SCARBOROUGH, MAINE — Maine will receive almost $18.5 million for four water restoration and dredging projects, with Scarborough receiving a significant portion of the cash.
The government funds for four dredging projects in Maine will be divided between Ogunquit, Scarborough, Milbridge, and Bar Harbor, according to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law in November 2021.
For dredging the Scarborough River, Scarborough will get $4,800,000. Breakwater repairs and surveys will cost $6,325,000 in Bar Harbor. Milbridge will get $3,905,000 for Narraguagus River dredging and surveys. Dredging and surveying of the Josias River at Perkins Cove will cost $3,425,000 in Ogunquit.
Senators Susan Collins and Angus King said in a joint statement that the dredging projects for the communities will assist to solve substantial and navigational problems for commercial fishermen and recreational boats. Collins was also part of a core group of ten senators that helped negotiate the dredging infrastructure deal.
Senators Collins and King stated, “Maine’s waterways are the lifeblood of many coastal villages and underpin our state’s economy.” “These initiatives are great examples of how the bipartisan infrastructure package is generating employment and benefiting Maine’s communities and families.”
Chellie Pingree, a member of Congress, released a statement concerning the two projects in her district, Scarborough and Ogunquit. The Disaster Relief Act, which was approved in the September government financing package, is responsible for this increased funds. The IIJA is the principal source of new money. At Perkins Cove, the US Army Corps of Engineers will dredge and survey the Scarborough River and the Josias River.
“Waterways in Maine, such as the Scarborough and Josias Rivers, are important economic drivers for our towns,” Pingree added. “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more than $8 million is on its way to Maine’s First Congressional District to help preserve these rivers, ensuring that Maine’s vital water infrastructure can continue to serve Mainers for decades to come.”
The Biden administration has been a strong supporter of dredging projects around the country. The administration wants to concentrate on preserving and strengthening infrastructure resiliency. “While American ports are a cornerstone of the US economy, antiquated infrastructure and the COVID-19 epidemic have stressed their capacity and effectiveness,” according to a White House information sheet for the Biden-Harris Action Plan for America’s Ports and Waterways released in November 2021.
