DOT Announces $108.7M to Rebuild Alaska Bridges Over Johnson and Gerstle Rivers

DOT Press Releases

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced $108.7 million in federal funding for the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project in Alaska. The Trump Administration funding will rebuild critical infrastructure along the Alaska Highway, enhancing safety, commerce, and military readiness in the state's interior.

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What changed

The Department of Transportation is delivering $108.7 million to replace two aging bridges in Alaska—the Johnson River Bridge and the Gerstle River Bridge—as part of a bundled bridge replacement project. The funding, provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to strengthen the Alaska Highway corridor, which supports military readiness and supply chains. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan credited his work on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for securing Alaska-specific investments.

This is a funding announcement rather than a regulatory action, so no compliance obligations or deadlines apply to private entities. State of Alaska transportation officials will manage project implementation. Industry stakeholders in freight logistics and transportation should note improved infrastructure reliability along the Alaska Highway corridor, which may affect supply chain planning for businesses operating in the region.

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Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Delivers $108 Million to Rebuild Alaska Bridges Over Johnson and Gerstle Rivers

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced today a $108.7 million investment into the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project. This crucial funding by the Trump Administration will rebuild Alaska’s essential bridge network, strengthening America’s commerce and safety.

“The Trump Administration cares about American families in every corner of our great country. That’s why this administration’s first investment into rebuilding our nation’s crumbling bridge infrastructure will go towards rebuilding the Johnson and Gerstle River bridges. Alaskans rely on this critical infrastructure to commute to work, access medical care, and connect to their communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

“On behalf of the State of Alaska, I want to thank Secretary Duffy and the Trump Administration for funding the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “This critical investment strengthens our transportation infrastructure, enhances safety for Alaskans, and supports economic growth across the interior part of our state. We appreciate the administration’s recognition of Alaska’s unique needs and its commitment to ensuring our communities remain connected.”

“I often say Alaska is resource-rich but infrastructure-poor, and that reality is exactly why building out our infrastructure to unlock Alaska’s full potential has long been one of my top priorities,” said U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan. “As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Commerce Committee, I worked to ensure the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act delivered meaningful, Alaska-specific investments, and today’s announcement is a direct result of that effort. I appreciate the strong partnership of Secretary Duffy across all sectors of Alaska’s economy—roads, ports, bridges, aviation safety and aviation infrastructure, rail and maritime—and Administrator McMaster in advancing these projects. Strengthening this critical corridor will enhance our military readiness in the Interior, and ensure safer, more reliable connectivity for the Alaskans who depend on this transportation route every day.”

“The Johnson and Gerstle River bridges are a vital link in Alaska’s transportation network. Investing in their replacement will mean greater reliability and stronger supply chains along the Alaska Highway,” said U.S. Congressman Nick Begich. “This investment reflects a clear understanding of Alaska’s infrastructure needs. I thank Secretary Duffy and the U.S. Department of Transportation for prioritizing these projects and for partnering with us to strengthen Alaska’s critical infrastructure.”

“One bridge at a time, we are helping to ensure that Americans have safe and reliable infrastructure,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “The Trump Administration is investing $108 million to rebuild this critical bridge project to secure the vital supply chains of the Alaska Highway. By doing so, we are strengthening the essential arteries that drive our nation’s economic dominance.”

Additional Information:

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will receive $108.7 million for the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The project will replace the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bridges in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. These bridges facilitate supply chains, connect remote communities, and support infrastructure development, military operations and emergency response. This project will eliminate two load-restricted bridges on the primary overland route from Canada to Alaska.

FHWA’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP) aims to improve the condition of bridges in the United States by rebuilding bridges in poor condition and to upgrade design standards for outdated bridges. Large Bridge Project grants under BIP are available for bridge projects with a total eligible cost of over $100 million. Additional information can be found here: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bip/.