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Federal government to pay $2 million to rehabilitate Ogdensburg-Prescott

Posted 3/7/18

OGDENSBURG -- The federal government will pay $2 million to rehabilitate the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge. A joint statement from senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand says the money will …

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Federal government to pay $2 million to rehabilitate Ogdensburg-Prescott

Posted

OGDENSBURG -- The federal government will pay $2 million to rehabilitate the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge.

A joint statement from senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand says the money will “help stop deterioration” of the 50-year-old “superstructure.”

The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge handles over 800,000 vehicles annually and is an important thruway for billions of dollars of goods each year.

The funding will replace portions of the failing, lead-based paint protection system on the bridge’s steel girder that spans the United States side. The paint will be replaced with an environmentally friendly, zinc-based paint system. This will protect these spans and help avert a potentially significant lead-based threat to the environment, according to a news release from the Democrat senators.

The funds will be provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Program.

“The TIGER grant is an essential step in a multi-year approach for the rehabilitation of the Ogdensburg Prescott International Bridge, a structure which is vital to the economy of our region," Wade A. Davis, Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority executive director, said in a prepared statement. "Through the tireless advocacy of senators Gillibrand, Schumer and Congresswoman Stefanik this key rehabilitation project will now become a reality and the authority is very thankful for their advocacy efforts."

“The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge is an important asset in our region and its modernization is critical to our economy,” Gillibrand said in a prepared statement. “It is a major point of entry that links the United States with Canada, our country’s largest trade partner, and is an important artery for getting travelers and goods between the two countries. I am proud to have fought for this funding that will benefit the North Country and New York for generations to come.”

“The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge is vital to the North Country's economy, with billions in imports, exports and visitors crossing the bridge every year. This new federal investment is exactly what the North Country needs to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century. This major federal investment will help the Port Authority replace the bridge’s old lead-based paint and modernize this critical piece of infrastructure. I am glad USDOT heeded my calls to make this important investment in the North Country a reality,” Schumer said in a prepared statement.