WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded new U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant funding for Arizona’s Tonto Creek Bridge in Gila County and 35th Avenue Safety Corridor in Phoenix. The Department of Transportation announced today that the Tonto Creek project was awarded $21.095 million and the 35th Avenue project was awarded $17.422 million. Sinema advocated for and championed funding for both projects.
“Today’s funding announcements will make Arizona communities safer and fuel Arizona jobs. I pledge to continue supporting investments across our state and ensuring our roads and bridges are safe and secure,” said Sinema.
In May of this year, Sinema wrote Department of Transportation Secretary Chao in support of the Gila County’s application of the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to fund the Tonto Creek Bridge project. In her letter, Sinema highlighted the safety concerns that limit access to schools, jobs, and health care facilities in the Tonto Basin community. Sinema added that the construction of the bridge would also lead to economic growth and encourage private investment on the non-federal land in Gila County.
Sinema also wrote to Secretary Chao in June of this year advocating for the City of Phoenix’s BUILD grant application to fund the 35th Avenue Safety Corridor Project. Sinema highlighted how dangerous the 35th Avenue corridor is for pedestrian and vehicle safety and noted the project will save Arizonans lives and spur economic development.
