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ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $21 million to the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) to rehabilitate and strengthen the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge. Tonko submitted a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of NYSTA’s request for this investment, which will help to improve the safety and reliability of this critical transportation infrastructure and support economic growth in our Capital Region.

“The Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure that links our communities together, and this effort to secure its future is a huge win for our region and all who call it home,” Congressman Tonko said. “This funding, made possible by the unprecedented investments in our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help ensure that the bridge remains safe and reliable for years to come, supporting the movement of goods and people in the Capital Region and beyond. I’m proud of my work to secure this critical funding, and I’ll keep pushing for investments that connect our communities and maintain our region’s status as a thriving hub of economic activity.”

This grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHA) Bridge Investment Program (BIP) was made possible by the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congressman Tonko proudly supported. That legislation allocated $40 billion in new funding for bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, representing the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the Interstate Highway System.

This project will rehabilitate and strengthen deteriorated sections of the eastbound superstructure of the bridge by replacing the eastbound structural deck, repairing steel girders, and performing other needed repairs. Building on a separate, $47.6 million construction effort already underway to replace the westbound bridge deck, these projects together will extend the anticipated service life of the bridge by 50 years.

The Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge, also known as the Berkshire Spur Castleton Bridge, is a vital commerce and travel corridor for our Capital Region. Each year, 6.5 million trips are taken on this section of the New York State Thruway, which links the towns of Coeymans in Albany County and Schodack in Rensselaer County on each side of the Hudson River. The bridge also serves as a critical connector between New York and Massachusetts.

You can read the full text of Congressman Tonko’s letter in support of this investment HERE.