Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Replace Bridges Over the Red River in Norman, Polk, and Clay Counties

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $24 million for the Red River Regional Bridge System Replacement Project in Norman, Polk, and Clay counties. The grant, provided through USDOT's BUILD program, will replace up to three bridges over the Red River. This project upgrades aging bridges that are frequently impacted by flooding across the three counties. The bridge system supports commuters, freight movement, and commercial transportation between Minnesota and North Dakota.

"The bridges over the Red River are aging, vulnerable to flooding, and need to be replaced. This federal grant will deliver resources for the bridge replacement project, ensuring both drivers and freight can safely cross the Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota," Klobuchar said.

"The bridges connecting Minnesota and North Dakota in the Red River Valley are vital to our ag economy and the surrounding communities," said Smith. "Replacing three old bridges across the Red River will keep commodities moving to market and ensure friends and neighbors have safe crossings as they drive across the prairie."

Today's announcement builds on Klobuchar and Smith's past work to support infrastructure in the Red River Valley. In 2022, Klobuchar, Smith and Senator Hoeven secured $437 million of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding for the construction of permanent flood protection in the Red River Valley. With that award, the project received the complete federal funding commitment of $750 million.

BUILD grants, previously referred to as RAISE grants, can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the BUILD grants, as well as resources for improving the state's roads, bridges, public transportation, and water infrastructure.