WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) highlighted the need to rebuild and repair the nation’s infrastructure as Ohio ranks ninth on the American Road and Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) 2017 ranking of states by number of structurally deficient bridges, which was released today.

President Trump promised $1 trillion of investment in American infrastructure during his campaign and Brown joined Senate colleagues to release a roadmap for making that promise a reality. As part of the plan, Brown included Buy America language to ensure American infrastructure is built by American workers, using American iron and steel.

“ARTBA’s report confirms what Ohioans already know—that there is a need for real investment in infrastructure projects across the state,” said Brown. “My colleagues and I have created a blueprint to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure with American workers using American products. I look forward to working with President Trump and Republicans in Congress to make his promise of a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure a reality.”

According to the report, 1,942 bridges in Ohio were classified as structurally deficient in 2016, seven percent of the total number of bridges in the state, and three of Ohio’s bridges were included on ARTBA’s list of the 250 most-traveled bridges in the U.S. that are structurally deficient. Sixteen percent of Ohio’s bridges were classified as functionally obsolete.

Brown’s proposal includes significant funding for road and bridge repairs, as well as funding for a Vital infrastructure Program (VIP), which would direct money toward projects of critical national significance, such as the Brent Spence Bridge. The proposal outlines how a $1 trillion package of infrastructure investment delivered over the next decade would improve the nation’s transportation, water, housing, broadband, and community infrastructure while creating thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs in Ohio. 

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