Bridge work begins under stimulus (Missouri bridge project already putting Americans back to work)

[usregimechange]

FEBRUARY 17 2009- "You can see from the safety of the bridge it's sorely needed," said Mike Kehoe, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.The $8.5 million project is the first transportation project in the Missouri using stimulus money and will create 250 jobs. The bridge, on Highway 17, about 30 miles south of Jefferson City in Tuscumbia, was built in 1933 and is missing chunks of concrete along it's edges and bottom. Missouri Department of Transportation workers began laying the foundation for the new bridge, which will be build adjacent to the old one and will be finished in 2010. (Laurie Skrivan/P-D)


Moments after President Barack Obama signed the stimulus bill today, work began replacing at dilapidated bridge over the Osage River in central Missouri.

The $8.5 million project is the first transportation project in the Missouri using stimulus money.

"You can see from the safety of the bridge it's sorely needed," said Mike Kehoe, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.

The bridge, on Highway 17, about 30 miles south of Jefferson City in Tuscumbia, was built in 1933 and is missing chunks of concrete along it's edges and bottom. Missouri Department of Transportation workers began laying the foundation for the new bridge, which will be build adjacent to the old one and will be finished in 2010.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/commutingtraffic/story/A461AC3130E999568625756000731EA9?OpenDocument

[Skink]

1. This project should then spur future development in the area.

[Honeycombe8]

2. Already some people put to work! Now THAT'S action. But I don't know...

I think the foundation of our economy is still strong, don't you? :sarcasm:

[usregimechange]

4. The fundamentals are strong but the foundation has "a few" small cracks

[firedupdem]

3. Let's get it! n/t

[usregimechange]

5. Republicans have said the bill would create no jobs, they were wrong on the day it was signed!

[Dappleganger]

6. That's not a JOB, that's work!

That guy looks like he's working his ass off, too!

Michael Steele, stuff that into your pipe and smoke it. :evilgrin:

[shellgame26]

7. just another insignificant thing

for people to "hero-worship" about.:sarcasm:

[rockymountaindem]

8. Known as "pork" to some...

Doesn't look like it to me, though.

[4lbs]

9. The only pork there is probably the BLT the worker ate for lunch

n/t

[Fleshdancer]

10. The bridge to somewhere

I was amazed to discover how fast this started after the stimulus passed.

[madamesilverspurs]

11. Dang, your headline had me all excited for a second...

"Bridge Work Begins Under Stimulus" -- wow, if I could get that new bridge I'd be able to eat some of that wasteful pork!

[usregimechange]

14. Nope, the best spending we can do to get the economy going...

[Thrill]

12. This is real Stimulus. Creating jobs building the bridge. But also creating jobs building the steel

its going to take to build it.

[backscatter712]

13. Awesome! Hopefully, this will be spreading across the nation.

Here in Colorado, I see quite a few overpass bridges on the interstates with crumbled concrete, exposed rebar, girders that are half-rusted away - they're clearly in need of serious repair or replacement. Lots of crappy roads that have huge potholes and cracks that need to be repaved as well.

And commuter rail from Fort Collins through Denver to Colorado Springs and maybe even Pueblo would be nice.

[usregimechange]

17. I imagine much of the nation is like that

[Trajan]

15. Portland Oregon SERIOUSLY needs bridge work ....

Sellwood Bridge is in an awful state, and the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia has become a daily parking lot ....

It would be great to see people working towards building those bridges, and rebuilding their own lives ...

[Arugula Latte]

21. I hold my breath whenever I cross the Sellwood Bridge.

I usually have my kids in the car (taking them to Oaks Park for rollerskating or something) and I'm always glad it's not a long bridge. :scared:

[Kdillard]

16. Wow I can't see past all that pork. It is disgraceful that the

Republicans were not willing to do something about it but you can bet they will be taking credit when election time comes around. We need to be very vocal in our communities about who actually made this happen.

[AwakeAtLast]

18. I've been across that bridge {SHUDDER}

:scared:

Hopefully I won't have to cross it again until it's replaced!

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. What is it about bridges?

In hard times, Democrats build them; while all other times, Republicans try to sell them.

[Mme. Defarge]

20. I hope the administration

has a comprehensive PR campaign for keeping all of regularly updated on the impact this program is having on the economy. In many ways, perception is reality, and this will lead to hope, confidence increased economic activity.

[Sherman A1]

22. Now couldn't they have just used some duct tape to hold it together awhile

longer? I mean jeepers it doesn't look so bad and the military really needs those new super fighter planes to fight the war on terror.......



:sarcasm:

[Terran]

23. One small irony: Mike Kehoe (quoted in the article)

is a Republican Commissioner appointed by the late and unlamented Matt Blunt administration; but it's our new Democratic Governor, Jay Nixon (who will hopefully get to replace Kehoe, who's nothing but a big car dealer and Repub donor) who's really making this happen.

My agency is submitting plans to spend millions in homelessness prevention *today*. I can't wait to put that money to good use!