JERSEY CITY — Nearly five years after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the east coast, the federal government announced it will spend more than $200 million to repair damage done by the storm to the Holland Tunnel.

The four U.S. senators from New York and New Jersey made a joint announcement about the $229.6 million in FEMA funding which will be used to fix 22 sites damaged during the storm.

"Superstorm Sandy not only wreaked havoc on our homes and communities, but also accelerated the deterioration of our aging infrastructure, including our roads, bridges and tunnels," said U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. "The safety and resilience of the Holland Tunnel is vital to New Jersey's and the regional economy."

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said after the storm transportation was "in dire need of repair," and added that "this federal investment will help strengthen the Holland Tunnel and make this critical infrastructure more resilient in the face of future disasters while prioritizing driver safety."

On the other side of the Hudson, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was, "pleased that FEMA is providing the funds needed to restore this critical infrastructure and help make the Holland Tunnel better protected in the face of a future storm."

The Senate minority leader also said with the investment, "local taxpayers will not bear the entire burden of these necessary repairs."

And while the funds to fix the tunnel will help, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said there was still more work to be done even years after the storm.

"I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that the places in our state hit by Superstorm Sandy have all the resources they need to fully rebuild," Gillibrand said.

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