HR 4170
Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act of 2025
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Bill overview
The Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act of 2025 aims to improve the durability of bridges and railroad bridges by requiring specific corrosion control measures. It mandates that contractors working on these projects be certified, utilize qualified training programs, and implement corrosion management systems based on industry standards. The bill also expands funding for corrosion control on rail bridges and directs the Department of Transportation to study best practices for inspecting and addressing corrosion on weathering steel bridges.
Key provisions
- Requires contractors to be certified by a third-party organization with expertise in corrosion control.
- Mandates the use of qualified training programs for corrosion control personnel.
- Requires the implementation of a corrosion management system for applicable bridge projects.
- Expands the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program to include corrosion control work on rail bridges.
- Directs the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on best practices for inspecting and addressing corrosion on weathering steel bridges.
- Requires certified contractors to provide training for non-certified coating applicators.
- Establishes standards for contractor certifications using AMPP SSPC–QP standards.
- Requires the use of industry-recognized standards and corrosion mitigation methods.
Who is affected
- Federal Highway Administration
- State Departments of Transportation
- Local Governments
- Railroad Companies
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4170
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To require that certain aspects of bridge projects be carried out by certified contractors, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act of 2025
.
The term applicable bridge project means a project for construction, replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, or protection, other than de minimis work, as determined by the entity carrying out the project, on—
a bridge project that receives financial assistance under title 23, United States Code; or
a project for a railroad bridge (as defined in section 237.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)) that receives financial assistance under title 49, United States Code.
The term certified contractor means a contracting or subcontracting firm that has been certified by a third-party organization recognized industry-wide that evaluates the capability of the contractor or subcontractor to properly perform 1 or more specified aspects of an applicable bridge project described in subsection (b)(2).
The term qualified training program means a training program in corrosion control, mitigation, and prevention that is—
offered by an organization that provides trainees with a certification that meets the ANSI/NACE Number 13/SSPC–ACS–1 standard (or a successor standard) or another standard approved by the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration; or
an industrial coatings applicator training program—
registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act
) (50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and
that meets the standards of subpart A of part 29 and part 30 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
A certified contractor shall carry out aspects of an applicable bridge project described in paragraph (2).
Aspects of an applicable bridge project referred to in paragraph (1) include—
surface preparation or coating application on steel, concrete, or rebar of an applicable bridge project;
removal of a lead-based or other hazardous coating from steel or concrete of an existing applicable bridge project; and
shop painting of structural steel or rebar fabricated for installation on an applicable bridge project.
In carrying out an applicable bridge project, the entity carrying out the project shall—
implement a corrosion management system that utilizes industry-recognized standards and corrosion mitigation and prevention methods to address different considerations, including—
surface preparation;
protective coatings;
materials selection;
cathodic protection;
corrosion engineering;
personnel training; and
best practices in environmental protection to prevent environmental degradation and uphold public health; and
require certified contractors, for the purpose of carrying out aspects of applicable bridge projects described in paragraph (2), to employ a substantial number of individuals that are trained and certified by a qualified training program.
As a condition of entering into a contract for an applicable bridge project, each certified contractor shall provide training for each individual who is not a certified coating applicator but that the certified contractor employs to carry out aspects of applicable bridge projects described in subsection (b)(2).
Section 22402(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
orat the end;
by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and
by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
to perform corrosion control work on rail bridges; or
Congress finds that—
weathering steel is often used for bridge construction projects because of its ability to withstand weather conditions better than other forms of steel;
the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in January 2022 highlights the real threat that corrosion poses to the bridges of the United States;
more research is needed into the vulnerabilities of weathering steel; and
States and units of local government need more information on when and how to address the risk of corrosion to weathering steel.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall—
carry out a study on best practices for—
the frequency and method of inspecting corrosion on weathering steel bridges; and
addressing corrosion on weathering steel bridges;
submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1); and
make the report under paragraph (2) available to State departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations (as defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code), regional transportation planning organizations (as defined in that section), and units of local government that own bridge assets.