Shaheen, Hassan & Kuster Announce $10 Million in Federal Funds for I-89 Infrastructure Project
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NH DOT) and its partners in Vermont for the Interstate-89 (I-89) Lebanon-Hartford Bridge Project. The federal grant is for approximately $10 million and will help rehabilitate two regionally significant interstate bridges that support I-89 and cross the Connecticut River, connecting Vermont and New Hampshire.
“I was thrilled to hear the good news from Secretary Chao this afternoon that New Hampshire is getting the federal support it needs and deserves to fix our crumbling infrastructure,” said Senator Shaheen. “This is a huge investment in the I-89 Lebanon-Hartford Bridge Project that will go a long way in keeping commuters and tourists traveling between New Hampshire and Vermont safe, and will also help promote economic development throughout the region. This is important for our transportation and infrastructure network, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep fighting to bring home federal dollars to continue these necessary investments.”
“I am glad to announce that New Hampshire has been awarded $10 million in federal funding for the I-89 Lebanon-Hartford Bridge Project,” said Senator Hassan. “These funds will help us make much-needed improvements to bridges that are critically important for our people, businesses, tourism industry, and entire economy. This announcement is a significant step forward, but we have much more work to do to address our infrastructure needs in New Hampshire and across the country. As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, I will keep fighting to protect the successful TIGER grant program, which has helped strengthen transportation infrastructure in New Hampshire and across the nation.”
“Today’s announcement of a $10 million TIGER Grant is welcome news for the Upper Valley and the N.H. Department of Transportation who will use these funds to make critical reconstruction repairs to bridges along the Connecticut River,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Investing in our infrastructure is critical to the economic competitiveness of the Granite State and public safety. I have been a strong supporter of robust TIGER Grant funding during my time in Congress, and I am proud to see more federal investments coming back to New Hampshire. As Congress moves forward with the FY2019 appropriations process, I will once again join my colleagues in supporting the TIGER Grant program.”
The TIGER Grant will support efforts to replace the existing deck and superstructure, and widen the current bridges connecting Vermont and New Hampshire that carry I-89. I-89 is part of an international trade route corridor that connects New England with Canadian markets, and serves both freight and commuter traffic. In addition to rehabilitating the bridges, the grant will also prioritize roadway safety by eliminating substandard ramp merge distances and providing standard shoulder width.
Senator Shaheen authored a letter of support on behalf of the project to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in October. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has fought to bring federal dollars back to New Hampshire to invest in critical transportation and infrastructure projects to fix the Granite State’s roads, rails, bridges and ports. Last year, Senators Shaheen and Hassan called on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies to back off threats to eliminate funding for the TIGER program.
As a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Hassan pressed Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on the importance of TIGER grants and TIFIA loans. Under questioning from Senator Hassan during her confirmation hearing, then-nominee Elaine Chao acknowledged the importance of both programs. Senator Hassan also sent a letter to Secretary Chao in support of this TIGER grant.
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