County governments express support for extension of NDOT County Bridge Match Program

JEFFERSON COUNTY - This month, county governments across the state are expressing their support for a statewide program that helps provide funding to fix or replace old or beat up bridges throughout Nebraska - funding that's at risk of disappearing.

From Madison County to Lincoln County in the north and down south to Jefferson County and plenty of places in between, county governments across the state have released letters in support of the Nebraska Department of Transportation's County Bridge Match Program.

It awards $500,000 to fund repairs for qualified structures around the state. In Jefferson County alone, 11 bridges have received repairs or been outright replaced thanks to this program since its 2016 inception, saving residents - and the county - a lot of money.

"So if you all do the math on that, that’s $5,500,000," Jefferson County commissioner Mark Schoenrock outlined at last week's county board meeting. "Let me let that sink in. Five million, five hundred thousand dollars, that our county has benefitted, that we have put in bridges, that we have not had to go to Jefferson County taxpayers [for] to replace those bridges." 

"We can save money when they [NDOT] come in if we work as a group of counties, which we have. It helps a lot, and we’ve been very successful," assistant highway supervisor Terry Blas said.

What kind of impact has this statewide program had on local roadways? Specifically, a bridge on the PWF Road, a well-traveled but rundown stretch of road between Jefferson and Gage Counties, must be replaced. That was determined last December.

And NDOT's County Bridge Match Program is providing Jefferson County with $500,000 for that project covering just about half of the estimated $955,000 cost to replace a structure that was first installed in 1935.

"Jefferson County is going to get $500,000 upfront from NDOT to assist us in the cost of replacing that bridge, and that will be the precursor to the new PWF Road which we hope to start next summer," Schoenrock said.

Jefferson County will begin the bid letting process for this bridge this week.

State funding for NDOT's County Bridge Match Program is set to expire in 2029 unless state lawmakers extend the funding for it in next year's session.

The full message shared this month by the county commissioners in Jefferson County - and in multiple other counties around the state - has been reprinted in full below. 

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County Officials Urge Residents to Support Extension of County Bridge Match Program

Jefferson County, NE -- Since 2016, the Nebraska Department of Transportation County Bridge Match Program (CBMP) has played a critical role in improving local infrastructure through a cost-sharing partnership between counties and the state.

Under the program, counties receive 55% of the construction cost - up to $500,000 per project --- for approved bridge projects. Approval is determined by a working group consisting of two county officials (highway superintendents, surveyors, or engineers) and three NDOT representatives.

This collaborative, jointly funded initiative helps our communities, especially in rural Nebraska, replace and repair deficient bridges - improving public safety and ensuring reliable transportation for goods and services. In Jefferson County, 11 bridges have been repaired or replaced through funding provided by this program.

Unfortunately, unless lawmakers appropriate additional state funds in 2026, this critical infrastructure program will not be able to continue through its scheduled expiration in 2029. The lack of funding for the CBMP is a serious concern for Jefferson County. While the program has made meaningful progress, the need goes beyond what can be accomplished in just a few years. In the most recent - and potentially final - CBMP application period, Jefferson County has applied for $500,000 for bridge repair and replacement projects. CBMP funds help ensure that approved projects are not deferred and help limit the burden on property taxpayers.

When funding for programs like the CBMP goes away, the financial burden for critical infrastructure needs falls on taxpayers - often in the form of increased property taxes. It's important to keep in mind that safe, open bridges mean farmers can transport goods to market, emergency responders always have the most efficient route to emergencies, and kids can get to school safely. Programs like the CBMP impact the daily lives of Nebraskans and the economic well-being of the communities they reside in.

The CBMP has proven itself to be an effective and efficient collaborative solution between the state and counties. County officials encourage residents to contact their state senators today to ask them to support continued funding of the program.