By james art 
Last Friday, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) held a press conference with Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and Trenton Mayor Reed Gucciora to celebrate a $47 million federal grant to replace the Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton.
The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP), an initiative of the Biden-Harris administration to replace, rehabilitate, improve and preserve bridges across the country. The program is the result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which Congressman Watson Coleman voted for and President Biden signed. Earlier this year, Congressman Watson Coleman sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg encouraging the Department to approve Mercer County’s application for this grant. Senator Booker has strongly advocated for Mercer County’s grant application, providing letters of support for three consecutive years, including in January of this year.
As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Congressman Watson Coleman works tirelessly to ensure that the Department of Transportation has the necessary resources for grant programs like BIP.
“I am so excited to announce this significant investment from the Biden-Harris administration to improve the Lincoln Avenue Bridge,” said Representative Watson Coleman. “This funding will improve the safety, reliability and durability of the Lincoln Ave Bridge, which thousands of Trentons cross daily, whether to get to work, pick up their children, run to the grocery store, attend school or meet friends. I am extremely grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Buttigieg, Mercer County and the City of Trenton for their partnership.”
“The Lincoln Avenue Bridge has served the people of Trenton for generations, but now it has reached the end of its life,” they said Senator Booker. “I am proud to have helped secure this unprecedented $47 million investment to replace this century-old bridge and ensure that everyone in Mercer County has access to safe and reliable infrastructure for years to come.”
Spanning 687 feet, the Lincoln Avenue Bridge is the longest county-owned bridge in Mercer, and at ninety-three years old, it is also one of the oldest. The bridge crosses both Assunpink Creek and Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor rail line, connecting neighborhoods and serving as a major conduit for students on their way to and from Trenton Central High School.
Mercer County began concept development for the bridge replacement project in 2015 as it became clear that the current structure was reaching the end of its life. The federal BIP grant will cover most of the project’s estimated $63 million cost, with the balance coming from Mercer County and funds provided by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
“I want to thank Senator Booker and Congressman Watson Coleman for partnering with us to secure the largest infrastructure grant in Mercer County history,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “For nearly a century, the Lincoln Avenue Bridge has connected neighborhoods in our capital city, and by replacing the aging structure, we are ensuring that this corridor remains safe and accessible for Trenton residents for generations to come.” We are excited to begin another major improvement project for Mercer County and look forward to utilizing local union labor for the contract construction of the project.”
Planning for the project is expected to be completed next year and includes input from a variety of stakeholders, including the City of Trenton, Amtrak, NJ Transit, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The bridge will be replaced in stages so that one lane remains open at all times.
“Funding for DOT’s Bridge Investment Program is essential to the progress of the Lincoln Avenue Bridge project,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gucciora. This funding will not only improve accessibility and safety for our community, but also ensure that our infrastructure is equipped to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. We are grateful for this investment in our capital.”
“In 2024, Mercer County has taken significant steps to ensure our financial house is in order,” said Mercer County Commissioner Chairman John Cimino. “As an engineering professional, I recognize that a $47 million grant for one bridge is an extraordinary achievement. I look forward to many more successes like this in the future.”
“New Jersey appreciates the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration to invest in transportation infrastructure to improve our local communities,” said NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor. “This $47 million federal grant to replace the Lincoln Avenue Bridge over Amtrak and Assunpink Creek in Trenton provides critical funding to build this project to ensure we have a safe transportation system for all users — whether they drive, bike, walk, or ride a train.
“The residents of Trenton and greater Mercer County lead busy lives, which puts a strain on our aging infrastructure. This significant federal grant to replace the Lincoln Avenue Bridge will help ensure that every trip made is safe and efficient for years to come,” said Senator Shirley K. Turner. “Thank you to Congressman Watson Coleman and County Executive Benson for their dedication to this project and their commitment to improving our community’s transportation system.”
This is a great example of when government and community partners come together to do great things for the community they serve,” said Rep. Anthony S. Verelli“The repair, replacement and maintenance of infrastructure like the bridge on Lincoln Ave. is critical to social and economic equity in the local neighborhood, the City of Trenton, and Mercer County as a whole. Thank you, County Executive Benson and our federal partners, for their leadership and financial support for this critical endeavor.
“Today’s announcement is a victory for the residents of Trenton and for everyone who travels through our community. I am so grateful to see local, county, state and federal partners come together to support this grant, this is what good governance looks like,” said MP Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “This project is an investment in our future; ensures our infrastructure evolves to meet the needs of our growing community and literally and figuratively keeps our residents more connected.”
