Bucshon, Shimkus, Young propose bipartisan, bicameral bill to transfer bridge authorities

U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and John Shimkus (R-IL) joined U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) in introducing a bipartisan, bicameral bill to transfer the authority from federal to state control of a bridge connecting their home states.

Rep. Bucshon on June 13 sponsored the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act, H.R. 3245, with 26 cosponsors, including Rep. Shimkus and U.S Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), while Sen. Young introduced S. 1833 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and two Democratic cosponsors.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which will grant certainty to the New Harmony community,” Sen. Young said. “Passage of this bill would allow Posey County, along with its neighboring communities, to dictate the future of this important, historic landmark.”

If enacted, the measure would transfer control of the bridge over the Wabash River to the New Harmony River Bridge Authority in Illinois and Indiana’s New Harmony and Wabash River Bridge Authority.

“The Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act will convey the Harmony Way Bridge to both the Indiana and Illinois Bridge Authorities, allowing the states to have management over the Harmony Way Bridge and write the next chapter for this historic bridge,” Rep. Bucshon said.

“Conveying the New Harmony Bridge to Illinois and Indiana Bridge Authorities is the best way to preserve and restore this local treasure,” added Rep. Shimkus. “I appreciate the strong support this effort has received from my friends on both sides of the Wabash River.”

The Harmony Way Bridge, built in 1930, permanently closed in 2012 due to structural integrity issues, according to the lawmakers’ offices, which said the federal law authorizing the bridge’s construction also has kept it from being fixed and reopened. If enacted, the bill would repeal the 1941 federal statute and let the states handle bridge updates.