REVERE, M.A. – On Thursday, Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Mayor Brian Arrigo and other state and local officials at the Andrew A. Casassa Overpass to highlight the $18 million investment from the federal Infrastructure Law that will be used to renovate and replace the bridge. The overpass was built in 1931 and was the first overpass built in Massachusetts. Poor-quality roads and bridges cost Massachusetts drivers an average of $620 a year on car repairs.

"The Andrew A. Casassa Overpass is one of the 472 bridges in Massachusetts in great need of repair. This bridge is a main transportation link for the City and its residents, and yet, this 91-year-old bridge – the first overpass built in Massachusetts – is at the end of its reliable life. When we allow our infrastructure to deteriorate, we see traffic increase, commute times increase, and quality of life go down," said Assistant Speaker Clark. "That's why the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats made it a priority to enact the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and economic competitiveness in nearly a century. I was honored to celebrate the $18 million coming to Revere to repair and modernize this overpass, part of the $1.1 billion investment in the Commonwealth's bridges, and begin our path to a 21st-century economy."

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that the first round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's $27.5 billion bridge formula program was distributed to states and Tribal communities. This is the largest investment in bridge infrastructure in American history. In this initial round of funding, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) will receive $225.3 million for Fiscal Year 2022. Over the life of the five-year program, Massachusetts will eventually receive $1.1 billion for bridge replacement and repair projects across the Commonwealth.

In addition to the formula funding headed to the Massachusetts DOT, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a $12.5 billion bridge investment program, which will provide competitive grants to assist state, local, federal, and Tribal entities in rehabilitating or replacing large, economically significant bridges. Massachusetts can compete for additional resources under this program to undertake critical projects like the replacement of the Cape Cod Canal Bridges.

Photos from the event can be found HERE.

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Origjnal story HERE