More Than 63,000 Bridges Crossed 250 Million Times A Day Need Significant Repairs

[xchrom]

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/04/25/3430786/bridges-structurally-deficient/



The United States has more than 63,000 bridges that are structurally deficient and in need of significant repairs, according to an analysis of government data by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Drivers cross these bridges 250 millions times each day. They are all at least 39 years old except for one.

The 250 most heavily used bridges that are structurally deficient are on interstate highways, many in California.

These bridges are not necessarily imminently unsafe or about to collapse. But a bridge will be classified as structurally deficit and in need of repair if it is rated four or below on a scale of zero to nine by state transportation inspections of their decks and support structures. The ARTBA wants signs posted at these bridges to let drivers know they’re in need of repairs. “Sometimes bridges on this list do fail. The I-35 bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed in 2007 — that bridge was on the structurally deficient list,” Alison Premo Black, an economist with group, told the Washington Post.

And there have been other bridge collapses in recent years. In May of last year, an Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed in Washington state, sending two cars into the water and injuring three people. A few days before that, a railway bridge over the Colorado river caught fire and collapsed, and the costs of repair were estimated at $10 million. In November 2012, a New Jersey bridge built in 1873 collapsed for the second time in four years, derailing a train that was carrying vinyl chloride into a creek. And in July of that year, a railroad bridge collapsed in Chicago, derailing a coal train an killing a couple.

[theHandpuppet]

1. Just imagine how many people could find work repairing our infrastructure

We need a modern-day WPA program.

[abelenkpe]

7. Exactly

If only our elected officials cared about jobs, or their citizens welfare.

[oldhippie]

10. I would probably have to imagine it ......

Maybe I am just old and cynical, but I can't see 90% of our unemployed IT, retail, and office workers even imagining working construction work. many of those that tried would probably not last a day.

I'm sorry, but I worked steel construction and roofing back in the day, and I can't see very many of my unemployed friends even considering such work if it was available.

[Historic NY]

2. We have one that isn't even classified anymore built in 1883 before the automobile...

motar is coming loose, sidewalk is roped off. The adjacent 1950 bridge which was on the fail list since 1998 has seen even more traffic. The have been working almost 2 years to save the newer bridge and its still not complete. Whats scarey is drving and seeing less and less of the concrete overpasses as the concrete falls away to the roadway below. All these were supposed to have been repair back in the 90's.

[Ilsa]

3. GOP in Congress would rather sit back

and suckle at the govt teat than be proactive in preventing deaths by giving Obama a jobs program.

[DrDan]

4. our unfortunate venture into Iraq could have funded each of those repairs

and left money for new schools

but junior has his revenge

[nationalize the fed]

5. The Government has

other "urgent priorities"

FACT SHEET: U.S. Crisis Support Package for Ukraine

President Obama and Vice President Biden have made U.S. support for Ukraine an urgent priority...

...The United States is contributing an $11.4 million package to support the integrity of the May 25 elections....

...The United States has already signed a $1 billion loan guarantee to help Ukraine meet its financial obligations and protect vulnerable citizens from the impact of economic adjustments...

...Over the coming weeks, expert teams from several U.S. government agencies will travel to the region to help Ukraine meet immediate and longer term energy needs.

Today, a U.S. interagency expert team arrived in Kyiv to help Ukraine secure reverse flows of natural gas from its European neighbors. The team will continue on to Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia in the coming days to work on the details of these arrangements. Reverse flows of natural gas will provide Ukraine with additional immediate sources of energy...

(Fracking)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/21/fact-sheet-us-crisis-support-package-ukraine

^^It's all right there in black and white but goes ignored.

People would rather talk about Kochs and Ranchers

And here's a picture of how much the Feds love the land:



Didn't anyone find a turtle there?

[abelenkpe]

6. O yay California

Nice to know in an already earthquake prone area we are all traveling over bridges in need of repair. I'm sure that won't ever lead to tragedy.

[Lonusca]

8. But here in CA

we have plenty of money for a half billion dollar, $6 a trip BART Oakland Airport extension from the Coliseum.

3.3 miles.

[moondust]

9. Show them the profits.

Perhaps nothing gets done in a plutocracy unless somebody stands to make a killing off it. Are we there yet?