John W. Hickenlooper

11/15/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Hickenlooper Celebrates Over $7 Billion Delivered to Colorado as Infrastructure Bill Turns Three

Largest investment in U.S. infrastructure in a century has invested in over 1,000 Colorado projects to deliver clean water, safer roads, affordable internet, spurring over 40,000 new jobs

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper celebrated the three-year anniversary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that he helped write and pass. Over the past three years, the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law has delivered over $7.2 billion for more than 1,000 Colorado projects to update our roads and bridges, expand affordable and reliable internet access, and deliver clean drinking water.

"From $250 million for the Arkansas Valley Conduit to $100 million for I-70 improvements at Floyd Hill, our Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has invested in 21st century infrastructure all over Colorado," said Hickenlooper. "That's only the last three years, and we're not done yet."

Hickenlooper was part of the bipartisan group of 22 senators who negotiated and wrote the $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal. The IIJA was designed to invest in updating our aging infrastructure in the U.S., expand affordable and high-speed internet, conserve western water, modernize airport infrastructure, build out our EV charging network, cap orphan methane wells, deliver clean drinking water to underserved communities, and more.

For a fact sheet on investments in Colorado from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, click HERE. For a full list of projects and an interactive map, click HERE.

Fixing Our Roads and Bridges

From Cortez to Nunn, the IIJA has delivered millions for Colorado communities to build safer roads, invest in better multimodal transportation, build wildlife crossings, and more.

Key Colorado investments include:

  • I-70 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT FLOYD HILL: $100 million investment to upgrade essential tract of I-70 at Floyd Hill and improve safety and efficiency of I-70

Deliver Clean Drinking Water

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $8.3 billion to preserve western water and build more resilient water infrastructure. Specifically, the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), a planned 130-mile water-delivery system in Southeast Colorado that'll serve 40 rural communities and 50,000 Coloradans, is now within reach thanks to the IIJA. The project has already received over $250 million and is now one step closer to becoming a reality.

In addition, Colorado received over $32 million in IIJA funding to replace lead service lines to improve water quality across the state.

Connecting Every Coloradan High-Speed Internet

Reliable internet access is key to the 21st century, but too many Coloradans lack high-speed internet they need. Hickenlooper was a member of the broadband working group during IIJA negotiations where he fought to include the largest federal investment in broadband access and affordability in a generation to ensure all Coloradans are connected.

Key Colorado investments include:

  • COLORADO BROADBAND OFFICE: $826.5 million from the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to provide access to high-speed internet to everyone in Colorado
  • PUEBLO MIDDLE MILE PROJECT: $2.7 million to connect over 41,000 homes and small businesses to high speed internet in Pueblo

Improving Our Airports

The IIJA has also delivered millions to Colorado airports to modernize terminals, expand taxiways, and enhance safety.

Key Colorado investments include:

  • GRAND JUNCTION AIRPORT: $34.7 million to update paved runway to bring airport into conformity with current standards
  • DURANGO LA-PLATA COUNTY AIRPORT: $12.9 million to expand existing terminal to open new gates, passenger hold rooms, and TSA passenger screening and baggage claim areas

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