U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) Highways for LIFE Project will provide Missouri with $1,000,000 in federal grant funding. The funding will be administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Funds will be used for hybrid composite beams (HCBs) for the construction of three bridges as part of the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Using the HCBs, construction duration can be greatly reduced, maintenance will be minimal and the HCB exterior will provide a service life beyond 100 years. According to DOT, the purpose of the Highways for LIFE program is to accelerate the adoption of innovations and technologies, improving highway safety and quality, and reducing construction congestion.
McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have frequently had too little accountability. Competitive merit and need based federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner.
