Trenton, NJ – Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) held a press conference alongside Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora to celebrate a $47 million federal grant award to replace the Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton.
The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP), a Biden-Harris Administration initiative to replace, rehabilitate, improve, and preserve bridges across the country. The program is a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Watson Coleman voted for, and President Biden signed. At the beginning of this year, Rep. Watson Coleman sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, encouraging the Department to approve Mercer County’s application for this grant. Senator Booker 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, Rep. Watson Coleman works tirelessly to ensure the Department of Transportation has the resources necessary for grant programs like the BIP.

“I am so excited to announce this significant investment from the Biden-Harris Administration to improve the Lincoln Avenue Bridge,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “This funding will improve the safety, reliability, and durability of the Lincoln Ave bridge, which thousands of Trentonians cross daily, whether to get to work, pick up their kids, run to the grocery store, attend school, or meet up with friends. I’m incredibly grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Buttigieg, Mercer County, and the City of Trenton for their partnership.”

“The Lincoln Avenue Bridge has served Trenton’s residents for generations but has now reached the end of its lifespan,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to have helped secure this unprecedented $47 million investment to replace this century-old bridge, and ensure 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 it is also one of the oldest. The bridge crosses both the Assunpink Creek and Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor Rail Line, connecting neighborhoods and serving as a primary conduit for students on their way to and from Trenton Central High School.

Mercer County began Concept Development on the Bridge Replacement Project in 2015, as it became clear that the current structure was reaching the end of its lifespan. The Federal BIP grant will cover most of the project’s estimated $63 million cost, with the remainder coming from Mercer County and from funds provided by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

“I want to thank Senator Booker and Congresswoman Watson Coleman for partnering with us to procure the largest infrastructure grant in Mercer County history,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “For nearly a century, The Lincoln Avenue Bridge has tied together neighborhoods in our Capital City, and by replacing the aging structure we ensure that this corridor remains safe and accessible to Trenton residents for generations to come. We’re excited to kick off another major public works project for Mercer County, and we look forward to using local union labor to build under a Project Labor Agreement.”

Planning on the project is expected to finish next year, and has included input from various stakeholders, including the City of Trenton, Amtrak, NJ Transit, The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. The bridge will be replaced in phases so that one lane will remain open at all times.

“The DOT’s Bridge Investment Program funding is essential for advancing the Lincoln Avenue Bridge project,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. This funding will not only enhance accessibility and safety for our community, but will also ensure that our infrastructure is equipped to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. We are grateful for this investment in our Capital City.”

"In 2024, Mercer County has made significant strides to ensure our financial house is in order,” said Mercer County Commissioner Chair John Cimino. “As an engineering professional, I recognize that a $47 million grant for a single bridge is an uncommon achievement. I look forward to many more successes like this in the future."

“New Jersey appreciates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing 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 the Assunpink Creek in Trenton provides critical funding to get this project to construction to ensure we have a safe transportation system for all users – whether they are driving, biking, walking, or riding a train.”

“The residents of Trenton and greater Mercer County lead busy lives, which has put strain on our aging infrastructure. This substantial 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. “I thank Rep. 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 sterling example of when government and community partners come together to do big things for the benefit of the community they serve,” said Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli, “Repairing, replacing, and maintaining infrastructure like the Lincoln Ave. bridge is critical to bring social and economic equity to 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 of the critical endeavor.”

“Today’s announcement is a victory for Trenton residents and for all who travel through our community. I am so grateful to see local, county, state, and federal partners coming together in support of this grant, this is what good government looks like” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “This project is an investment in our future; it ensures that our infrastructure evolves to meet the needs of our growing community and literally and figuratively keeps our residents more connected.”

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Pictured Above: Federal, State, and Local leaders celebrate the news in front of the Lincoln Avenue Bridge. From left to right: Mercer County Engineer Sunny Muzaffar, Commissioner Sam Frisby, County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, Rudy Rodas (State Director for Sen. George Helmy), Joe Sgroi (Staff of Sen. Cory Booker), Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli County Executive Dan Benson, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Commissioner John Cimino, and NJDOT Assistant Commissioner Laine Rankin

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson discusses Lincoln Avenue Bridge Replacement Project

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman addresses attendees

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora kicks-off the press conference

County Executive Benson and Congresswoman Watson Coleman join elected leaders, senior officials, and representatives from organized labor to celebrate USDOT’s grant towards the Lincoln Avenue Bridge