Congress recently passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Here’s how it could impact Macon
Democrat leaders visited Macon earlier this week to tout a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress that will funnel billions of dollars to Georgia for roads, public transportation and expanded internet access.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Sanford Bishop and county leaders highlighted portions of the bill during a press conference Tuesday at Amerson River Park.
“We are delivering the most significant investment in Georgia’s infrastructure in generations. We’ve done it bipartisan bringing Democrats and Republicans together to make these historic investments in our infrastructure,” said Ossoff. “We are delivering on the promise.
“Last Monday, the president signed the bill into law a $1.2 trillion investment in roads and bridges and rail airports, seaports, clean drinking water, replacing the lead pipes in our schools, waste water improvements, infrastructure for internet and broadband in communities all across America everywhere. Millions of jobs that will drive our economy.”
Ossoff said the historic investment will bring upgrade the quality of life for Georgians and make it easier and more efficient to get home from work/school, and have high speed internet in every single school and community infrastructure. The legislation will also makes investments in green spaces such as parks and public lands.
“These will upgrade our quality of life. These will improve public health in our communities. These will lay the foundations for competitiveness and commerce and trade for small businesses and families to thrive so that Middle Georgia and our entire state’s best days remain ahead of us,” said Ossoff.
According to Ossoff’s office, key portions of the bill include:
$1.36 billion in funding to improve and expand public transportation statewide
$8.9 billion to repair Georgia roads and highways
$225 million for bridge replacement and repairs statewide
At least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Georgia
$135 million to build an electric vehicle charging network across Georgia, as well as funding to replace transit vehicles and buses with clean, low- and zero-emissions vehicles
No Georgia Republican voted to approve the infrastructure bill in Congress. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support by a margin of 69 to 30.
Interstate 14
Language in the infrastructure bill designates I-14, including the proposed Georgia section, as a high-priority corridor. Sen. Raphael Warnock previously said the bill provides no funding to the project.
The proposed interstate would run from west Texas through the middle of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before reaching the Georgia leg in Columbus. The route would continue through Macon before reaching its end in Augusta.
It would link two of the state’s key military installations — Fort Benning near Columbus and Augusta’s Fort Gordon.
The new interstate could be based at least in part on existing roads, including the Fall Line Freeway in Georgia, which snakes through most of Middle Georgia including Jones, Twiggs, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Crawford, Peach and Bibb counties, hitting Fort Valley, Macon and running south of Milledgeville.
