Pittsburgh Review

Gov. Tom Wolf recently highlighted how the inaugural year of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has helped the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

According to a release by Wolf on November 10, the BIL is bringing $4 billion in highway and bridge funds over the a five year period. Nearly $600 million is being used in the 2022 fiscal year. Wolf’s release said that without these funds there would be less projects due to costs as well as supply issues.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a game changer for Pennsylvania,” said Wolf. “This funding is already helping us speed up projects underway in Pennsylvania. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help us fix our highways and bridges, improve rail transit, invest in broadband infrastructure and meet our clean energy goals to fight the damage climate change is causing in Pennsylvania communities.”

Wolf said that the BIL not only fixes roads and bridges, but also helps with railroads, aviation, ports and development of electric and alternative fueling stations.

Through September there were 611 projects that have been underway or being started, or out for bid. There have been 282 construction contracts for highway, bridge and other improvements through the PennDOT’s partners in the private sector. Repair, replacement and preservation of 425 bridges was also put out for bid and almost 4,000 miles of road were improved. This included 1,065 miles of paving.

“Because of this money, we can keep Pennsylvanians safer, support more union jobs, and ensure that Pennsylvania’s infrastructure is ready to meet the needs of the 21st century,” Wolf said.

A list of the planned and active construction projects can be found at www.projects.penndot.gov.