Yesterday, the Baker-Polito administration announced plans for significant investment through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into road, bridge, public transportation, and environmental infrastructure projects throughout Massachusetts. The plans were outlined by Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides at the Allen House on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus. The Baker administration has pledged to advance and fund the Rourke Bridge replacement with resources made available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Replacing the bridge will cost an estimated $170 million and will be funded over the next five years as part of a $3 billion dollar bridge project. Funding for this bridge project will come through combination of the Commonwealth’s Next Generation Bridge Program and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Senator Kennedy thanks the Baker administration and MassDOT Secretary Jamie Tesler for announcing the path forward for the Rourke Bridge Replacement project. The Rourke Bridge was originally constructed as a temporary span and has instead lasted for nearly 40 years. The dire state of the bridge presents both public safety and economic concerns for the City of Lowell and Greater Lowell area, and the detailed planning process for the replacement project provides great opportunities to answer those challenges. It is for those reasons Senator Kennedy fought for a $100 million line item in 2019 which was ultimately included in the Transportation Bond Bill. Investing in vital infrastructure, such as the Rourke Bridge, is an investment in our communities and an investment in our future.
The current schedule calls for construction to commence during the second half of 2025 and it is anticipated that the project will be completed over a four-year time frame.
