Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $483 million in assistance to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts will soon be available to local governments across New York in the latest installment of the State’s popular BRIDGE NY initiative. The State Department of Transportation will work through local planning organizations to allocate the funding to towns, villages, and other governmental entities in every region of the state to help them harden their existing infrastructure and improve resiliency against severe weather events. The state’s BRIDGE NY initiative supports projects that combat climate change by reducing the risk of flooding, improves the resiliency of structures, facilitates regional economic competitiveness and prioritizes projects that benefit environmental justice communities.
“New York is already feeling the effects of climate change with ever-more frequent severe weather events that just this year have washed out several key bridges and roadways in our state,” Governor Hochul said. “The investments we are making through the ‘BRIDGE NY’ program will help local governments enhance the safety, resiliency, sustainability, and reliability of their infrastructure, increasing the ability of our bridges to withstand extreme weather events and keep New Yorkers on the move.”
Today’s announcement builds upon the approximately $1.2 billion that has previously been provided to local governments under the BRIDGE NY initiative over the past several years. As part of the state’s historic $32.8 billion capital plan adopted last year, an additional $1 billion was committed to BRIDGE NY, effectively doubling the size of the program. The latest round of investments under the program will be made in the coming months as NYSDOT works through the local planning process with Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations. This funding will support all phases of project delivery, including design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Hochul is making critically important investments in infrastructure that will strengthen our local communities and help us combat the devastating impacts of climate change. By helping local governments strengthen their bridges and culverts, we can make roadways more resilient and ready to withstand whatever Mother Nature brings – especially extreme weather events.”
Senator Chuck Schumer said, “The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is helping bridge the gap on long overdue infrastructure projects across the Empire State. This over $400 million in BRIDGE NY funding will not only make bridges and culverts across the state safer and more secure during extreme weather events, but it will also boost the economic well-being of our local communities, and I commend Governor Hochul for her efforts to put New York’s transportation infrastructure on the road to a more resilient and ecofriendly future.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “With the rise of extreme weather events, it is vital that we strengthen and protect critical infrastructure that New Yorkers depend on. This funding will bring crucial enhancements to the safety, resiliency and sustainability of bridges and culverts across New York State. I am proud to support this investment and Governor Hochul’s efforts to make critical infrastructure more resilient to severe weather events.”
Representative Pat Ryan said, “After the devastating floods earlier this year, it is more important than ever that we invest in sustainable and resilient infrastructure across the Hudson Valley. The BRIDGE NY initiative has already helped us modernize roads and bridges across NY-18. I am committed to helping Hudson Valley communities secure these investments, creating high-paying, quality jobs and strengthening our climate resiliency to keep the Hudson Valley thriving for generations to come.”
Representative Joe Morelle said, “Through continued investments in our infrastructure, we can foster economic development, reduce travel times, enhance safety, and promote accessibility – ultimately paving the way for a more prosperous and connected future. I’m proud to have delivered funding for this project, and grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to the modernization of New York’s infrastructure.”
State Senator Tim Kennedy said, «An investment in our infrastructure is not only an investment in the efficiency of our roadways and bridges, it’s an investment in our workforce and our local economies across New York. I’ve been proud to work alongside the Governor, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and my colleagues in the Democratic Conference to deliver record funding for municipalities statewide, because we’ve seen firsthand how these dollars keep communities safe and ultimately incentivize growth and sustainability.»
Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “This announcement is fantastic. New York infrastructure requires maintenance and improvement. The Governor’s investment enhances the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
In July 2023, Governor Hochul announced more than $516 million for 216 projects under the BRIDGE NY program, which will provide assistance to 141 local governments to rehabilitate and replace bridges across the New York State.