PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — After weeks of uncertainty over federal funding for the Washington Bridge project, Gov. Dan McKee announced Thursday that Rhode Island will be getting that much-needed money. The state has signed a federal grant agreement for roughly $220 million, according to McKee. "This agreement locks in the United States Department of Transportation funding for the project," he said. "With this signing, the full funding for the new Washington Bridge has been assured." The state has already begun drawing down money, he said. McKee sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy earlier this month stressing the importance and urgency of releasing the funding. "We are tremendously grateful to Secretary Duffy and the Trump administration for following through with this commitment to Rhode Islanders, and we want to commend Senators [Jack] Reed and [Sheldon] Whitehouse, Congressman [Seth] Magaziner, Congressman [Gabe] Amo for their successful advocacy on this matter," McKee added. RELATED: Excavator leaks hydraulic fluid into water near Washington Bridge demolition site It remains unclear how much of the final cost of the bridge reconstruction project will be covered by the federal grants. McKee has repeatedly said the actual price tag won't be known until June, when the state announces the winning bidder selected to build the span. The expected timeline for completing the new westbound bridge also won't be known until June, the administration has said. The federal grants for the bridge were awarded by the Biden administration in its closing months last year, but the Trump administration's efforts to freeze federal funding had raised questions about whether all the money would come through. "I appreciate Secretary Duffy’s and Governor McKee’s contributions to this process and will continue working with them, RIDOT, FHWA, and other transportation officials to see the project through and ensure it is done right," said Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a statement. Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said he had worked with the panel's Republican chair "to help unstick this funding" ahead of a hearing next week where Duffy is scheduled to testify. "This relieves needless uncertainty in an urgent situation with this bridge," he said. Ted Nesi contributed to this report. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less