Space Florida is moving forward with plans to upgrade space coast infrastructure after receiving a $90 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The grant will fund three infrastructure projects including the replacement of the NASA-owned State Road 405 Bridge over the Indian River.
The 55-year-old draw bridge will be demolished and replaced with two high-span bridges -- allowing traffic to travel over and under like other bridges in the area. It was constructed in 1964 as a way to transport personnel and equipment during the space race.
The grant will also be used to widen Space Commerce Way just south of the Kennedy Space Center and renovate a 3.7-mile stretch of NASA Parkway West.
Space Florida’s Dale Ketchum said the renovations will help support a growing private space industry.
"It will replace it with a robust, resilient transportation network into the growing cape Canaveral spaceport," Ketchum said. "Which is essential for all of us, so we’re kinda proud of it."
The grant is part of the DOT’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program which provides discretionary funding to address critical infrastructure issues nationwide.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took to Twitter Wednesday, celebrating the federal investment.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1184883065685983232
The project is expected to take five years to complete.