State Historic Bridge Inventory and Evaluation (2024 Update)

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STATE HISTORIC BRIDGE INVENTORY AND EVALUATION 2024 UPDATE The Program Comment issued by the ACHP addresses undertakings that affect a number of common concrete and steel bridges and culverts located throughout the country and whose construction was generally standardized in the years after 1945. A Program Comment is an alternative to Section 106 review that allows a Federal agency to request the ACHP to comment on a category of undertakings in lieu of conducting individual reviews under Sections 800.4 through 800.6 of the Section 106 regulations (36 CFR Part 800). This guidance provides instructions for the use of the "Program Comment for Common Post-1945 Concrete and Steel Bridges" issued by the ACHP for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA for certain common types of bridges or culverts that were built after 1945 and approach or exceed 50 years old. The following types of bridges fall within the scope of Program Comment: reinforced concrete slab bridges, reinforced concrete beam and girder bridges, steel multi-beam or multi-girder bridges, and culverts and reinforced concrete boxes. The Program Comment does not apply to bridges and culverts that are already NRHP-listed or NRHP-eligible; less common bridge types such as arch bridges, truss bridges, bridges with moveable spans, suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, or covered bridges; bridges and culverts on the Bridge Program Comment Excepted Bridges List published by the FHWA, and bridges and culverts on tribal lands. Exemption Regarding Historic Preservation Review Process for Effects to the Interstate Highway System In 2005, the ACHP published the "Exemption Regarding Historic Preservation Review Process for Effects to the Interstate Highway System," which effectively excludes the majority of the 46,700-mile Interstate Highway System (IHS)from consideration as a historic property under Section 106 of the NHPA. The exemption is not applicable for(1) elements that are at least 50 years old, possess national significance, and meet the National Register eligibility criteria; (2) elements that are less than 50 years old, possess national significance, meet the NRHP eligibility criteria, and are of exceptional importance; and (3) elements that were listed in the NRHP or determined eligible for the NRHP prior to 2005 or elements constructed prior to June 30, 1956, that were later incorporated into the IHS, possess state or local significance, and meet the NRHP eligibility criteria. In Hawaii, interstates H-1 and H-2 on Oahu are exempt from further consideration. This exemption applies to bridges, culverts, flyovers, ramps, and other features constructed as part of those highways. However, a portion of H-3 was identified as exceptionally significant:the Trans-Koolau Route segment from milepost 4.2 to 7.9 was constructed in 1997 and identified as having national significance and exceptional importance under item (2) listed above. In addition to the broad IHS exemption, the SAFETEA-LU includes a provision (Section 6007)that exempts the bulk of the IHS from consideration as a historic property under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. With these two exemptions in place, Federal agencies are no longer required to consider the vast majority of the IHS as a historic property under Section 106 and Section 4(f) requirements. Historic Bridges Programmatic Agreement Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 800.14(b), HDOT, in coordination with the FHWA, is currently developing a Programmatic Agreement(PA)to address Federal-aid Highway Program projects specific to historic