​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Purpose:

• The Bridge Replacement Off System or BROS program is a federally funded bridge replacement program to reduce the number of deficient off-system bridges. It applies to bridges owned by cities, towns and counties, located on a non-federal aid roadway and open to the public.
• Once a new bridge has been constructed, the local agency is responsible for all maintenance on the structure. WYDOT will continue to inspect and load rate for federal reporting purposes.

Funding:

• The matching ratio for program funding is 90.49% federal-aid funds and 9.51% local funds.

Eligibility:

• All bridges owned by local agencies on routes that are classified as local or collector are eligible for this program. The route must be under the jurisdiction of and maintained by a public authority, and open to the public.
• A bridge is defined as a structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, a highway, or a railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than or equal to 20 feet between abutments or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes; it may also include multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening.
• A bridge must be classified as “poor” per the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), and be at least 10 years old.

Programming:

• The local agency submits to the District Engineer a request in writing that a structure be accepted into the BROS program. The request should identify the route, milepost, and Structure Number, and include documentation showing the structure is under the jurisdiction of the local agency and within a dedicated public right-of-way.
• The request will be reviewed by the State Bridge Engineer and the local agency will be notified in writing if the bridge is eligible and accepted into the BROS program.
• Consideration is given to a fair and equitable distribution of projects throughout the state, but is on a first come first serve basis.
• As part of this program, WYDOT will hold a reconnaissance inspection, publish a reconnaissance report, complete preliminary engineering, design, specifications and contract bid documents, bid advertising and award, construction contracting, construction engineering, inspection, environmental clearances and documents, right-of-way easements and acquisition, and project completion and acceptance.
• This work will be completed under a series of cooperative agreements between the department and local agency.
• Due to the number of requests for BROS funding, new bridges being added to the program may not be designed and constructed for 5 or more years from entering the program.