SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $21 MILLION FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE & JOBS LAW FOR NYS THRUWAY AUTHORITY TO RESTORE VITAL CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON BRIDGE AND ENSURE SAFETY OF CAPITAL REGION TRAVELERS
Capital Region Is Among The First In The Nation To Tap The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Competitive “Bridge Investment Program” To Improve Daily Transit And Safety For Upstate New Yorkers and Create New Good-Paying Jobs
Schumer, Gillibrand: Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law Is Bridging The Gap To Modernize Critical Roadway In Capital District
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the NYS Thruway Authority will receive $21 million in federal funding to repair and modernize the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) highly competitive Bridge Investment Program, which provides $12.5 billion over five years to replace, rehabilitate, protect, and preserve the nation’s largest bridges. The federal funding, created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law, will help restore deteriorated sections of the eastbound superstructure of the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge.
“The Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge is a vital connector in the Capital District, but for years its deteriorating infrastructure has put Upstate travelers at risk and hindered economic development. That is why I am so proud to deliver $21 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to restore and rehabilitate this critical connector, create good jobs and ensure the safety of our pedestrians and motorists,” said Senator Schumer. “This important federal funding will extend the service life of the bridge by over 50 years, boosting the Capital Region economy and giving travelers a safer, more secure commute.”
“For too many years, the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge went without desperately needed repairs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law that provides this $21 million grant to modernize the bridge and make it safer for everyone who relies on it, and I will continue fighting for federal dollars to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure across our state.”
The senators explained that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $12.5 billion appropriated annually over five years (FY 22-26) to help plan, replace, rehabilitate, protect, and preserve some of the nation’s largest bridges, ensuring that they remain operational, support local economies, strengthen supply chains, and improve safety. The Capital Region is one of the first communities to tap this funding.
This restoration project will rehabilitate and strengthen deteriorated sections of conditionally at-risk elements on the eastbound superstructure of the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge, which is on the Berkshire Spur of the New York Thruway connecting I-87. The eastbound structural deck of the bridge would be replaced with a new superstructure slab with integral wearing surface. The federal funding will also go towards steel repairs to girders for the approach spans and truss members of the truss spans, installation of a concrete approach slab at each bridge approach, modification to the existing concrete abutment at each approach, and replacement of non-conforming bridge rail with a conforming steel four rail TL-4 system.
A separate, first phase $47.6 million construction project to replace the westbound bridge deck is already underway. With the completion of these two projects, the anticipated service life of the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge superstructure will be extended by 50 years.
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