U.S. Transportation Secretary Comes To New London To Celebrate Project

NEW LONDON, CT — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will join state and local officials Wednesday to celebrate a $158 million federal grant that will go toward rehabilitating the Gold Star Memorial Bridge.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration recently announced that the state will receive the funds as part of the first round of Large Bridge Grants that are part of President Joe Biden's infrastructure law.

The grant will fund improvements to the bridge, "which is part of the Interstate 95 corridor and is a vital connection for people and goods traveling between New York and New England," according to a statement from the Federal Highway Administration.

Buttigieg will join Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, New London Mayor Michael Passero, and others at a news conference Wednesday.

The bridges in this round were chosen for their importance to local communities and regional economies, and for the essential role they play in moving goods in our national supply chain.

Improvements will be designed to address congestion and safety issues as well as delays in the movement of freight.

“Safe, modern bridges ensure that first responders can get to calls more quickly, shipments reach businesses on time, and drivers can get to where they need to go,” said Buttigieg said in a statement. “The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to award this historic funding to modernize large bridges that are not only pillars of our economy, but also iconic symbols of their states’ past and future.”

The Gold Star is one of four bridge projects across the country receiving funding in this round. Ultimately, the infrastructure law will "help repair or rebuild ten of the most economically significant bridges in the country along with thousands of bridges across the country."

The Gold Star Memorial Bridge was originally constructed in 1943, and a major superstructure rehabilitation was performed in the 1970s. In the 1990s, multiple rehabilitation projects were completed to improve bridge conditions. In 2014, there was a bearing replacement project for half of the expansion bearings on the approach spans. In 2018, improvements were completed on the southbound span. In 2020, the project on the northbound span began.

See related: $158.2M Federal Infrastructure Grant Will Accelerate Gold Star Rehab