Sec. Foxx tours federally funded Maine rail projects

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Sec. Anthony Foxx joined Sen. Susan Collins for a tour of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and the Port of Portland on Oct. 3.
Office of Sen. Susan Collins

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx joined Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for a tour of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and the Port of Portland on Oct. 3.

Federal Highway Administration Administrator Greg Nadeau and Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt joined Sec. Foxx and Sen. Collins on the tour.

“I am delighted that Secretary Foxx accepted my invitation to come to Maine to tour the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and the Port of Portland and see firsthand how federal investments combined with state funds make such a difference to our transportation infrastructure,” said Sen. Collins. “Infrastructure projects help create job opportunities, increase safety, and boost our economy, and they require a strong partnership at the federal, state, and local levels. I will continue to work to ensure continued funding to help build and maintain an innovative and efficient transportation system.”

The Maine Department of Transportation was awarded a $25-million Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant in 2014 to replace the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge connecting Kittery, Maine, and Portsmouth, N.H.

The TIGER funds are being used to replace Sarah Mildred Long Bridge’s rail component, which supports an important national security need, enabling the safe and efficient transportation of materials from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The total project cost is approximately $158.5 million. The new bridge was designed with long open spans using eleven fewer piers than the existing bridge. In addition, faster and fewer openings of the bridge due to its increased height for marine traffic means there is less disruption.

Sen. Collins noted that Maine has been successful securing a TIGER grant in every round since the awards began in 2009. More than $122 million in TIGER grants have been awarded for Maine’s bridges, ports and rail projects.

Additionally, the Port of Portland will benefit from a $7.7-million Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-Term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant. The port will use the FASTLANE grant to remove an existing maintenance facility and infill of the wharf; install a new mobile harbor crane and other cargo handling equipment; construct a highway and rail crossing upgrade and build a terminal operations and maintenance center. Capacity and state of good repair improvements for the railroads at the port and the rail line serving the port allow for expansion of intermodal service by rail.

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