The first round of grants designated for improvements to the nation's bridges will send more than $150 million to a bridge in Connecticut that is a "vital connection" between New England and New York.
The Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London, Conn., is receiving $158 million to rehabilitate the northbound bridge structure, according to a Jan. 4 announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Renovations will include structural repairs, increasing the bridge's load capacity, removing a load restriction for overweight vehicles, and the addition of bike and pedestrian path, the announcement states.
"In addition to addressing congestion and safety issues for communities in southeastern Connecticut," the DOT states, "improvements to this bridge, which carries five lanes of traffic and 42,600 vehicles per day, will address delays in the movement of freight that currently raise costs for American families."
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Shailen Bhatt said the agency is "pleased to partner" with Connecticut's DOT to "modernize the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, which will have a real impact on the quality of life for thousands of residents and motorists traveling between New London and Groton who will benefit from these improvements for decades to come.”
The investment in the Gold Star bridge is funded by Pres. Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's (BIL) Bridget Investment Program, according to the announcement. Large Bridge grants from the program are intended to rebuild or repair 10 of the nation's "most economically significant" bridges, as well as thousands of other bridges around the country. The grants are available for bridge-improvement projects with expected costs over $100 million; minimum grant awards are $50 million and maximum awards of 50% of expected costs, the DOT reports.
“Safe, modern bridges ensure that first responders can get to calls more quickly, shipments reach businesses on time, and drivers can get to where they need to go,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the announcement.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to award this historic funding to modernize large bridges that are not only pillars of our economy, but also iconic symbols of their states’ past and future," Buttigieg said.
