The city of Cedar Rapids has secured a $56.4 million federal grant to fund construction of the new Eighth Avenue Arc of Justice bridge over the Cedar River.
The grant represents “years of hard work and perseverance” pursuing federal funding for the project, city officials said in a news release.
The grant will support the replacement of the Eighth Avenue bridge over the Cedar River as part of the city’s flood control system.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the grant award April 5 as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) discretionary grant program.
“This project holds significance for the entire community,” Cedar Rapids city manager Jeff Pomeranz said. “I am incredibly proud of the team effort. Our perseverance has paid off. This federal funding award is an acknowledgement of the importance of the flood control system in Cedar Rapids and the effectiveness of the city’s approach.”
The city’s success in earning this grant award underscores years of efforts by city leaders to secure funding for the project.
The application approved April 5 marked the fifth application for federal funding for the bridge replacement, following applications to the Bridge Improvement grant, two RAISE grants, the PROTECT Grant, and the BUILD grant. Each received a “highly recommend” or “recommend” score, yet faced competition in highly competitive and oversubscribed federal funding programs.
City officials thanked several leaders for helping to secure the grant, including Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, Representative Ashley Hinson, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Biden administration, past and present city council members, city lobbyists and grant writers, and many businesses, residents, and community partners who demonstrated their support for the project and have served as a voice on the need for funding.
“This award is a testament to the power of nonpartisan collaboration and a longstanding commitment to meeting the needs of our diverse population,” said Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell. “As severe weather events intensify, the Arc of Justice Bridge will stand as a symbol of our work to shape a future where every community member can thrive.”
The Arc of Justice bridge incorporates several features to ensure durability and accessibility during future flooding events. Elevated 15 feet above the existing Eighth Avenue Bridge, it will remain open during flood conditions, providing an important route for flood control system deployment.
The bridge will sit above the 2008 flood crest and require fewer piers in the river.
The project also includes streetscaping, lighting, four traffic lanes, two shared-use paths/bike trails (one on each side), and connections to the Cedar River Trail. The new route will ensure crucial transportation and emergency medical access is maintained during flooding.
The Eighth Avenue bridge project became eligible for Iowa flood mitigation funds in 2016. Design began in 2018, following an extensive community-input process, where hundreds of Cedar Rapids residents weighed in on options. The design of the Arc of Justice Bridge matches the community’s selection through that process.
The project is approximately 30% designed, and the city has been actively updating environmental clearance documents in preparation for construction. The funding will accelerate remaining design work.
The PROTECT grant is an 80% federal grant with a 20% local match. The City requested grant funding covering the available 80% of project costs, totaling $56.4 million, and received the full amount requested in the grant application.
The remaining 20% will be funded by general obligation bonds and Iowa flood mitigation funds.
The city also earned a $1 million grant from the Iowa DOT’s city bridge program for use toward the bridge.
Construction of the new bridge is set to start in 2027, with an estimated three-year working window. Construction work will be coordinated with the existing west side flood control system as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ east side flood control project.
The East Side project is expected to finish construction in 2026. As a critical component in operating and maintaining the flood control system, the bridge’s completion is necessary for final certification of the east side system.
Several flood control projects are complete, including the recent dedications of flood gates at First Avenue East and 12th Avenue SE, and several more are underway. There is still a need for funding to complete the entire permanent Cedar River flood control system.
For more detailed information on the system, visit CityofCR.com/FloodControl.
