By José A. Delgado
WASHINGTON – Through the investment law in infrastructure, the government of Joe Biden announced today that it launched the program that allocates $225 million to Puerto Rico for the repair of hundreds of bridges over the next five years.
The allocation was announced when the measure became law, but the United States Department of Transportation’s program for the “replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection and construction of bridges” is implemented in view of the first anniversary of the Biden presidency.
The Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, indicated that the allocation of $102 millions will help repair 280 bridges in poor condition and improve another 1,620.
In total, the federal bridge reconstruction program allocates $26,500 millions. This federal fiscal year, which ends in September, Puerto Rico will have access to a first installment of $100 million.
President Biden will speak today about the agenda regarding the infrastructure investment law that assigned at least $2,265 million to the Island, for the next five years.
Allocations for Puerto Rico also include $900 million for the reconstruction of roads and highways, $ 455 million for transportation initiatives, $455 million for water infrastructure and $102 million for airports.
The allocation to the Island of $ is also foreseen 100 million for broadband infrastructure that increases access to the Internet, $13.6 million to encourage the use of electric vehicles, $12 million p for security measures against potential cyber attacks and $2 million for preventive measures against forest fires.
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