PORTSMOUTH – Governor John Lynch joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood today in announcing the New Hampshire Department of Transportation's receipt of a $20 million federal TIGER grant, which will be used to help pay for the replacement of the Memorial Bridge.

Governor Lynch has made replacing the Memorial Bridge - a critical transportation link - a priority. The Memorial Bridge is New Hampshire's No. 1 red-listed bridge.

"The Memorial Bridge is in critical need of replacement and that is exactly what we are going to do. As Governor, I feel we should not and we cannot wait any longer to address this transportation priority," Governor Lynch said. "That is why New Hampshire has taken the lead in ensuring we replace this bridge as soon as possible. Today's announcement brings us one step closer to our goal of replacing the Memorial Bridge and ensuring the Seacoast has the strong transportation network it needs."

The New Hampshire 10-Year Transportation Plan makes replacing the Memorial Bridge a priority. The plan includes $45 million in federal GARVEE bonds and $30 million in state bridge funds for the project. The awarding of the $20 million in federal TIGER grant will help New Hampshire partner with Maine to replace the bridge. New Hampshire and Maine jointly own the three bridges over the Piscataqua River. The two states share the responsibility and costs associated with the maintenance of the three bridges, which include the Memorial, the Sarah Long and the Interstate-95 bridges.

The State of Maine supported the New Hampshire Department of Transportation's application for the TIGER grant.

"I'm thrilled to announce that we are committing $20 million to replace the deteriorating Memorial Bridge, keeping open a crucial river crossing for cars, trucks, cyclists and pedestrians. The Memorial Bridge replacement project is vital to the region's economy, not only because it will create jobs, but because it will also eliminate barriers to freight movement and improve access to the region's transportation network," said Secretary Lahood.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who advocated for New Hampshire's application, joined Governor Lynch and Secretary LaHood. Maine Governor John Baldacci, and members of Maine's congressional delegation were also in attendance.

"Memorial Bridge is critical to the Seacoast economy, connecting the commercial centers of Portsmouth and Kittery, as well as helping ensure access to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard," said Senator Shaheen. "This project is a smart investment of Recovery Act dollars: it will save New Hampshire money in the long run and will create many much-needed construction jobs. It is also an example of what is possible when we put aside party labels and come together in a bipartisan way to get things done for our communities."

"We have to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure in New Hampshire and around the country," said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. "This is a jobs issue and a safety issue. This funding will benefit the local communities in both Maine and New Hampshire and I am very pleased that the New Hampshire and Maine delegations were successful in securing this funding."

Earlier this month, Governor Lynch and Maine Governor John Baldacci signed concurrent Executive Orders creating the Bi-State Bridge Funding Task Force. Each state has appointed three members to the task force, which is charged with determining which mechanisms would best allow the states to maximize funding for necessary work and identify joint financing options. The signing of the order recognizes the need to replace the Memorial Bridge, to replace or significantly rehabilitate the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and to maintain the Piscataqua River Bridge that carries Interstate-95. The estimated capital costs over the next several years could be as high as $300 million for the three jointly owned bridges.