One in four U.S. bridges needs repair - report

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

PHILADELPHIA, July 28 (Reuters) - One in four U.S. bridges needs to be repaired or replaced but funding is inadequate to meet the steadily rising price tag, state highway officials said on Monday.

Nearly a year after a bridge collapse in Minneapolis killed 13 people and renewed fears about the safety of U.S. roadways, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials released a report saying at least $140 billion was needed to shore up 152,000 of the nation's 590,000 bridges.

"Usually built to last 50 years, the average bridge in this country today is 43 years old and nearing the need for replacement," the group said at its meeting in Philadelphia.

"Almost one in four bridges, while safe to travel, is either structurally deficient, in need of repair, or functionally obsolete, which means they are too narrow for today's traffic volumes," said the report, "Bridging the Gap."

Costs for asphalt, steel, concrete and other materials have soared by some 50 percent the past few years, forcing many states to postpone bridge projects.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2820066120080728

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Let's go and invade Iran! Whoopie!!! :sarcasm:

[Demeter]

1. And Then Rebuild All Their Bridges, So We Can Blow Them Up AGAIN!

Just like we did in Iraq! Or take turns with the natives..either works!

[salin]

2. Yea - the reality of "no new taxes" claims as a requirement for election

... yet with the costs of Iraq and the deficits racked up under bush - even an increase in taxes wouldn't begin to deal with public safety/infrastructure - have to pay off the HUGE bush debt.

btw the "yea" was sarcastic.

[kenfrequed]

3. Hah

This is the Republican bridge leading into the 21st century.

They haven't got it small enough to drown in a bathtub yet... I guess they have to settle for rivers.

[galledgoblin]

4. strengths for demorcats from weaknesses of republicans

hopefully when we take office in January Obama will roll out a major reinvestment plan for our transportation infrastructure, emphasizing public transit first.

[Supersedeas]

5. nothing to see here -- as the Media keeps repeating and repeating and repeating the Surge is working

[mbperrin]

6. No worries! 3 out of 4 DON'T need repaired, right?

See? The glass is WAY more than half full!