Rep. Mike Simpson has advanced nearly $5.83 million in federal funding to replace the Dry Creek Bridge near Murtaugh, Idaho, a structure approaching its 100th year of service on the US-30 corridor. The funding was included through the Community Project Funding mechanism in the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which received approval from the House Appropriations Committee.

An Aging Structure Due for Replacement

The Dry Creek Bridge is approximately 95 years old and carries constraints that reflect its era of construction. Its lanes are narrower than modern standards, its design is considered outdated, and engineers have identified limitations in sight distance and guardrail systems that affect both capacity and safety.

The replacement project would widen and elevate the structure while also modernizing its safety features and improving sight lines for drivers. The bridge sits along a stretch of US-30 that supports a mix of traffic — from everyday commuters and recreational travelers to commercial and agricultural users.

Jesse Barrus, head engineer for Idaho Transportation Department District 4, described the project as a priority given the role the bridge plays in the regional economy. “This is a needed project on US-30 as the Dry Creek Bridge serves communities, recreation, and commerce including our important agriculture industry,” Barrus said.

Simpson’s Role as Idaho’s Only Appropriator

Simpson, who represents Idaho’s second congressional district and is currently in his fourteenth term in the House, holds a unique position in the Idaho delegation as the state’s sole member of the House Appropriations Committee. That seat gives him the ability to steer Community Project Funding toward Idaho infrastructure priorities — a tool unavailable to most members of Congress.

Simpson pointed to population growth in Twin Falls County as one reason the project has become urgent. “Replacing the nearly 95-year-old Dry Creek Bridge is long overdue,” he said. “Improving and replacing this existing bridge will enhance public safety.”

Before his congressional career, Simpson served on the Blackfoot City Council beginning in 1980 and was elected to the Idaho Legislature in 1984, where he spent more than a decade including six years as Speaker. He was first elected to Congress in 1998.

What Comes Next

The appropriations bill containing the Dry Creek Bridge funding still must pass the full House and clear the Senate before reaching the president’s desk. Community Project Funding items included in committee-approved bills can face scrutiny during floor debate or in conference negotiations between chambers, meaning the project’s ultimate funding is not yet guaranteed.

If the measure becomes law, the $5,833,000 would flow to the Idaho Transportation Department for the replacement project. No construction timeline was specified in the committee materials.

Broader Idaho Infrastructure Context

The Dry Creek project is one of several Idaho transportation and infrastructure priorities moving through the federal appropriations process. Idaho’s congressional delegation has been active on a range of spending and policy fronts this year. Sen. Mike Crapo has been engaged on issues including wildfire funding renewal and other federal priorities, while the delegation has also weighed in on workforce and trade policy debates affecting Idaho industries.

For rural communities along US-30 and throughout southern Idaho, bridge infrastructure remains a persistent need as agricultural and commercial traffic continues to stress roadways and structures built in earlier decades. The Dry Creek replacement, if funded and completed, would bring one of the region’s oldest spans up to contemporary safety and design standards.