Press Releases

Funding had been jeopardized by spending bills being debated in Congress

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said federal officials are signing the final documents necessary this afternoon to secure a $20 million federal grant to help pay for a replacement for the Memorial Bridge in Kittery. The bridge, between Kittery and Portsmouth, is in desperate need of repair and is currently closed to truck traffic.

"As soon as those papers are signed this afternoon the funding for this critical bridge will be safe and can't be rescinded, no matter what happens with politics in Washington," Pingree said. "Replacing the Memorial Bridge is essential for Seacoast Communities and that's why the Congressional Delegations of both states worked so hard to get this funding in the first place."

Pingree worked with members of Maine and New Hampshire's delegation to help secure the Tiger II grant last year, but this year Republicans in the House and Senate voted for a budget proposal that would cut that critical transportation funding if it wasn't "obligated" quickly. State transportation officials had to have a number of documents approved in order for that to happen, and final federal approval is expected shortly, Pingree said.

A short-term budget bill that Pingree supported last week gave officials the extra time necessary to obligate the funding.

Pingree called Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last month to urge quick federal approval of the funding and the Congressional delegations of both Maine and New Hampshire have been putting pressure on the Obama Administration to obligate the funding.