Boston (August 23, 2023) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09) today celebrated the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announcement that it will award $2 million in federal funding to the Town of Plymouth to upgrade three outdated culverts, including two channels from the Billington Sea to Plymouth Harbor, to promote climate-resilient infrastructure, protect wildlife, prevent flooding, and improve vehicle and pedestrian access across Plymouth.

“From the Billington Sea to the historic Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth’s waterways are essential to the town’s residents, visitors, and wildlife alike,” said Senator Markey. “This significant federal investment in Plymouth’s water infrastructure will protect migrating herring and alewife that are so critical to this marine ecosystem and promote a resilient harbor economy for decades to come.”

“Waterways play an integral role in fostering thriving ecosystems and fueling local economies,” said Senator Warren. “This funding for the Deep Water Culvert Replacement project will help protect wildlife while also allowing Plymouth to invest in strong, climate-resilient infrastructure to stimulate the town’s harbor-centered economy.”

“The Town of Plymouth has long embraced their responsibility as stewards of the environment, and these federal funds recognizes that focus,” said Congressman Keating. “This $2 million federal investment into the Town Brook Stream Restoration project will improve access to open space, better protect migrating blueback herring and alewife, and replace aging public infrastructure. I was proud to support this grant and look forward to continuing to partner with the Town’s Department of Environmental Affairs as they identify culverts in need of restoration or replacement.”

“Plymouth is very grateful and proud to be selected by the Federal Highway Administration for this critically important funding,” said Plymouth Town Manager Derek Brindisi. “This grant not only promotes an important fish population and sustains our local harbor economy—it improves public safety and access to one of our most popular recreation areas.”

“These are the win-win initiatives that we will continue to pursue for Plymouth,” said Plymouth Select Board Chairman Richard Quintal Jr. “The ongoing support we have received from our federal agencies and congressional delegation makes all the difference to getting projects like the Deep Water Culvert Replacement underway. All of the elements that are important to our community are there—environmental resiliency, our harbor economy, access to our natural resources and recreational amenities, public safety. This is truly another great success story for Plymouth.”

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