Shaheen, Hassan, Pappas Join Event to Celebrate $20 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for the Seawall along New Hampshire Route 1A

(Rye, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S Representative Chris Pappas, joined Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt for a press conference in Rye to celebrate over $20 million in federal grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to make repairs and reconstruct the seawall along New Hampshire Route 1A between North Hampton and Rye. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program—a new grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was negotiated by Senators Shaheen and Hassan and the full New Hampshire Congressional delegation supported.

“As climate change drives more extreme weather events and sea-level rise along New Hampshire’s Seacoast, it’s increasingly important that we have resilient infrastructure that Granite Staters can rely on,” said Senator Shaheen. “I'm glad Administrator Bhatt joined us today to celebrate these federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped negotiate, to reinforce structures along Route 1A, ensuring that the stretch between North Hampton and Rye is less prone to closures and damage after severe storms.” 

“Climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather in New Hampshire. This federal funding will help improve Route 1A’s resiliency to the flooding that has unfortunately become familiar to those living on the Seacoast,” said Senator Hassan. “I was proud to help negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help make projects exactly like this one in North Hampton and Rye possible, and I know that the upgrades the law provides for will make a difference in the lives of Granite Staters and all Americans.” 

“I was glad to join federal, state, and local officials in Rye today as we announce more than $20 million in federal funds returning to New Hampshire to improve the resiliency of Route 1A between North Hampton and Rye,” said Congressman Pappas. “As sea levels rise and Seacoast communities continue to deal with costly and lasting damage from extreme weather events, we must continue to improve our flood and climate resiliency. I remain committed to delivering federal resources to update Granite State infrastructure and improve climate resiliency for communities throughout the state.” 

“Every community in America knows the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, including increasingly frequent heavy rain and flooding events across the country and the sea-level rise that is inundating infrastructure in coastal states,” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “This investment in New Hampshire from the Biden-Harris Administration will ensure our infrastructure is built to withstand more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather, which is vitally important for people and businesses that rely on roads and bridges being open to keep our economy moving.”? 

The entire New Hampshire Congressional delegation has made it a top priority to ensure New Hampshire has the funds it needs to update aging infrastructure across the state. Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided a $550 billion investment in our nation’s infrastructure, including more than $847.4 million for roads, bridges, roadway safety and major projects in New Hampshire.   

As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Shaheen works to secure robust funding for infrastructure. In the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, Shaheen secured more than $22 million for various projects across the state. Earlier in the year, Shaheen and Hassan joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the site of the Derry – Londonderry I-93 Exit 4A Project to highlight the impact of federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

Shaheen also recently toured three sites along Route 1A, including Rye Harbor, the Bass Beach area in North Hampton and North Beach in Hampton, to view storm damage and receive updates from local and state officials on the status of ongoing repairs. Her visit came after severe storms and flooding in January, in which businesses, homes and infrastructure across New Hampshire’s Seacoast faced catastrophic damage.   

Senator Hassan also recently visited areas along Route 1A to hear from first responders about flood damage. Last month, Senator Hassan hosted Hampton Police Chief and Hampton Deputy Director of Emergency Management Alex Reno as her guest of honor for President Biden’s State of the Union Address. Chief Reno’s leadership has been integral to recovery efforts on the Seacoast after the January flooding. Senator Hassan has also directly negotiated nearly $1 billion in critical funding for coastal resiliency in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding that includes $492 million for the NOAA National Coastal Resiliency Fund and $491 million for the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program. 

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