Shaheen, Hassan, Pappas Applaud More Than $20 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Make New Hampshire Route 1A Between North Hampton and Rye More Resilient

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01), celebrated $20,258,400 in federal grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to make New Hampshire Route 1A between North Hampton and Rye more resilient to sea-level rise and increasingly intense and frequent coastal storms. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program—a new grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was negotiated by Senators Shaheen and Hassan and the full New Hampshire Congressional delegation supported. 

“As climate change drives more extreme weather events and sea-level rise along New Hampshire’s Seacoast, it’s increasingly important that we have resilient infrastructure that Granite Staters can rely on,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m thrilled to see these federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped negotiate, come to New Hampshire to renovate and reconstruct Route 1A, ensuring that the stretch between North Hampton and Rye is less prone to closures and damage after severe storms.” 

“It’s great to see the bipartisan infrastructure law continue to deliver for New Hampshire. This federal funding will reduce road closures along Route 1A that have become frequent because of coastal erosion and flooding,” said Senator Hassan. “As New Hampshire experiences increasingly severe weather due to climate change, projects like this will be crucial to ensuring that our state’s infrastructure remains strong. I was proud to help negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure law to make this project and others like it possible, and I will continue to work to get the resources we need to help Granite Staters thrive.” 

“As sea levels rise and Seacoast communities continue to deal with costly and lasting damage from extreme weather events, we must continue to improve our flood and climate resiliency,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m pleased to see this federal funding delivered for the reconstruction of critical infrastructure that protects the well-being of Granite Staters in these communities, and I’ll continue working to deliver resources that update old infrastructure and improve climate resiliency to ensure our coastal communities can thrive.” 

The entire New Hampshire Congressional delegation has made it a top priority to ensure New Hampshire has the funds it needs to update aging infrastructure across the state. Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided a $550 billion investment in our nation’s infrastructure, including more than $847.4 million for roads, bridges, roadway safety and major projects in New Hampshire.  

As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Shaheen works to secure robust funding for infrastructure. In the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, Shaheen secured more than $22 million for various projects across the state. Earlier in the year, Shaheen and Hassan joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the site of the Derry – Londonderry I-93 Exit 4A Project to highlight the impact of federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

Shaheen also recently toured three sites along Route 1A, including Rye Harbor, the Bass Beach area in North Hampton and North Beach in Hampton, to view storm damage and receive updates from local and state officials on the status of ongoing repairs. Her visit came after severe storms and flooding in January, in which businesses, homes and infrastructure across New Hampshire’s Seacoast faced catastrophic damage.  

Senator Hassan also recently visited areas along Route 1A to hear from first responders about flood damage. Last month, Senator Hassan hosted Hampton Police Chief and Hampton Deputy Director of Emergency Management Alex Reno as her guest of honor for President Biden’s State of the Union Address. Chief Reno’s leadership has been integral to recovery efforts on the Seacoast after the January flooding. Senator Hassan has also directly negotiated nearly $1 billion in critical funding for coastal resiliency in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding that includes $492 million for the NOAA National Coastal Resiliency Fund and $491 million for the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program. 

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