Last week, we looked at a portion of funding being awarded by the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, a program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was signed into law by President Biden last year. INFRA is making more than $900 million available for American infrastructure projects across the country. If you missed last week’s column, check it out here. And now, let’s continue our look into the projects being funded by INFRA.
INFRA Funding
- I-375 Community Reconnection Project: This urban project in Michigan was awarded approximately $105 million. The project aims to realign the ramps and freeway near I-375, convert I-375 to a slower speed boulevard, install calming traffic measures, remove weaving and merging areas, remove the Jefferson Avenue curve, and incorporate LED lighting in the project area. The project will reconnect neighborhoods that were divided by the current highway design with an at-grade boulevard, providing the community with better access to jobs and services in the area.
- I-90 Austin Bridges Improvement Project: This rural project in Minnesota was awarded $25 million. The project will construct eight bridges (five overhead, two mainline, one pedestrian) and rehabilitate two mainline bridges along I-90. The project is aligned with the state’s climate action and equitable development plans. It will improve resiliency and disaster preparedness along the corridor.
- US 212 Freight Mobility & Safety Project: This rural project in Minnesota was awarded $10 million. The project will expand approximately five miles of US 212 from a two-lane undivided highway to a four-lane divided expressway. The project reconstructs a 90-year-old roadway and reconfigures intersections in areas with high crash rates to improve safety and facilitate freight movement.
- US-395 & Virginia Street North Valleys: This two-component urban project in Nevada was awarded approximately $89 million. The first component will add two lanes along roughly three miles of US-395, improving traffic control, interchange lighting, sound walls, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements. The second component will create a complete street along a 2.5 mile stretch of North Virginia Street.
- Route 7 Drainage Improvements: This urban project in New Jersey was awarded $26 million. The project will make drainage improvements on approximately two miles of Route 7. The road is subject to chronic flooding, often causing toad closures and detours. Raising the roadway and improving the drainage addresses the safety issues that occur on the road.
- Border Highway Connector Project: This rural project in New Mexico was awarded $45 million. This project develops an approximately six-mile, four-lane, directionally separated highway connecting the Santa Teresa Port of Entry (STPoE) with State Road 273 (NM273) in Sunland Park. This project aims to reduce congestion and facilitate the movement of goods by providing a direct route that will reduce the miles traveled and associated travel time.
- Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market Intermodal Facility: This urban project in New York was awarded $110 million. This project will redevelop the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market intermodal facility with expanded refrigerated warehouse space and electric vehicle charging stations for trucks and cars. This project will boost the economy by improving one of the largest food distribution centers in the country by widening and separating vehicular, truck, rail, and pedestrian circulation.
- I-85 FUTURES: This rural project in North Carolina was awarded $100 million. This project plans to widen a segment of I-85 from six lanes to eight lanes, adding auxiliary lanes for interchanges, and replacing approximately six overpasses, five interchanges, and four railroad bridges to accommodate the widening. Vehicle safety, improved curves, widened shoulders, and improved barriers will be the result of this project.
- Western Hills Viaduct Replacement: This urban project in Ohio was awarded approximately $127 million. This project will replace the Western Hills Viaduct over the Mill Creek Valley with a new structure, which will connect to a redesigned interchange with I-75. This project replaces an 85-year-old viaduct that is in a poor state.
- Tioga Marine Terminal Access and Capacity Enhancements Project: This urban project in Pennsylvania was awarded approximately $20 million. The project will construct a roughly 100,000-square-foot warehouse with rail access, employee parking, and loading docks at the Tioga Marine Terminal. The project addresses the lack of capacity available at the Port of Philadelphia and avoids lengthy re-routing of cargo to other east coast ports.
Many of the projects that are being funded by INFRA will improve the lives of millions of Americans as they go through their day-to-day lives. The forward planning in these projects will ensure that the infrastructure in America is up to date and will be around for years to come. Next week, we finish our look into the projects that INFRA is funding. And click here to check out our previous coverage of the IIJA.
--------------------------------
Source: USDOT
