Infrastructure law pumps billions into fixing Mass. roads, bridges

By Monica Sager

The city of Lowell has more than 100 bridges, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles a day over historic canals and the mighty Merrimack River that once fueled its industrial-era factories and textile mills.

But city officials and residents have long complained that the aging steel and concrete structures — many built decades ago — are deteriorating and at risk of failure. Projects to overhaul the bridges have been pitched by city planners over the years, but shelved due a lack of funding.

Now several of those bridges are set for major repairs after getting a $21.4 million federal grant in August. The money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $1.2 trillion spending bill signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Supporters of the infrastructure law, like Rep. Lori Trahan, a Westford Democrat, have touted it as a “once-in-a-generation” investment that will have a measurable impact on peoples’ everyday lives.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is finally helping to transform cities like Lowell that have long been left to fend for themselves,” she said.

Overall, Massachusetts stands to receive more than $9.3 billion from the infrastructure law over the next five years, including at least $4.2 billion for roadway upgrades and $1.1 billion for bridge repairs, according to the Biden administration.

At least $1.1 billion will be directed to improving water and sewer infrastructure and addressing outfalls that spew sewage into the Merrimack River, while at least $100 million will extend broadband internet coverage to rural communities.

The state will also get $2.5 billion for upgrades on its public transit system. Other funding would be devoted to airport upgrades and incentives for drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

It’s also slated to get $147 million to help expand high-speed broadband internet service to underserved regions of the state.

But the state is also chasing after more than $17.5 billion in competitive grants made available through the infrastructure law for local governments to fix potholes and crumbling bridges, upgrade water and sewer systems and other needs.

Gov. Maura Healey recently unveiled a new proposal that calls for leveraging state funds to go after billions of dollars in competitive federal grants that will be made available through the infrastructure law.

The plan would divert interest from the state’s reserve, or “rainy day,” funds to create a “pay-as-you-go” capital fund to pursue a much larger pool of federal funds for infrastructure projects. Healey said the move will pump up to $750 million into the new capital fund over the next three years.

To help rope in the funds, Healey has created a new Office of Federal Funding and Infrastructure under the state Executive Office of Administration and Finance to target grant opportunities.

Healey’s federal infrastructure czar, Quentin Palfrey, said the federal grant programs provide an “unprecedented opportunity” to tap into federal funds to address some of the state’s most pressing infrastructure needs.

Some of that money is already beginning to flow into the state, including $108 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve rail service in western and central Massachusetts.

The prospect of billions of dollars in federal funding to jumpstart public work projects in Massachusetts has the construction trades preparing to turn shovels and break ground.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, which represents union construction workers. “We’ve been working the trades, expanding apprenticeship programs, and working with cities and towns to identify projects.”