Posted on 08/04/2007 8:28:38 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Nearly a fifth of America's roads are now considered in poor shape and about one-in-four bridges is rated "structurally deficient." The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the cost to fix these problems is a staggering $460 billion. The tab grows far larger when you add in the hundreds of billions to build the new transportation infrastructure that's needed to handle the country's growth.
Part of the problem is that big increases in state and local spending for politically popular programs, especially Medicaid and education, as well costly public employee pensions and benefits, have crowded out infrastructure -- even as some traditional sources of financing for roads and bridges, such as the proceeds from gas taxes, haven't kept pace with demand.
It's unlikely that public funds alone will supply what's needed. Rising gasoline prices have made it politically unpalatable to increase fuel taxes, while some state and local budgets are already groaning under the weight of decades of borrowing, making massive new debt offerings more and more difficult. More federal transportation money? The problem is that 98% of our bridges and 97% of our roads are owned and operated by state and local governments -- and that these governments have often used past increases in federal transportation aid simply to replace their own infrastructure spending.
Instead, a few states and cities are now creatively turning to the private sector for help. They are partnering with private investors to build from scratch new toll roads, bridges and other infrastructure that the private owners -- not government -- will finance and operate. A few cash-strapped cities and states are also replenishing their transportation trust funds -- so that they can pour more money into repair and maintenance -- by auctioning off existing toll roads and bridges to private operators...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I was wondering how long it would take for politicians to attempt to capitalize on the bridge disaster, especially since it's on I-35. IMO, This is not a reason to push for another roadway, but to properly maintain what we presently have.
If we could only get rid of the pie-in-the-sky pork barrel projects, our roadways could be repaired. Tolls are not the answer to the issue, they are just another governmental scam. If the TTC were built, how long would it be before the tolls were diverted into other "political pet projects"?
BTW- Welcome back!
Been wondering the same thing..... Trucking companies pay ENORMOUS taxes that are supposed to go to highways. If I’m not mistaken, taxes on gas, diesel, etc are supposed to go to highways.
I heard one guy on one of Fox News’ financial shows (wish I could remember his name....) say that alot of the highway money goes to pension funds and stuff like that - absolutely NOTHING to do with the highways and bridges.....
Excellent point. The “bend” could be due to perspective. Satellite photos are rarely from directly above any given point.
You are correct, the bridge did not actually have a bend in the middle.
The end that went sideways for 50’ was a result of the structural failure initiating on that side. We will learn that that section failed first.
How?
Stop spending tax dollars on multi-billion dollar public transit projects instead of highways!
http://www.truthabouttraffic.org/
BTTT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1874950/posts?page=154#154
There are a couple of photos in the link above, #154 and #167, that give a good perspective of the bridge and the current flowing from the dam above the bridge......
I’m surprised that no one has complained about NASA taking money away from the infrastructure....
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Please explain.
How about the states using the money given to them by the fed to actually fix the bridges instead of going into the pockets of attorneys and administrators?
New Orleans still comes to mind. They received money to fix the Levies for 25 years. They pocketed it and now they want more.
That category includes roads and bridges, tunnels, right?
It should be no surprise this bridge rotted out.
The only surprise will be if any other old bridges actually don't cave in too.
bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.