“We are building a legacy of investing in our infrastructure that will provide long-term benefits for generations to come,” said governor Deval Patrick. “This historic level of investment is creating thousands of jobs while providing a timely economic boost this construction season.”
This year’s funding builds on previous record annual investments and is nearly double the amount spent on infrastructure projects in 2007. The programme includes approximately 450 projects, including 300 for construction and 150 maintenance projects.
“Transportation reform has already dramatically changed the way we deliver transportation services in the Commonwealth and this is the next step. Our roads and bridges are essential to the daily operations of commerce and travel and, due to years of neglect, have become a matter of public safety,” said senate president Therese Murray. “This effort will also help expand our workforce in the Commonwealth and bring critical employment opportunities to an industry that has seen a 27% decrease in jobs since 2007.”
This year's $931 million construction program includes $550 million from the Statewide Road and Bridge Program, $208 million from the Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program, and $173 million in federal American Recovery & Reinvestment funds.
An eight-year, $3bn accelerated bridge program investment is under way to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts. Already, the program has reduced the number of structurally deficient bridges from 543 to 458, a drop of more than 15%. Forty-two ABP projects have been completed, 69 are currently in progress, and 28 are scheduled to begin this year.
Projects include the $57.5m Great River Bridge project in Westfield, the Charles River Basin bridge projects, and a project to replace 14 bridges salong I-93.
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