RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that $15.7 million will allow for the replacement of natural gas pipes throughout Richmond. On 8News only, we spoke with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to find out more about these projects. Buttigieg said the funding will allow for over 59 miles of cast iron, ductile iron and steel natural gas mains to be replaced with corrosion-resistant materials in the city to prevent hazards to the public. "A lot of the pipes that you have today are cast iron or other older materials, which means they are in danger of ruptures or other problems, and they need to be replaced with a newer, corrosion-resistant material that's going to be more durable and safe for the future," Buttigieg said. "But the only way to pay for that, up until now, has been to go back to ratepayers and increase their rates." Buttigieg said this federal measure comes to prevent an increase in rates for renters, homeowners and business owners, or from Richmond Gas Works resorting to taking out a bond. He added that this is one of the larger sums Richmond has received for improvements to gas lines, adding onto an additional roughly $15 million awarded in a previous round of funding. Buttigieg said these projects also entail hiring workers to assist with pipe replacement. "The estimates I've seen show at least 21 jobs have been created by just this piece of funding, and experts, whether it's plumbers, pipe-fitters or other skilled trades, -- the expertise is a really important park of this work going well," Buttigieg said.