U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that the federal government will allocate an additional $15 million toward replacing the 119-year-old Grand Street Bridge, which connects Maspeth and Williamsburg.
Schumer announced that the funds would be allocated to the New York City Department of Transportation, which will play a major role in replacing the new bridge. The announcement comes after a bridge collapse in Baltimore last month.
The project would modernize the bridge and solve many issues for commuters. For instance, the narrow bridge leaves little space for bicyclists and pedestrians. Officials estimate that replacing the dated bridge will cost about $300 million.
In announcing the funds, Schumer pointed to the damage the bridge sustained during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and how recent events showcase the need for infrastructure improvements in New York and throughout the country.
“Recent events, from the earthquake experienced throughout New York City, to the tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore, shine a bright light on the urgent need to upgrade our country’s infrastructure, and that’s why I fought so hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law,” Schumer said in a statement.
Other sources of funds for the bridge replacement project include federal dollars from the DOT’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law, the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) and city capital funding.
Grand Street Bridge is a historic link between Brooklyn and Queens dating back to 1903. It has shown its age in recent years. Queens Community Board 5 has continued to push for upgrades to the bridge, prompted by constant closures that have led to traffic being diverted to other parts of the area.
According to the DOT, the bridge’s replacement would include elevated electrical and mechanical equipment built to withstand rough weather conditions, standard-width lanes, separated cycling infrastructure, and wider walking paths. At the moment, no fixed date for the commencement of the construction process has been released.
