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Print This StoryNational Panel Meets In Milwaukee To Discuss Upgrading Bridges
74,000 Bridges Around Country Classified As 'Structurally Deficient'
UPDATED: 8:03 am CDT October 1,
2007
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Two months after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed in Minnesota, state transportation officials from across the nation gathered in Milwaukee to discuss how to preserve and upgrade thousands of bridges with limited cash.An estimated 74,000 bridges in the country are classified as "structurally deficient." With federal funding not a sure thing, most transportation officials said that they agree that the burden of devising safety strategies will fall to the states, WISC-TV reported.Pete Weykamp of the New York Department of Transportation said that one problem is that the most money goes to those states that do the worst job of maintaining their bridges.He said states need to invest more in preserving bridges instead of waiting to repair them when they get old.Robert Kirk, a transportation specialist with the Congressional Research Service, said that some lawmakers are angry that about 20 states that received federal highway funds transferred the money to other projects.
Previous Stories:
- September 17, 2007: DOT: Condition Of Wisconsin Bridges Have Improved Since 2001
- August 16, 2007: Official: Bridge Inspections Turn Up No Problems
- August 9, 2007: Inspectors Give Thumbs Up To Rock County Bridge
- August 7, 2007: Edgerton Bridge To Be Inspected On Wednesday
- August 6, 2007: Report: More Than 1,400 Bridges Considered Structurally Deficient
- August 4, 2007: 5 Of State's Bridges Similar To Minneapolis Bridge Rated Poorly
- August 3, 2007: State Authorities Express Confidence In State's Bridges
- August 3, 2007: Wisconsin Salvation Army Workers Helping In Minneapolis
- August 2, 2007: Wisconsin Offers Emergency Management Assistance After Bridge Collapse
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