(a) The commissioner shall maintain a list of eligible bridges and shall establish a priority list of eligible bridge projects for each fiscal year. In establishing such priority list, the commissioner shall consider the physical condition of each eligible bridge.

(b) In each fiscal year the commissioner may make grants to municipalities in the order of the priority list of eligible bridge projects to the extent moneys are available therefor. Each municipality undertaking an eligible bridge project may apply for and receive a grant equal to its grant percentage multiplied by the project costs allocable to such municipality. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, in order to protect the public health and safety, the commissioner may make any grant to a municipality for an eligible bridge project without regard to the priority list if, in the opinion of the commissioner, an emergency exists making the removal, replacement, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of an eligible bridge more urgent than any other eligible bridge project with a higher priority on such list.

(c) All applications for grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1985, shall be filed with the commissioner no later than October 1, 1984, and for each succeeding fiscal year all such applications shall be filed with the commissioner no later than May first of the preceding fiscal year. The commissioner may for good cause extend the period of time in which any such application may be filed.

(d) The terms and conditions of each such grant made by the state, acting by and through the commissioner, may be prescribed by the commissioner. Any such grant made by the commissioner shall not be deemed to be a public works contract, as defined in § 46a-68b, and the requirements for public works contracts provided in chapters 58 and 814c shall not apply to such grant.

(e) A grant shall not be made to a municipality with respect to an eligible bridge project unless: (1) Each municipality undertaking such project has available to it, or has made arrangements satisfactory to the commissioner to obtain, funds to pay that portion of the project costs for which it is legally obligated and which are not met by grants; (2) each municipality undertaking such project provides assurances satisfactory to the commissioner that it will undertake and complete such project with due diligence and that it will operate and maintain the eligible bridge properly after completion of such project; (3) each municipality undertaking such project and seeking a grant has filed with the commissioner all applications and other documents prescribed by the commissioner; (4) each municipality undertaking such project and seeking a grant has established separate accounts for the receipt and disbursement of the grants; and (5) in any case in which an eligible bridge is owned or maintained by more than one municipality, evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that all such municipalities are legally bound to complete their respective portions of such project. Notwithstanding any provisions of this subsection, the commissioner may make an advance grant to a municipality for the purpose of funding the engineering cost of an eligible bridge project. Such grant shall equal the municipality’s grant percentage multiplied by the engineering cost, provided the amount of such advance shall be deducted from the total grant for the project.

(f) No grant for an eligible bridge project made pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be a proposed state action, activity or critical activity, as such terms are defined in § 25-68b, for the purposes of sections 25-68b to 25-68h, inclusive.