Courtney Announces Two New Infrastructure Projects Slated by the Army Corps of Engineers for Eastern Connecticut, Funded by the IIJA

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced new Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects that have been slated for eastern Connecticut thanks to enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Rep. Courtney voted to pass the IIJA in November 2021, and the bill authorized increased infrastructure investments in Connecticut and across the U.S. over the next five years-including $17 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct Civil Works studies and projects, maintain existing infrastructure, and repair damage and dredge channels in response to floods and coastal storms. Now, the Army Corps of Engineers will utilize that funding to begin long-awaited work on expanding access to America's ports through dredging, while also building resilience in the face of global climate change. Click hereto read more.

The Army Corps of Engineers announced two projects that are now slated to begin in eastern Connecticut thanks to IIJA funding: $760,000 for the commencement of dredging work and surveys along the Patchogue River in Westbrook, CT; and $800,000 to make several improvements at West Thompson Lake in Thompson, CT-including debris clean up, modernizing the lake's campground electrical sites, and re-paving the boat ramp, parking lot, and campground access road.

"These are exactly the sorts of infrastructure projects our towns and our region have been waiting for-work like dredging and paving is tough, it can be costly, but it's what really sets us up for future growth and economic opportunities," said Rep. Courtney. "Now, thanks to the IIJA, towns like Thompson and Westbrook don't have to wait until someday off in the future for this important work to get started-increased resources from the IIJA mean the Army Corps is ready to begin this work starting right now, in 2022. It's another example of how good the new bipartisan infrastructure bill really is for our region-from improved highways and bridges, to upgraded water infrastructure, now to expanded port access and refurbishment of our local natural resources and outdoor spaces. It's good to see all the forward momentum continuing now that our bipartisan infrastructure bill has been signed into law."

The bipartisan IIJA authorized a five-year increase in federal surface transportation programs that will help improve and repair Connecticut's highways, bridges, public transportation, and water infrastructure. The bill also included new resources-like those referenced above for the Army Corps-to improve Connecticut's ports, waterways, and more. Click hereto read more about the IIJA, and what it means for eastern Connecticut.

Rep. Courtney has advocated for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct long overdue dredging in the Patchogue River channel for years. In 2010, he successfully advocated for the Army Corps of Engineers dredger Currituck to conduct partial dredging for the channel, and that work had both immediate and long-term positive economic impacts on local communities. In 2012, Courtney announced $500,000 in federal funding to continue necessary dredging in the channel.

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