The Federal Highway Administration recently issued more than $700 million in combined funding via its Bridge Investment Program or BIP to support major bridge construction projects in Alaska as well as the rebuild of the Delaware River Bridge (above) between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
[Above photo via Wikipedia]
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will receive $108.7 million for the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project; an initiative that will replace the Johnson River and Gerstle River bridges in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area.
Those new structures will also eliminate the current load-restrictions in place for the current bridges, which are critical links on the primary overland route from Canada to Alaska.
“This critical investment strengthens our transportation infrastructure, enhances safety for Alaskans, and supports economic growth across the interior part of our state,” explained Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) in a statement. “We appreciate the administration’s recognition of Alaska’s unique needs and its commitment to ensuring our communities remain connected.”
“One bridge at a time, we are helping to ensure that Americans have safe and reliable infrastructure,” added Sean McMaster, FHWA administrator. By doing so, we are strengthening the essential arteries that drive our nation’s economic dominance.”
Concurrently, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will receive $600 million to replace the Delaware River Bridge, FHWA noted in a separate statement. Originally built in 1956, that bridge is deemed critical to maintaining the I-95 river crossing between Bucks County, PA, and Burlington County, NJ.
The Delaware River Bridge project will also increase system resiliency by reducing the area obstructing river flow during high water events, among other critical improvements, the agency said.
