SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR I-93 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today announced the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) will receive a grant of $895,892 through the Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) program to repave a section of I-93 in Manchester with an innovative treatment that incorporates recycled rubber tires to significantly extend the life of the roadway and reduce maintenance costs. The AID program, which was established through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), supports projects that accelerate the deployment of new surface transportation innovations and technologies.

“Today’s announcement is good news for jobs and the economy in New Hampshire,” Shaheen said. “Safe, reliable transportation infrastructure is critical for our economy and this improvement project will help keep New Hampshire competitive while saving the state money.”

“This grant award from the USDOT is great news for addressing a section of I-93 in Manchester that sees high traffic volumes and has been subject to wear and tear,” added NHDOT Commissioner Chris Clement. “The accelerated deployment of this technology will provide a cost-effective preservation option for high-speed, high-volume roads.” 

Shaheen has been a strong supporter of efforts to modernize and maintain New Hampshire’s infrastructure. She recently announced a $25 million grant to the New Hampshire and Maine Departments of Transportation to replace the Sarah Long Bridge in Portsmouth, after joining the New Hampshire and Maine congressional delegations to advocate for the project in letters, hearings and meetings with U.S. Department of Transportation officials.

Earlier this year, Senator Shaheen was vocal about the need to replenish the highway trust fund, which the Senate did in July. She highlighted the need for congressional action with visits to numerous job sites throughout New Hampshire that would have been negatively impacted if the Highway Trust Fund depleted. Senator Shaheen has also introduced legislation, the Strengthen and Fortify Existing Bridges Act of 2014 (SAFE Bridges Act), to reestablish a program to provide funding specifically dedicated to repair and replace aging and deteriorating bridges. Currently, one-third of New Hampshire’s bridges are classified as either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

Shaheen has also fought cuts to the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Return (TIGER) program, which supports economic activity and jobs in New Hampshire through important infrastructure investments. TIGER has provided critical funds to a number of important projects in New Hampshire, including the new Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, improvements to Main Street in downtown Concord, and to upgrade the Northcoast Railroad freight line between Rochester and Ossipee.