More than a half billion dollars will go to 141 communities in New York in order to shore up and replace bridges and culverts around the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced. 

All told, $516 million is being sent from New York in order to make infrastructure improvements. 

The money is coming from the BRIDGE NY program, which is meant to harden infrastructure against the effects of climate change by addressing flood risk as well as safety and resilience improvements. 

"New York State is making historic investments to modernize our infrastructure and we are committed to working with our partners in local government to help ensure that their bridges and culverts are ready to meet the challenges of global climate change," Hochul said. "The BRIDGE NY program provides essential funding directly to local governments to enhance the safety, resiliency, sustainability and reliability of local infrastructure, allowing more than 140 bridges to better withstand extreme weather events and keep New Yorkers safe."

New York previously sent $716 million to local governments as part of the program. The state's $32.8 billion capital plan last year included $1 billion for the BRIDGE NY program. 

"New York's infrastructure, especially at the local level, is among the oldest in the country, which makes investments like BRIDGE NY that harden our local infrastructure and invest in resiliency and sustainability so critically important to the Empire State's future," Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said.