Grand Island, N.Y. (WBEN) - U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced Monday the South Grand Island Bridges will receive $39 million in upgrades. The announcement came one week after WBEN spoke with concerned Grand Island residents over a 2020 study on the condition of the bridges.
"Age and deterioration have taken a toll on many sections of the bridge, and recent events, from the earthquake we experienced downstate to the tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore, have brought the need to make repairs to this vital corridor for Western NY to the top of mind," said Sen. Schumer in a statement.
Governor Kathy Hochul showed her support for the funds saying they are "critical to improving resiliency on essential bridges to Western New York's economy, and improving emergency response coordination in a region prone to extreme weather."
The funds will be used towards protecting the bridge from earthquakes and the potential soil failure that follows the seismic events.
Over 70,000 vehicles cross the two bridges everyday, one of which was built in 1935.
In addition to the $39 million for repairs to the bridges, the New York State Department of transportation will receive $1.65 million to develop an emergency response plan to extreme weather for Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The plan calls for improvements in road maintenance practices during severe weather events and will also put a focus on improving communication with residents about road closures.
