Bad bridges passed up for stimulus cash

[dkf]

WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of unsafe or decaying bridges carrying 100 million drivers a day must wait for repairs because states are spending stimulus money on spans that are already in good shape or on easier projects like repaving roads, an Associated Press analysis shows.

President Barack Obama urged Congress last winter to pass his $787 billion stimulus package so some of the economic recovery money could be used to rebuild what he called America's "crumbling bridges." Lawmakers said it was a historic chance to chip away at the $65 billion backlog of deficient structures, often neglected until a catastrophe like the Minneapolis bridge that collapsed two years ago this Saturday.

States, however, have other plans. Of the 2,476 bridges scheduled to receive stimulus money so far, nearly half have passed inspections with high marks, according to federal data. Those 1,123 sound bridges received such high inspection ratings that they normally would not qualify for federal bridge money, yet they will share in more than $1.2 billion in stimulus money.

The wooden bridge built in 1900 carrying Harlan Springs Road in Berkeley County, W.Va., is one of the nation's unsafe structures not being repaired. About 2,700 cars cross it every day. But with holes in the wooden deck and corroded railings and missing steel poles, only one car at a time can travel the 300-foot rickety span.

The bridge is an example of how Obama's call to spend recovery money quickly — on "shovel ready" projects to get people back to work — has clashed with other goals of the stimulus, such as targeting high-unemployment areas and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. State transportation officials say the need for speed makes it hard to funnel money into needy counties or to take on extensive bridge repairs that can involve years of planning and construction.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090731/ap_on_re_us/us_stimulus_bridges

It kind of beats me why inadequate structures don't even have plans to be fixed. If they did, wouldn't they become shovel ready?

[Thothmes]

1. No glory or political advantage in repairing an old bridge

No public ribbon cutting ceremony complete with dignitaries,the press and tv news crews. This is needed to show your constitutes that you brought home some federal bacon for the local voters. Money for maintenance of existing infrastructure is almost always the first to be cut when budgets get tight. Yet at the same time, new projects continue. JMO

[democracy1st]

2. What I don't understand about this administration is WTF do they give out money with no strings

attached

[BlueJazz]

3. Holy Shit ! The part of the story that says:: >

"The wooden bridge built in 1900 carrying Harlan Springs Road in Berkeley County, W.Va., is one of the nation's unsafe structures not being repaired. About 2,700 cars cross it every day. But with holes in the wooden deck and corroded railings and missing steel poles, only one car at a time can travel the 300-foot rickety span."

It would be a mighty, mighty cold day in hell before this person would even walk across that bridge.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Go here to check out the safety of bridges in your area

http://bridgehunter.com/

The site has not only historic bridges but new ones as well. It gives the history of the bridge, and if it is still in use it gives the latest inspection report. The site is arranged so you can search for the bridges in your area to check on safety. Realize that this is a user-contribution site, so not all bridges are listed, but it does give links to the various state sites that will give you information.

[BlueJazz]

6. Thanks! Great Site

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. There's a website about the bridges in the US

called, appropriately, "Historic Bridges of the US". They list thousands of bridges, both gone and still in use. The ones in use have their ratings and the number of vehicles crossing each day. The stats are really scary--when you read "imminent failure" of the deck, superstructure, or substructure, it gives you pause. But it is a good place to go to see how the bridges in your area rate.

Edited to add link to site:
http://bridgehunter.com/