Article Summary –
State officials celebrated the completion of the $48 million Neville Island Bridge repair project, emphasizing its importance for Pennsylvania’s economy and as part of a broader initiative to improve infrastructure supported by both state and federal funding, including significant allocations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project, which created 80 jobs, is part of a larger effort that has seen over 200 bridges repaired in 2023 and aims to address more than 360 ongoing bridge projects. These efforts have been bolstered by billions of federal dollars to improve transportation and infrastructure, helping to significantly reduce the number of bridges in poor condition and offering strong support for the state’s economic growth and community development.
State officials on Oct. 14 celebrated completing repairs on the Neville Island Bridge in Allegheny County, highlighting critical infrastructure investments from Gov. Josh Shapiro and President Joe Biden.
Officials, including Shapiro, Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll, and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, gathered to mark the end of the $48 million federally funded project for the I-79 bridge spanning the Ohio River.
The Neville Island project, which supported 80 jobs over three years, included structural upgrades, new guardrails, drainage, and signage improvements. This bridge is vital for about 54,000 daily vehicles, supporting Pennsylvania’s economy.
“That number doesn’t fully capture this bridge’s significance,” Carroll noted. “I-79 is crucial for commuting north and south of Pittsburgh, linking Route 65 and areas east and west.”
Matt Smith, chief growth officer at Allegheny Conference on Community Development, emphasized that projects like this attract businesses to western Pennsylvania.
“Businesses seek predictability, achievable through a robust infrastructure system,” Smith stated.
This bridge is among hundreds in Pennsylvania recently repaired. The state fixed over 200 bridges in 2023, improving 90 from poor condition, the largest improvement nationwide, per Shapiro administration’s analysis of Federal Highway Administration data.
The state is repairing over 360 bridges, aided by Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated billions to Pennsylvania for roads, bridges, waterways, and rural internet access.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation received over $1 billion for bridge work from this act, plus additional funds for other transportation projects including road repairs and airport improvements.
Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget allocated $80.5 million for infrastructure, and a $500 million federal grant was announced to replace the I-83 South Bridge.
“Infrastructure is central to our needs,” Shapiro mentioned. “It facilitates daily life, work commutes, and leisure activities, saving time for what matters to us all.”
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato praised the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for funding local repairs and union jobs.
“This law has significantly upgraded Allegheny County infrastructure,” Innamorato said. “The number of poor-condition county bridges dropped from 65 to 18 over ten years.”
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio highlighted that while federal infrastructure legislation had bipartisan support, most favorable votes were from Democrats.
“Over 90% of Republicans opposed this impactful infrastructure spending,” Deluzio said, emphasizing its economic benefits.
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