As a rule, off-system bridge projects administered by TxDOT have federal fund participation. Most of these projects consist of replacement or rehabilitation of poor bridges funded with a combination of federal-local or federal-state-local funds, with the federal funds administered through TxDOT’s Highway Bridge Program. However, TxDOT does administer a relatively small number of other off-system bridge construction projects with federal funding from the Surface Transportation Program (STP).

Coordinate with the local government when planning off-system bridge projects, particularly when using funds from the Highway Bridge Program. An appropriate agreement between the State and local government must be executed before any work can be performed on an offsystem project funded from the Highway Bridge Program. In addition to specifying the responsibilities of the two parties in the performance and funding of the work, the agreement provides for advance payments by the local government of its share of the project funding responsibilities. The agreement also allows a local government to use equivalent-match projects as payment toward its share of project funding.

The current standard agreements may be obtained from the Contract Services Division standard contracts web page. If you need assistance accessing this web page, which is internal to TxDOT, please contact the TxDOT District office with which you are working, or the Bridge Division project manager.

Title 43 TAC, Sections 15.52 and 15.55

provides more information about the Off-State System Highway Bridge Program agreements and cost participation.

Off-system bridges with adjacent states are funded 100% by a combination of federal and state funds, or 100% by state funds. No local government contribution on the Texas side of the bridge is required.