The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Funding has been obtained to replace the aging I-55 bridge that runs across the Mississippi River between Tennessee and Arkansas.
The bridge will be called “America’s River Crossing.” The final project is expected to cost about $800 million, making it the largest transportation investment in Tennessee’s history, according to Governor Bill Lee.
“This unprecedented investment in Memphis marks the single-largest transportation investment in Tennessee state history and will be transformative for our infrastructure,” said Gov. Lee. “The new I-55 Bridge will not only enhance safety and efficiency but also improve multimodal connectivity and strengthen our economic vitality by facilitating smoother freight movement and improving accessibility in our region.”
Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen says the Tennessee and Arkansas Departments of Transportation have gotten approval for $393 million worth of funding for the replacement.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has already pledged to invest $400 million, while the two state Departments have agreed to up to $250 million each.
“These investments demonstrate a collaborative effort to fund this bridge replacement and meet infrastructure needs of the region,” said Gov. Lee.
TDOT has not given a timeline for completion of the project, but a press release stated that by 2050, the “state-of-the-art” I-55 bridge is expected to accommodate around 64,000 vehicles daily, significantly more than the 48,000 vehicles the current bridge handles.
“The project aims to reduce traffic congestion, lower accident rates, and optimize traffic flow, thereby bolstering local and regional transportation networks,” said Gov. Lee.
The current I-55 bridge has been undergoing construction for several months. The Tennessee Department of Transportation stated that the bridge was “not designed for modern interstate standards.”
Mayor Paul Young stated that the new structure will enhance Memphis’ reputation as a transportation hub.
“This historic investment in Memphis will help further connect our community with the region and the world. Memphis’ prominence as a logistics hub is made stronger by the investment in this key piece of infrastructure,” said Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
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2 Responses
The City of Memphis and Steve Cohen are both losers; the bridge should be built somewhere else and bypass that s-hole city entirely.
“Beginning in 1948-52, Memphis earned the Ernest T. Trigg Nation’s Cleanest City award four years in a row.” That’s according to Fox13 News in Memphis (and the NYT). Fast forward 71 years and what do you have? I don’t even need to tell you. Everyone knows. Liberal policies destroy everything good.
Cohen didn’t make it that way but, Cohen is not even trying to turn it around either. I don’t know of a worse liberal than him. He’s a total disgrace to US Congressional District 9 and Tennessee.
Vote Republican Charlotte Bergmann for Congress and replace that loser.