 3 classification, preserve engineering and condition records, identify the USBR water conveyance structure and follow the final application instructions. Commenters should cite docket FHWA-2026-1057 and focus on the proposed collection's necessity, clarity, accuracy or burden.
What happens next
FHWA will summarize or include comments in its request for OMB clearance. Grant solicitations may be published annually but remain subject to available appropriations or other authorizing legislation. The September 17 notice therefore advances the paperwork approval process while the fiscal 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity is the source for the actual application terms.
Primary-source note
This report is based on Federal Register document 2026-19028, issued by FHWA and published September 17, 2026. CDL Truck Pro has kept the information-collection review, public-comment deadline, expected applicant count and grant-funding description separate from any future project award or operating-rule change.
Continue with CDL Truck Pro
Official sources
Federal Register: FHWA BIT3 information-collection notice, September 17, 2026Regulations.gov docket FHWA-2026-1057FHWA Bridge ProgramsCDL Truck Pro provides educational information. Confirm licensing, safety, tax, and regulatory requirements through current official sources and qualified professionals.