Why don’t we care about our bridges?

Question

Little Progress Made In Bridge Repairs Across US

MINNEAPOLIS - A year after the worst U.S. bridge collapse in a generation brought calls for immediate repairs to other spans, two of every three of the busiest problem bridges in each state — carrying nearly 40 million vehicles a day — have had no work beyond regular maintenance.

An Associated Press review of repairs on each state's 20 most-traveled bridges with structural deficiencies found just 12 percent have been fixed. In most states, the most common approach was to plan for repairs later rather than fix problems now.

The bridges reviewed by the AP — 1,020 in all — are not in imminent danger of collapse, state engineers and highway officials say. But the officials acknowledge the structures need improvement, many sooner rather than later.

The collapse of the eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1, 2007, killed 13 people and brought immediate calls for repairs to bridges across the nation.

Answer 1

I agree with you 150 percent............................



The U.S. has trillions of dollars of debt. That money has not been spent on things that benefit average citizens, such as health care or maintaining bridges.



All that money comes from taxes. So ironically our own government takes our money to give away overseas, while we have less money to take care of ourselves and our families and the cost of just about everything has gone up.



Democrat or Republican, I don't see how we can be very satisfied with the results we are getting from elected officials.

Answer 2

Because the federal government isn't recognizing the dire need for infrastructure funding across the country. If they had built them right in the first place. Bridges built over a 100 years ago are still strong and used daily, seems the ones built on the Low bidder jobs are the ones coming apart. I remember when they built 287 in NJ, the section between Morristown and Bedminster was not used for years, then when it was finally used the entire road had rotted from concrete to sand, low bidder and pork barrel contracts.

Answer 3

Because most cities and principalities care more about more immediate issues regarding the town finances to the basic upkeep of the streets and buildings. Besides, bridges were engineered to be lasting. No real need to keep an eye on a structure that should outlast the builders.

Answer 4

All of our money is going to Iraq so we don't have any left for our needs.