New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that the state would make $200 million in funding available for local governments to use on bridge projects.
As part of BRIDGE NY, the grants would allow communities to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts to make them more resilient to extreme weather events. The announcement adds upon the $500 million previously awarded to more than 140 local governments since 2016 used to rehabilitate or replace 298 bridges and culverts.
“New York State and communities around the world are increasingly contending with extreme weather events driven by climate change, and it’s vital that we fortify our community infrastructure to be resilient to those changes,” Cuomo said. “This newly-available BRIDGE NY funding provides communities statewide with the technical and financial support necessary to harden locally owned bridges and culverts, which will not only enhance their safety and reliability but will facilitate regional and global economic competitiveness.”
Applications are open to all municipalities that receive and administer state and federal transportation funding. Awards will be made on a competitive basis and will support all phases of a project’s development, from design to right-of-way acquisition to construction. Evaluations will be based on the structural condition of a bridge or culvert, its resiliency and significance based on traffic volumes, as well as detour considerations, the number and types of businesses the bridge serves, and the overall impact the project will have on commerce.
“Families and workers across the Hudson Valley deserve strong and safe infrastructure. Not only does the BRIDGE NY funding rehabilitate our bridges, but it will also help create jobs right here in New York,” said state Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY). “I applaud the Governor’s investment in our local communities and will continue to fight for the resources New York state and Hudson Valley communities need to repair our bridges and safeguard our infrastructure from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.”
Applications for culverts will be accepted between Jan. 25 and May 19, while applications for bridges will be accepted between Jan. 25 and June 9.