Photo: Olivier Le Moal / iStock / Getty Images
The federal government has unfrozen more than $1 billion in funding for infrastructure projects across Pennsylvania. This decision comes after a series of meetings between U.S. Senator John Fetterman and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The funds, initially frozen by the Trump administration, will now support various projects, including a significant $500 million allocation for the replacement of the John Harris Memorial Bridge, as reported by Yahoo News.
The Gazette Extra notes that the funding includes 53 projects across the state, totaling about $1.2 billion. These projects were approved under President Joe Biden's administration but were delayed by the subsequent administration's review process. The Department of Transportation confirmed that ten priority grants have cleared the review, with two already obligated.
In addition to the bridge replacement, the funding will support projects like the $2.7 million for Lancaster Airport, over $3 million for Harrisburg International Airport, and more than $5.5 million for Chambersburg’s natural gas pipeline project. Other allocations include $120,000 for Gettysburg’s Safe Streets Plan and nearly $1 million for Harrisburg’s Downtown Traffic Signal Retiming.
Senator Fetterman expressed his commitment to working across party lines to secure these funds, stating, "I’ve made clear I’d work across the aisle, find common ground, and secure wins for PA," as mentioned in a Post-Gazette article. The release of these funds marks a significant step forward for Pennsylvania's infrastructure development, with construction on some projects expected to begin in 2026.