When the now-complete Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill was being put together, Congressman David N. Cicilline submitted requests for 15 projects totaling over $22 million on behalf of his RI District 1 constituents and local organizations. All 15 were approved, including $1,248,000 for the Town of Bristol’s ongoing Sewer Rehabilitation Project.

This funding will be used to support the rehabilitation of 11,500 linear feet of asbestos cement gravity sewer pipes and associated manholes. Bristol has an aged collection system, with parts dating back to the 1910s. More than half of the system is between 31 and 50 years old, and materials used for construction, particularly clay pipe and asbestos cement pipes, are worsening in condition.

Rehabilitation or replacement of failing pipelines, along with settling tanks and solids handling improvements all contribute to ensuring a safe conveyance of wastewater to the wastewater handling facility, lessen basement back-ups and sanitary sewer overflow occurrences resulting from failed pipes, and reduce infiltration by limiting pathways for groundwater to enter the system.

The work on the pipes is in addition to recent significant upgrades to the town’s wastewater treatment facility, funded in part by a $7.8 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, received over the summer.

Together, these improvements to this critical part of the Town’s infrastructure, will reduce what is known as “upsets” in the system — when the volume of water pushing through is more than the facility can manage and untreated material gets out of the treatment loop.

A severe storm can increase the volume from the 3 to 4 million gallons in a typical day to as many as 17 million gallons. It’s not just storms that can cause upsets — downed power lines can impact operations at any of the 11 pumping stations regulating flow through the more than 100 miles of piping in town. Fortunately, these upsets happen infrequently — about two or three times a year, according to Water Pollution Control Superintendent Jose DaSilva. He expects these system upgrades will reduce these events significantly, which not only keeps sewage out of the harbor but also chemicals used to clean up after these events.

“You can’t put a price tag on a clean Bristol Harbor and Narragansett Bay,” said Town Administrator Steven Contente, who also expressed his gratitude to our congressional delegation for the money directed to Bristol this most recent funding cycle.

Senator Reed chips in for transportation

As a whole, Rhode Island will be receiving a $450 million windfall in federal transportation dollars as part of the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 — an “omnibus” because it combines 12 appropriations bills into one package.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee, recently announced that he helped steer the funds to Rhode Island for road, bridge, and pedestrian safety upgrades.

“Cutting through the partisan gridlock in Washington to pass this bill helps upgrade roads and bridges and reduce traffic congestion back home,” said Senator Reed. “This federal funding will improve safety and mobility across the state, providing a lift to RIDOT, RIPTA, commuters, and communities. It will enhance our transportation network and help key community development projects move forward.”

Reed says the transportation funding will help improve the safety of our highways, aviation, transit, rail, and port systems. As a result of this level of funding, Senator Reed says the state should receive an estimated $358.5 million for roads, bridges, and safety programs and over $53 million for public transportation.

The bill also includes $33.3 million in Reed-backed transportation earmarks. In addition to $10 million for the Preservation of Mount Hope Bridge and $1 million for Bristol’s sidewalks, additional beneficiaries include: $4.5 million for green infrastructure at the Riverwalk at Town Landing in Pawtucket; $4.4 million for Rocky Point Park; $4 million for bridge repair and replacement in Woonsocket; $2.9 million for Enhancements to the Woonasquatucket Greenway in Providence; $2.5 million for the purchase of new RIPTA buses; $2 million for curbing and sidewalks in North Kingstown; $1 million for resurfacing and sidewalk rehab in East Greenwich; $1 million for terminal upgrades at T.F. Green International Airport.

According to the Turnpike and Bridge Authority, the $10 million is earmarked for the bridge cable dehumidification project, a method of controlling deterioration due to corrosion. Main cable dehumidification has been successfully used to extend the life of several suspension bridges, including Newport’s Pell Bridge.

The $1 million for Bristol’s sidewalks is earmarked for Route 114 from Constitution St. south to Low Lane. As 114 is a state highway, the project management is under the authority of the Rhode Island DOT, and scheduled for 2025.