Pell Bridge In Newport Gets $82.5 Million In Federal Funding

NEWPORT, RI — The federal government on Thursday awarded an $82.5 million grant to rehabilitate the Claiborne Pell Bridge in Newport.

The money came from the U.S. Department of Transportation's competitive grant program made available through President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure plan. The Pell Bridge was one of 26 projects nationwide to receive a grant from the $1.5 billion package.

"Today we are announcing transformative investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and rail to improve the way Americans get around and help lower the costs of shipping goods," U.S.> Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. "Using funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are able to support more excellent community-led projects this year than ever before."

The Pell Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in New England and carries about 27,000 vehicles daily, according to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. The bridge opened for traffic in 1969 and needs a partial reconstruction of the bridge deck and west approach spans, a dehumidification system installed to the main cables and anchorage and repairs to the tower elevators.