Jonesboro committee backs application for USDOT bridge planning grant

Chair opened the meeting and introduced Resolution 26,063, which authorizes the City of Jonesboro Grants and Community Development Department to apply for the U.S. Department of Transportation FY26 Bridge Investment Program planning grant seeking $600,000 in federal funding and committing a $150,000 local match to develop a comprehensive bridge prioritization and asset management plan.

The plan, as read into the record, would include a systemwide assessment of city‑owned bridges, detailed engineering evaluations of priority structures, cost estimates and recommendations for preservation, rehabilitation, replacement and funding opportunities. After the resolution text was presented, a motion to forward the measure to full council was made and seconded.

During questions, a committee member asked whether the Bridge Street Bridge would be part of the study. A staff member responded, “We went through the list that we get from the National Bridge Inventory in the state of Arkansas and tried to pick the 17 most critical bridges … based on their different evaluations and picked those to do a study on so that eventually then we could use that to apply for another grant for the funds to replace and build bridges in the future.” The staff response framed the grant application as a planning step to support future replacement projects rather than immediate construction funding.

The committee voted to forward Resolution 26,063 to the full council for consideration. The item will next be considered at a full council meeting where final authorization and any accompanying match commitments would be decided.