Tester Secures $28.8 Million to Rehabilitate Gardner River Bridge in Yellowstone National Park

Funding comes from Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

Continuing his efforts to improve connectivity and upgrade critical infrastructure in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently secured $28.8 million from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to rehabilitate the Gardner River Bridge in Yellowstone National Park. This grant, awarded through the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), will be used to make necessary improvements to the bridge and extend its life span by approximately 30 years.

Tester wrote the bipartisan infrastructure law with five Republicans and four Democrats and was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to vote for the legislation.

“Millions of people come through Yellowstone National Park every year, and it’s our job to make sure Montanans and visitors alike can get around the park safely and efficiently,” said Tester. “The Gardner River Bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure for folks traveling along the Grand Loop, so I’m proud to have secured this funding from my bipartisan infrastructure law to rehabilitate the bridge and ensure that folks traveling through the Park can get where they need to go year-round.” 

The Gardner River Bridge is a vital transportation link to Yellowstone’s major destinations and to gateway communities, which depend on access in the park to support their local economies. This bridge is along the route that provides the only access to Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana in the winter. 

Tester’s significant wins for Montana in the IIJA include $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America. The IIJA is expected to create more than 800,000 American jobs.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.