Bridge investment program (porter avenue bridge replacement)

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma $13.79 million under the Bridge Investment Program (CFDA 20.264) on November 5, 2025, to support the replacement of the Porter Avenue Bridge in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The project is scheduled for completion by November 5, 2029. This block grant funding enables the Tribe to directly address bridge infrastructure needs within its jurisdiction, leveraging the Bridge Investment Program's expanded eligibility criteria that permits tribal governments to serve as direct grant recipients rather than requiring state intermediation.

The Bridge Investment Program is a competitive, discretionary initiative established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that focuses on replacing, rehabilitating, preserving, and protecting bridges to reduce the number of structures in poor or fair condition. Through this award, the Absentee Shawnee Tribe will execute the engineering, design, and construction activities necessary to replace the aging Porter Avenue Bridge infrastructure, with the project advancing both local transportation capacity and community safety objectives within the five-county central Oklahoma service region.