President Donald Trump on Aug. 23 signed into law a bipartisan, bicameral bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) in the U.S. House of Representatives to transfer the authority from federal to state control of a bridge connecting Indiana and Illinois.
The new law will 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.
“This is a great day for the Hoosiers of New Harmony in Posey County, Ind., as well as the citizens of White County, Ill.,” Rep. Bucshon said on Monday. “This bipartisan, bicameral effort to convey the Harmony Way Bridge to the bridge authorities of Indiana and Illinois will allow the local communities to pursue the best opportunities in refurbishing this bridge.”
Rep. Bucshon on June 13 sponsored the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act, H.R. 3245, with 26 cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Bill Foster (D-IL), while U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced S. 1833 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and two Democratic cosponsors.
The Harmony Way Bridge, built in 1930, permanently closed in 2012 due to structural integrity issues, according to the lawmaker’s office, which said the federal law authorizing the bridge’s construction also has kept it from being fixed and reopened.
H.R. 3245, which was authored by Rep. Bucshon, repeals the 1941 federal statute and lets the states handle bridge updates.
“Since coming to Congress almost nine years ago, this has been a priority for me and while it took longer than anticipated, we have crossed the finish line,” said Rep. Bucshon. “Thank you to all who worked on this project – it has been decades in the making.”
The congressman added that he looks forward to the opening of the repaired bridge, which is a historic landmark.