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December 12, 2024ICYMI: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Announces Milestone on Rebuilding America’s Bridges, Highlights Impact of Infrastructure Law Across the Midwest at Stops in Michigan and Ohio
WASHINGTON, DC — This week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Dearborn and Monroe, Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio, to highlight the historic numbers of construction and manufacturing jobs, including good-paying, union jobs, being created thanks to President Biden’s Infrastructure Law, announce a milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to rebuild America’s bridges, and highlight the legacy of the infrastructure law just over three years after its passage.
In Dearborn, Secretary Pete joined Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud to meet with UAW leaders before hosting a town hall with Local 600 members to discuss the revitalization of manufacturing jobs in the region thanks to the infrastructure package, including work to build EV batteries.
Since the start of the Administration, more than 16 million new jobs have been created, including 1.6 million construction and manufacturing jobs — with construction employment at a record high since the data began being collected — and there are more than 470 new or expanded EV facilities nationwide to ensure work to build EVs and the components that go into them is done on American soil, by American workers.
Next, Secretary Pete joined Monroe Mayor Robert Clark at the River Raisin Bridge, where he released a new report detailing 18 of the most economically significant bridges that are being rebuilt or repaired with funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, including $196 million for the River Raisin Bridge.
In November of 2021, in anticipation of the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden announced that funding from this historic legislation would fix up to 10 of the most economically significant bridges in the nation to improve safety and efficiency, strengthen supply chains and support America’s economic competitiveness, and restore critical connections that are vital to commuters, emergency responders, truck drivers, and public transit riders.
Three years later, the Biden-Harris Administration has surpassed that goal, funding more than 11,400 bridge projects across the country, including 18 of the nation’s most economically significant bridges. Collectively, these 18 bridges are crossed by more than 1.2 million vehicles a day and an estimated 57.2 million trucks annually.
Finally, Secretary Pete traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to provide remarks and participate in a fireside chat at a City Club of Cleveland Forum held at the historic Mimi Ohio Theatre. Secretary Pete discussed how the Biden-Harris Administration has laid the groundwork for the most positive and ambitious economic transformation of his lifetime — one that returns jobs and advanced manufacturing to U.S. soil, respects the dignity of the skilled trades and brings back vitality to cities and towns across the country — including where he grew up in Indiana, and where he lives now in Michigan — and that will continue to rebuild and modernize every aspect of our transportation infrastructure for decades to come.
See below to see what they’re saying about the Secretary’s visit:
The Detroit News: Buttigieg heralds River Raisin Bridge rebuilding
“We’ve made good on our promise to address our country’s most economically significant bridges — and are now going beyond our initial goal,” he said. The program represents the largest investment in the country’s bridges since the Eisenhower era, Buttigieg said.
Monroe News: Pete Buttigieg visits Monroe to speak on River Raisin Bridge project
Monroe’s Mayor Rob Clark commented at the podium, “we’re here for a good cause and a good reason, which is a project that’s going to transform our community and our region and our state, as well as what we see across the country.”
Toledo Blade: Buttigieg touts Biden’s infrastructure spending during visit to I-75 bridge in Monroe
“This bridge may not be as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s in that same set of those 18 highly economically significant bridges, because whether you know this bridge or not, you depend on the traffic that moves across it,” Mr. Buttigieg said. “This is a critical link in North American supply chains and that’s one of the reasons why it rated so well to earn that $196 million.”
Detroit CBS: Pete Buttigieg visits Michigan, talks $196M funding to replace River Raisin Bridge
“This stretch of I-75 has about 25% commercial traffic, which means it’s significant in terms of commerce, not just for Detroit, but internationally, with the rest of the country,” said Greg Brunner, Chief Operations Officer for MDOT.
Toledo CBS (WTOL): Upgrades to I-75 near River Raisin announced, cutting truck traffic through downtown Monroe
Mayor Clark believes that the River Raisin Bridge acts as an important cog in the machine of our country’s economy. “It just shows you don’t have to be the largest city in the country. We have the same needs in the city of Monroe as those across the country,” said Clark. “It makes a significant improvement both from an economic and community development standpoint.”
Toledo ABC (WTVG): Feds giving nearly $200 million to replace River Raisin Bridge on I-75
“This bridge is currently a concern for MDOT as far as its condition,” MDOT’s University Regional Engineer Greg Losch said. “We are constantly working on it to keep it safe and serviceable, and we’ve been trying to get a project selected down here for a long time.”
Cleveland.com: U.S. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg touts major federal investments made in Cleveland
Idea Stream Public Media: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reflects on infrastructure bill, other career highlights
“We have taken action to leave every form of American transportation better than we found it,” Buttigieg said Monday.
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