U.S. Transportation Secretary Accepts Ayotte Invitation to Visit Sarah Long Bridge

Press Release

At a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) invited U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to visit the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge - an invitation the Secretary immediately accepted. The bridge, which connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, is rated structurally deficient, and requires immediate replacement to ensure public safety and continuation of interstate commerce. Ayotte raised the issue at yesterday's hearing with Secretary Foxx.

"[T]he New Hampshire and Maine DOTs have worked together on this, so we're on the same page, we've been partnering with stakeholders with both states to identify a solution to repairing the bridge. I'm sure you're aware we've applied for a TIGER grant that both states support and that the delegations, on a bipartisan basis, are supporting," said Ayotte. "Given the importance of this bridge to both states, I would be honored if you would consider coming to New Hampshire and perhaps joining the both the New Hampshire and Maine delegations to see this bridge...I know that not only myself, but all my colleagues in both Maine and New Hampshire are concerned about getting this bridge repaired, so I'd like to invite you to New Hampshire and I hope you'd be willing to come join us..."

Secretary Foxx replied: "Senator, thank you for the invitation and consider it done. We will schedule that."

On April 28, Senator Ayotte and members of the New Hampshire delegation wrote a letter in support of the New Hampshire and Maine Departments of Transportation application for competitive grant funding from the TIGER program to replace the bridge.

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