(WBFF) — Maryland’s democratic leaders announced a $38,406,076 U.S. Department of Transportation award to rehabilitate the Dundalk Marine Terminal and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge.
This investment will be used to improve the infrastructure at and around the Port of Baltimore, which is not only vital to the local economy, but also to the nation as a whole, considering it is the ninth-largest port by volume and value and the third largest on the East Coast as of last year, according to the 2023 Foreign Commerce Statistical Report.
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, together with Representative Kweisi Mfume, Governor Wes Moore (all D-Md.), and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld announced the award on October 21.
“With these grants, the federal government is recognizing that Baltimore is home to nationally significant supply chain infrastructure that is overdue for investment and improvement. We are seeing once again how the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Maryland, and we will continue to push for federal commitments to our infrastructure, including the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Senator Cardin.
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Back in March, when the container ship Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Sean McNally, spokesperson for the American Trucking Association (ATA), told FOX Businesses that the “Key Bridge and Port of Baltimore are critical components of our nation’s infrastructure and supply chain” and the accident “will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region.”
This monumental federal investment is a transformative display of the continued unity among us in Team Maryland to deliver for all of those who have been personally affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and continue to navigate the recovery alongside us. After speaking with so many of those impacted, I was and remain inspired by their grit, fierceness, and commitment to getting through this disaster together, said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.
The investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program (INFRA) administered through the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we continue to deliver historic resources to upgrade everything from our transportation network to the Port of Baltimore. With these major federal investments, we are priming the Port for future growth – while sustaining the thousands of jobs it already supports – and modernizing an essential bridge for commuting and commerce. These efforts will help drive Baltimore’s economic success and create more good paying jobs for Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“These two projects reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to making Maryland more competitive by investing in our critical infrastructure, including our world-class Port of Baltimore,” said Governor Moore. “We are grateful for the partnership from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and our Congressional delegation in supporting projects that will serve all Marylanders and help expand our growing economy.”
The grant will be broken down in two parts, according to a statement from Sen. Cardin’s office:
- $30,906,076, Dundalk Marine Terminal: Awarded to the Maryland Port Administration to reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of 597 linear feet of wharf deck including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.
- $7,500,000, Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation: Awarded to the Maryland Transportation Authority to rehabilitate parallel drawbridges over Curtis Creek on I-695. The project will replace portions of the reinforced concrete deck, perform repairs to the exposed steel superstructure and existing catwalks, remove and replace bridge parapets, traffic lights, and low-level lights, and install new electrical service systems, drainage systems, and pavement markings.