Courtney Welcomes U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to Eastern Connecticut to Celebrate New Funding for the Gold Star Bridge
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) made the following statement welcoming U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to New London to celebrate a new $158 million federal infrastructure investment that will accelerate repairs to the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, a critical link along the I-95 corridor. The funding was awarded to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Rep. Courtney voted to pass in November 2021.
“With all the momentum our region’s economy has behind it right now, the Gold Star Bridge is a perfect example of how the IIJA is making targeted and long-overdue investments that will result in huge returns for our towns and regional economies. It’s an exciting time for eastern Connecticut, and I’m glad to welcome Secretary Buttigieg to New London to help us celebrate,” said Rep. Courtney. “The Gold Star is the largest passenger and truck bridge in our entire state, it’s a critical link between two major port cities, and it sees tens of thousands of vehicles and millions of dollars’ in commerce flow across it each day. This new injection of IIJA funding is going to support members of the local Ironworkers Union and others working on the project as they complete Phase 1 upgrades, and will ultimately mean the bridge can support heavier vehicles—a benefit to all motorists that will reduce truck traffic on local roads. Secretary Buttigieg has done an outstanding job of marshalling IIJA resources in the first year since we passed the Infrastructure Law, and I’m excited to see this work continue to pay off for eastern Connecticut.”
Last week, FHWA announced a new federal grant award of $158,150,000 to support ongoing repairs and upgrades to the Gold Star Bridge in New London. The resources were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP)—a highly competitive program funded by the IIJA. This The Gold Star Bridge was one of only four bridge projects nationwide chosen for funding in this round of BIP awards, all of which were identified for their importance to regional economies and for the role they play in our national supply chain.
In August, Rep. Courtney led an effort with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) encouraging Secretary Buttigieg to support the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s proposal to the FHWA for funding through the BIP. In a letter to Secretary Buttigieg, they noted that the Gold Star Bridge’s role as a link between two major port cities and its status as the largest bridge in Connecticut warranted it fair and full consideration for funding through the IIJA’s Bridge Investment Program.
“Since its initial construction, the Gold Star Memorial Bridge has experienced significant deterioration on the northbound span. Although intermittent maintenance has been performed since, CTDOT’s last major rehabilitation of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge took place in the 1970’s. […] The Department estimates additional vehicle limitations will be necessary by 2033 without significant rehabilitation. In order to remediate its current poor condition, CTDOT has developed a three-stage rehabilitation plan: Phase 1A (strengthening and improving the condition of the truss spans), Phase 1B (strengthening and improving the girder spans), and Phase 2 (replacement of the bridge deck, among other improvements). Phase 1A construction began in Spring 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in June 2025.”
“CTDOT is requesting $158.2 million in BIP Large Bridge funding to assist the state in accelerating completion of Phase 1B and the launching of Phase 2. The Department will use any awarded BIP funds to accelerate repairs on an aggressive schedule to avoid additional vehicle restrictions. The project also includes upgrades to a multi-use path that will benefit active transportation users and connect two distressed municipalities, the Naval Submarine Base, and the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London.”
“The [IIJA] was passed into law to move forward large, nationally significant projects like this one. This project supports the establishing goals of the Page 2 Connecticut Department of BIP grant program-namely ensuring a state of good repair, improving safety, facilitating the movement of freight and workers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to traffic congestion, and improving the quality of life for residents of New London, Groton, and the surrounding communities.”
Click here to read Courtney, Blumenthal, and Murphy’s full letter to Secretary Buttigieg in support of this IIJA grant funding.
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