(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Biden visits Ohio, Kentucky, and Brent Spence Bridge after promising to 'fix that damn bridge' [1] ['Daily Kos Staff', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-01-04 "I believe it sends a message, an important message, to the entire country," Biden said, referring to the law that made the bridge project possible, according to The Enquirer. "We can work together. We can get things done. We can move the nation forward." "After years of politics being so divisive, there are bright spots across the country," Biden added. "The Brent Spence Bridge is one of them." x Biden jokes at bipartisan infrastructure event: “Newly elected Rep. Greg Landsman, he couldn’t be here today. He’s dealing with trying to figure out who’s gonna be the next Speaker … I wish him a lot of luck ... He may be the first freshman ever elected Speaker ... " pic.twitter.com/konuTTqgq6 — The Recount (@therecount) January 4, 2023 According to The Enquirer, the $1.6 billion in federal grants will help repair the Brent Spence Bridge and build a new bridge adjacent to it. “It connects Michigan and Florida,” former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said in 2021 of the bridge, according to NBC News. “It's one of the most-traveled highways in the country. And if we're gonna be competitive with China and other countries, we've got to have vibrant, working infrastructure.” According to WLWT, the project is expected to begin by 2023, but additional details (outside of the project expecting to last until 2030) are unknown at this time. “I am thrilled that the President is choosing to visit Ohio and Kentucky to highlight how our economy and infrastructure continues to grow stronger because of his work,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement regarding the visit. “The historic amount of money going towards this project is proof of what can be accomplished through strong regional, bipartisan collaboration. This is just the beginning.” While several people also questioned whether Biden’s stop in Kentucky was about highlighting his relationship with Mitch McConnell, who was one of 19 Senate Republicans to support the infrastructure law, Biden and McConnell dismissed such claims. “This is a bridge that has been a major national issue for 25 years, my top transportation project for decades. And it’s going to be fully funded by the infrastructure bill, which I supported," McConnell told reporters Tuesday according to the Associated Press. “It's important for me to be there.” The Brent Spence Bridge isn’t the only one Biden’s administration is planning to work on. According to the Federal Highway Administration, $400 million of the $1 trillion federal infrastructure package approved in 2021 has been allocated to the Golden Gate Bridge, in order to complete the third and final phase of the seismic upgrades that will allow it to withstand earthquakes. "This project is as important as any transportation infrastructure project you can find in America," said Rep. Jared Huffman of San Rafael. "Can you imagine the calamity and the damage if a major earthquake hit and the Golden Gate Bridge was seriously damaged or destroyed?" he continued. "That's the scenario you have to think about and plan for." What better way to start the year than by previewing the biggest contests of 2023 on this week's episode of The Downballot? Progressives will want to focus on a Jan. 10 special election for the Virginia state Senate that would allow them to expand their skinny majority; the April 4 battle for the Wisconsin Supreme Court that could let progressives take control from conservatives; Chicago's mayoral race; gubernatorial contests in Kentucky and Louisiana; and much, much more. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/4/2145323/-Biden-promised-to-fix-that-damn-bridge-makes-stops-in-Ohio-and-Kentucky-to-Brent-Spence-Bridge Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/