Philadelphia officials celebrated the completion of the city’s first project using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, the Montgomery Avenue Bridge, reports Harrison Cann in City & State. The city has received $653 million in federal funding since January.
“The Montgomery Avenue Bridge, which had been deteriorating for years, runs over train tracks to connect the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood with North Central Philadelphia.” Cann adds that the project used foam glass as part of its reconstruction — a “lightweight, gravel-like material made from recycled glass.”
Commenting on the historically underserved communities such as Strawberry Mansion that could benefit from the project, Mayor Cherelle Parker said, “If us doing all of this work…does not translate into economic opportunities that people who live in Philadelphia, who traditionally have not had access to these opportunities – if they can’t see, touch and feel the benefit for them – all of this has been for naught.”