While all bridges should be looked at, let's not join the "Bridge Hysteria" club, nor jump onto the blame bandwagon. As has been stated, there are 10s of thousands of bidges in the US in use everyday...here are a list of ones that have failed in the past 27 years due to structural failure only (not earthquake, fire, hit by a barge etc)

April 5, 1987: A bridge on the New York State Thruway near Amsterdam, N.Y., gives way, killing 10 people. June 28, 1983: The Interstate 95 bridge over the Mianus River in Greenwich, Conn., collapses, killing three people.

And that's it. So try to show more itelligence and less herd mentality and not get caught up in "the bridge is falling the bridge is falling"!!!

I have to tell you that this report isn't accurate. The NJDOT has been working for YEARS on updating the bridges that cross the Raritan: Driscoll, Victory, AND YES, the Smith Street Bridge. They've done an EXCELLENT job in updating the roadway there including putting in high speed EZ-Pass.

I also checked a list that the Asbury Park Press was using to scare people and that list too, was inaccurate. It had one Point Pleasant bridge listed as being from 1923 and "structurally deficient."; it's only about 12 years old and nothing is wrong with it. Another was said to be "functionally obsolete" but it's only 3 years old. I just wonder who is writing these reports and if you've actually spent time looking into these facts. This isn't the time to start scaring people needlessly. Your report, however SHOULD have mention the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey. It's ancient and is in need of repair.

Does the percentage next to the name of the bridge mean that's the percentage of how urgent the need is for repairs to be made to the bridge before falls? Does that mean the Metrolink bridge have a 50% chance of falling?

Why does government cost so much? The fixed cost up maintaining what we already have has gone up and increased population means we need to build more.

What will be the cost loosing a bridge? We must build a new bridge from ground up after we pay to demo and haul off the wreckage. Add this these costs, increased commuter times, decreased productivity and who will locate business in a city that is in grid lock?

When we invest in transportation, like world class subway systems, there is a return on investment. Every dollar American spent on the GI Bill after World War II was returned three fold. The GI Bill created a educated work force.

Not only should some of the bridges in the nation be thoroughly checked out, but what about the local "metros" in major cities. I was recently in Chicago, almost had a couple of coronaries. I am 48 years old and have been around the world via ship, train, plane and vehicles on the road. But when walking across some of the bridges along with the metros in the same direction along with inspecting where I was walking, I couldn't get on to the other side fast enough! The infrastructure of this country really needs to be looked at a little MORE closely. Everyone in office trys (or so they say) at looking at making things more safe, viable and work more efficiently, (yes, there are some doubts there) but at the risk of more human life in our own country? Haven't we really had enough in the last 10 years with things that haven't worked the way you would like. Think hard and long about who you really want to run this country the next time you hit the ballot box.

Would like to know what the rating is on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in the Bay Area. It has been undergoing construction for the last 10 years, shakes in the wind. Thanks.

In view of the recent collapse of the bridge in Minnesota, it brings to mind a 2005 engineering estimate of the cost for America to fix our crumbling infrastructure, and it was an estimated 1.6 trillion dollars.
Now, hold that thought: Yesterday, I heard on the nightly news that the Iraq war has so far cost us 650 billion dollars, and it is likely to cost another one trillion dollars before this war is finished.
So, put two and two together, Americans: we are going deep into debt for an endless war. Yet we need the money we are squandering to fix our infrastructure, so that our children and grandchildren can inherit a country in decent shape here at home.
This represents,in my opinion, a colossal failure of our national leaders to set correct social and spending priorities. and we should all remember to single out the politicians who are wasting sorely needed money with their catastrophic policy decisions and vote them out, when we vote in the next election.

I know you are investigative reporters, but do you have to share this information so terrorists can target these heavily travelled bridges?

Remember the nursery song : USA bridge is falling down , falling down ! !

The worst bridge is the "Hewey P. Long" bridge out of New Orleans! It is VERY high and in the Support shapes in the forms of LARGE A's. The road is cantelevered out of each side with little or no support. It also goes over the Mississippi. The bridge shakes because of the heavy traffic and trucks. I normally am not afraid of most bridges, The "shaking" is horrific! This is a VERY OLD bridge. I would not be surprised ikf it went "PLOP" into the river.

Too bad those bridges don't connect oil fields with their refineries - they'd all be 100% and turning a profit for Halliburton by now. Sure, we'll go into debt to china over a questionable misadventure in Iraq, but spending money on infrastructure and education? Forgetaboutit!

Thanks to Ronnie Raygun's and the Republicans for their trickle down economic policies. Voodoo economics at it's finest! Time for a progressive liberal to lead the US out of another conservative mess. If we're lucky we'll avoid another great depression. Who's the next FDR?

I-75 Cincinnati OH/KY bridge. Replace it now!

Subsailor, I think you mean "intelligent", don't you? When a bridge failure like this happens we should look at whether other warnings are being ignored. I could sit here and insult your intelligence but I won't. Instead I ask that you think before speaking and telling others not to "jump onto the blame bandwagon".

There are many structures that get ignored in favor of profit and due to bad leadership that would rather spend the money bombing around the world than maintain the integrity of our public infrastructure. It is perfectly reasonable to ask people not to jump to hysterics, but you talk smug to folks and you won't get much.

Here in Oklahoma, we have been assured by local media, that the I-40 crosstown bridge(approx 4 MILES long) is safe and theres not need to worry. I have been googling said bridge with no satisfactory results, to compare the crosstown to I-35W. At first glance, there are no similarities. I-35W had a massive 485ft span whereas I-40 through downtown OKC has no such span. However, the similarities include, both built in late 60s, both well exceeded design capacities.
The local media reassurance came in the form of, ODOT is very aware of the bridge, and inspects said bridge completely, EVERY SIX MONTHS! To me, it was of little comfort in that the I-35W bridge was inspected regularly, and no imminant threat was detected!
The good news here, though, is I-40 is being replaced now but with little imperative. The silver lining here to us OKIES may be an accelerated schedule to replace I-40. I'm just glad I no longer have to use the crosstown at least twice a day for work any more...

I totally agree Chris...
Like: it's more important "fighting terror" in Iraq (who coincidentally is rich with oil fields) than it is to stop the genocide of innocent people in Darfur. This bridge collapse is only one of many to come "nightmares" brought on by the lack of compassion for the general public except for when it comes to our paychecks. I cannot believe the neglect of the common good, be that global, or here, at home. Then, why should we be surprised? This has been the pattern the last eight years. Out of shock and blindness, we have allowed our government to have their way with us. It is time we woke up and realize that we aren't being protected from the "boogeyman" but we are being raped by the "boogeyman".

Subsailor, you cited only two collapses and stated: "And that's it. So try to show more itelligence and less herd mentality and not get caught up in "the bridge is falling the bridge is falling"!!!"

What or how would you feel if it were you or one of your relatives that had been on those two or the one that collapsed in Minnesota?

Tha fact that any have collapsed, is too many! There is no reason for these to have happened. It seems we can spend over half a trillion $$ for an illegal and immoral war, but we can't even take care of our own infrastructure or the people in this country.

It's time for everyone to wake up and realize the poor shape the past administrations back to Reagan have left this country in!! Quit this interferring with everyone else in the world and pay more attention to our own country for a change. That's what they should be doing and we wouldn't have near the deficit we have now or be in as bad a shape either.

It took two Commets in a short span of time to get the fleet grounded, and begin looking for the REASON.

IF, you can remember or figure out what that statement means, then you will see its clear application to this issue.

BUT, they were British and were high profile which may have made a difference.

AND, there was already a specific organizational department designed for and tasked with and experienced at finding those particular REASONS. Perhaps the NTSB is up to this as well, but do we have to have two?

When bridges are built for whatever reasons let those who benefit from it pay a usage fee for the upkeep, repair, and replacement of the bridges. If it is part of a highway system, then its upkeep cost should be charge to the highway funds. It is our complacency and incompetence of responsible officials that create this kind of disasters. Wake up America!

Funny how you Bush Haters will use any and all issues to mount your assault against Bush. You may be correct if you blame the gross overpopulation (which directly affects the burdens on our roads and bridges) on Bush for his insane refusal to enforce our immigration laws but as far as bridge maintenance goes, isn't it a decision on the State DOT's?

As a professional engineer working in a state DOT position. I can say that typically nearly all bridges are safe. The problem is funding. What I feel our ecomony needs is the $500 billion spent in Iraq. A typical 900' steel beam high level bridge with design and construction will run about $20 million. That equates to 25,000 new interstate bridges across the country. An econimic engine would start and run this country for sometime if only that money were invested on our OWN soil.

With the concern of bridge safety I wanted to let you know of another bridge that puts "scary thoughts" each time it is crossed. It's known as the Madison-Milton bridge that links Madison, IN to Milton, KY. Madison lies on the Ohio River between Cincinnati, OH and Louisville, KY. Madison is about fifty miles east of Louisville and no bridges exist between the two cities. Cincinnati is upstream about 60 miles and there is a bridge about 20 miles from Madison toward Cincinnati. The Madison-Milton bridge (US 421) was built in 1921 which is two-lane and narrow. It had a new roadbed installed about ten years ago at a cost of $10 million dollars. There have been talks of replacing the bridge for many years and it appears that will be a potential consideration in another 5-10 years. The amount of traffic is obviously significant but with the number of semi-trucks that travel across the bridge each day is alarming. When the bridge was bult in 1921 this kind of traffic flow wasn't even conceived of. Every time I cross the bridge the thought enters my mind "is this the moment we'll go down".
The event in Minneapolis sure puts these thoughts into reality.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.

Vernon

now listen youse guys israel needs weapons a lot worst than we need bridges.rember(they are the chosen ones) we have to spend all of our money on dubya revenge war.doh-doh.

Some idiot spokesman on the news stated that over 80,000 bridges in this country have been declared sructually deficient but that does not mean they need to be torn down. No it doesnt but if it doesn't pertain to something that demands immediate attention then the words stuctually deficient are even more deficient then the bridges. Lets face it all of the infastrucure money has been wasted on the stupid war or by our elected officials.

We just have to be patient but keep on fixing our infrastructure. True it cost a lot of money to fix them but we need it. If we just use all those money that is spent on Iraq, we'll have more than enough to do the job.

Wow, I need to get out of New Jersey now!

Its a shame how much integrity the USA has lost. Not just within, but all over the world. Most of the 'administrations' have grosely neglected this country and its people, and now we're paying the price for it. Not only in this country, but paying the price for other countries as well. Have we, lost our minds? Wait till you see whats coming.

Looks like th folks in Jersey have been "on the cheap" with their bridges. Those folks have a big price to pay now. Get to work, Jersey!

Sounds like we should send more troops to the Middle East

everyone is so upset about the bridge and the war in iraq but what everyone is forgetting is the bush did not start this war terrist did when the killed all those people in the 911 bombing what kind of a president do you all want one that will fight to protect this country or one that will hide behide the white house doors and say "i don't want to go out there this world is full of bullies." the bridge collape is the worst i have seen in my life but it didn't happen because of the war in iraq i watch the news everyday and i see how much money comes in to our states for this funding and that funding and frankly i blame the state it self for not putting all this money into the right place. the bridge between arkansas and greenville ms. is old and shakes like crazy and is a danger to lives everyday but arkansas and ms. are contrusting a new brige now that is safer all the states in the usa need to find the money they are spending on things that are not that important and use that money to fix the bridges in their states that are in need of repair or replacement and the usa would be safe and leave bush only because he is trying to protect the usa from terrist

Not to make light of this subject, but we will probably import the re-placement bridge from China. It is a shame what has happened to this country. We have gone from the world's producer of goods and services to one that is bent on consumption while not taking care of our internal needs.

Wow, I live in NJ. The worst state in the union!!!!!! We have crazy blood sucking politicians and we are on the list several times...great job NJ!!!

Yep! "Chris", "Terrists" started the whole thing! We never did anything wrong (or anything you could understand as wrong). And it's not Mr. Bush's fault. His faults are other, too few to mention, and yes, obviously have little to do with bridge collapses.

Chris: International bridges have collapsed also! (Those are bridges over in the "Terrist" countries) and yes,
"Terrist" are to blame for that too.
Specially Iraki "Terrist" which attacked us with WMD's, lucky for us we had president Bush, Cheney & Rummy prepared, and they destroyed Irak first!
You are another perfect citizen molded in the image of your flawless leader.

If one wants to look at crumbling infrastructure one only has to visit the Army Corp of Engineers dams built by the WPA in the early 1930's. These dams have had no appreciable work done on them since around 1968 and many are about ready to collapse. I live near 11 of them and each one leaks during normal rains.

Our whole system of infrastructure design and repair is based on the "how many people died" equation. To get a stop sign, to get a traffic light, to get a highway or to get a bridge. Forward thinking is todays environment only gets claims of "Boondoggle", "Pork", or "Overengineering." In the USA in today's political environment be it Republican, Democrat or any other, there is NO INCENTIVE to do the right thing before something blows up in our faces. Unfortunate, but true.

Does anyone else find it strange that traffic camera video of the bridge collapse was made available within hours, yet the traffic cam videos of the plane striking or flying toward the Pentagon have not been made available for six years?

"Tha fact that any have collapsed, is too many! There is no reason for these to have happened"

So the arguement is, if we throw enough money at a problem, then accidents will never happen? The point that was lost to many is that because of the good work that is done by both state and federal agencies, your chance of being killed in a structural failure of a bridge is around 1 in a TRILLION! And to suggest that I somehow lack empathy with those who lost their lives or their families is a cheap arguement, used by those with cheap points to make that can't hold water on their own. And for those who talk of the deficit, the projection is that the Federal Deficit will be 0 by next year, due to large increases in tax revenue gained during the strong economy.

A bridge collapse near election time? It makes me wonder if it was staged to mask some other evil doing by the government. Or maybe it's staged to make Mr. U.S.A. look like a hero for his help with the rebuilding. Some of the comments above are completely understand. This country is so corrupt, they love to scare(government via media). The nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down" signifies the fall of their queen. Oh how I wish this bridge collapse signified the falling (not by death) of our head of state.

Katrina, Minnesota.
Your tax cuts at work.

Here comes the media blamers and the Political Cronies. Everytime a tragedy occurs the Dems or Repubs come out to blame each other and push their own agendas. That includes the political controlled media. Lets concentrate on ignoring these fools and just address the problems in our own states. No normal human beings want to deliberatly harm each other. Let the political crap that breeds on these posts go.

Does anyone else find it strange that traffic camera video of the bridge collapse was made available within hours, yet the traffic cam videos of the plane striking or flying toward the Pentagon have not been made available for six years?

Governor Tim Pawlenty, our "No new taxes" governor of Miinesota, vetoed a 5% gas tax increase for road and bridge repair last year. He has expressed some interest in national office. I guess he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it.

I just reposted after coming back and not seeing my post. I now realize that my post and Rooscow's post were reversed.
why???????
Posted by: Rooscow | Aug 3, 2007 11:05:14 AM

Posted by: Willie | Aug 3, 2007 11:10:03 AM

Another conspiracy theorist is born!! Next Spike Lee will be doing the film, I suppose (and Rosie will be listing the theory on her blog!!) BTW, the nursery rhyme has nothing to do with the Queen..

The 'London Bridge is falling down' Nursery Rhyme is based on the one of the most famous landmarks in London. It's history can be traced to the Roman occupation of England in the first century. The first London Bridge was made of wood and clay and was fortified or re-built with the various materials mentioned in the children's nursery rhyme.

But don't worry, never let facts stand in the way of a good conspiracy!!

Thank you Ted D, for some words of real wisdom, and I mean that sincerly!!

Wow...good and bad comments....whos the clown that thinks the $spent in Iraq would have solved this problem..No body wants to look at the engineering reports issued 25 yrs ago that our infrastructure was in bad shape and getting worse, that was 25 years ago! Every big bridge built in the last 20 years is already in need of attention. There aare 2 bridges over the Mississippi river (not naming the state) that is being monitored as we speak as to when they will fail and this has been know for about 5 years!..PEOPLE VOTE to elect those who will do something! QUIT voting in these idiots that steal our money! I am tired of it when are the people of this country gona wake up and see...it wasnt Bush or Clinton they are just carring on and it started before Reagan for all you Repub bashers.

Let's see, the picture above is the Golden Gate Bridge, Not the Bay Bridge. SO which is the dangerous one? Golden Gate or Bay Bridge.....

These bridges and the entire infrastructure of the United States has been in need of repair for years. Long before Bush, before Clinton, again both parties share the blame so point the finger at your party as well as the others. ... Local government and the citizens are to blame, in fact our society in general. The I-35E bridge sat next to the brand new stadium. The city of New Orleans is still in bad shape but the Super Dome has been rebuilt! All over the United States we are so concerned about the ball game that we let the rest of our cities and states rot. We are willing to spend billions to provide facilities for private a business to operate. A business which can pay top employees millions every year expect taxpayers to build elaborate stadiums for them. We do this at the expense of education, fire and police protection and safe roads and bridges. Voters in my town approved as school bond to repair and update schools. The first thing they did was build a new gymnasium. We already have a new stadium. The roof still leaks in classrooms and library. We put more emphasis on college football than we do the level of education at that college. We get what we ask for and what we tolerate. If you want someone to blame for a bridge failure, for lack of adequate education, fire and police protection...look at your new stadium, then look in the mirror.

Hallo Liefie

About unstructural Bridges, read this one of these bridges is on I 25 in Denver.waah

Re: While all bridges should be looked at, let's not join the "Bridge Hysteria" club,
OK, but use common sense. Let me tell you something. When you keep putting off annual or bi-annual inspection after inspection this will happen again and again. Read your history and why the interstates were built why you have the selected numbers based upon what part of the country they are in, the directions they go, etc. Then use logic. Example: If a bridge gets 100,000 cars a day then inspected daily along with the bi-annual and very thorough checking of it. The ones that get 10,000 a year must get the same bi-annual inspections but still get a general inspection every month. You have to look at the entire picture. Bridges that go over salt water in areas that have all four seasons that are very strong are more vulnerable than the ones that are above fresh water and their mild four seasons are not compared equally. Some of them based upon their age use rivets vs. bolts because that was the standard when they were built. Many people have and will have to deal with the bad traffic but I rater be in slow traffic and alive rather then be moving fast and then die. Case in point, my 17 minute ride to work via the Mianus River Bridge was brought up to 57 minutes or longer after the collapse and that was around 11:00 PM each night. However I rather have a long commute and remain alive. Plus, why wasn’t the Minnesota Bridge dealt with way back in 1990 when the problem was noticed? Bring back tools at the state lines. Contact you city, state and federal representatives and keep on their backs to maintain before another disaster happens. I do. There is so much more.

Any surprise that most of the bridges in question are in so-called Blue States?

Maybe if more money was spent on things that actually made sense rather than trying to solve every social problem under the sun, the Minnesota debacle may never have happened. Building bridges and maintaining roads are valid public expenditures - making sure everyone has everything they "deserve" is not a valid use of public funds.

Maybe Altas Shrugged.

Scott C.

The terrorists weren't originally in Iraq, they were in Afganistan. Instead of spending the Billions upon Billions on dollars in Iraq, spend millions in Afganistan and the Billions here. Unemployment payouts will go down, because there will be more construction jobs. We should fix our own country before we dictate to the world what they should do. What kind of example is the superpower showing to others around the world, we care about you guys more then we care about ourselves????

The lack of infrastructure spend here in the US is most apparent when visiting Europe, Japan or China. I have seen some truly amazing projects first hand in all these place. The rest of the first world views their infrastructure as an integral part of their economy. Here is been viewed as afterthought, a place to cut funding to pay for tax cuts for the last 30 year. That needs to change if the US is to regain our leadership position in the world.

Also, you have to wonder how much of the funds needed for repair and replacement of exiting bridges is being diverted to build freeways out into the farm land for Toll Brother McMansions. Sprawl spreads out infrastructure dollars to thin over to large an area.

BTW, here in Oregon the Sellwood bridge was rated at 2% (seriously) and still carries rush hour traffic. Huge chunks of concrete are missing from it and trucks and buses are no longer allowed. Scary stuff.

Can't we just send our prayers to those affected by the tragedy? Why does everyone have to get on a soap box on every other issue under the sun? Politicians using this tragedy to throw soundbites at eachother is disgusting and they should be ashamed of themselves.

NBC reported last night that it would take 65 billion dollars to fix all the bridges in America. Made it seem like such an outrageous number, but we spend something like 5 billion a month for the war in Iraq alone. Can you imagine if we spent money like that on America's infratructure or Education system what America would be like today. Unfortunately this Administration's priorities are different. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

Starr Davis ... Some of us do remember, without having to resort to Google searches. Does "metal fatigue" sound familiar?

Does anyone really believe that America's declining infrastructure began with the Bush Administration? Does anyone honestly believe that a liberal administration will spend Iraqi earmarked funds for infrastructure or any other domestic project. Politicians, both Democrat and Republican, are not wired to spend money on something as mundaned as bridges. That is, until there is a disaster and then get out of the way for the blame game.

The Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant was finished in 1928, but it fell in 1967. The facts of that scare story were basically correct, but it was almost 40 years ago.

I live in Rochester NY and we have a bridge in Irondequoit that has the exact same style and structure of the one that collapsed. It didnt make it onto the "dangerous bridge" list or any list for that matter, yet, they still insist on polling us to ask if we think it needs work, or if we're afraid to drive on it. We're only going to be scared if they keep shoving ideas in our heads. This was an unfortunate accident. And, yes, those other bridges probably could use some work, but that doesnt mean that every bridge ever built in the history of man is a death trap. Just pay respects to the families of those who lost, and go about your lives.

The scariest bridge I have ever crossed is the Huey P Long Bridge in New Orleans. This thing looks like something out of Dr. Suesse. The lanes are very narrow and it has a rail system over your head that it also supports. At rush hour there are police on either end of the bridge limiting the number of vehicles that can cross. it has to make the list.

I think if our state and local governments put priorities first, safety of Americans, safety of our highways, etc., we wouldn't be seeing these problems.

Also the illegal aliens doing the labor on some of these bridges probably has a whole lot to do with it. - NOT the ones that are 40 years old, but the new ones.

These things don’t just happen. No one political party can be blamed since these bridges and our entire infrastructure has been neglected for years. There simply isn’t enough money to repair and rebuild our bridges, roads and dams. There isn’t enough money to pay policemen, firefighters, teachers and emergency personnel what they are worth. There isn’t enough to pay soldiers a fraction of their worth and our borders are unguarded due to a lack of funding. Public schools are not what they should be and the drop out rate is horrible. New Orleans still in bad shape and police and firemen simply don’t have the equipment to do their jobs. ... The Super Dome is rebuilt. A new stadium sits within sight of the I-35 bridge. Almost every major city spends millions even billions to build stadiums for private business. Businesses that can pay top employees millions every year expect taxpayers to build facilities for them. High schools often pay the football coach more than they do the Principal. We are so in love with organized sports that we fail to see anything else. ... If you wonder why the bridge fell, look where the money went. If you want to blame someone, look in the mirror.

Any bridge with pilings over the water are the biggest problems. For instance the Minn bridge is over the Miss. Think about the problem of recovering the last few days with currents. Errosion,rain totals the last 5 years, snow melt and as mentioned at the beginning of this posting, Salt and temps
Marc from NJ, check all the currents on any bridges you cross.
BTW we avoid the taking any bridge if there is another way around. I'd rather pay for gas prices by the extra miles.

"I know you are investigative reporters, but do you have to share this information so terrorists can target these heavily travelled bridges?"

OH...MY...GOD.

let's just crawl under a rock and call it a day!

Elizabeth Bridge is listed twice, 23% and 46%. WHich is it? Or is it in each direction? :)

Why are there 73,000 more folks travelling on the Oakland end of the Bat Bridge than on the San Francisco end? It's the same bridge folks!

"The Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant was finished in 1928, but it fell in 1967. The facts of that scare story were basically correct, but it was almost 40 years ago." posted by Zach

YES! That bridge was sooo old but that happened before I was born and there have been two other bridges in its stead since then, with the latest one being a structurally sound, nice-looking bridge! WHY DO THESE REPORTS REFLECT BRIDGES THAT ARE LONG, LONG GONE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE STRUCTURALLY SOUND?

And why are news agencies using these as scare tactics? Typical reporters.

I agree Chris... ATLAS SHRUGGED.

Our local ABC station reported that the bridges in San Francisco Bay area (Bay bridge, Golden Gate bridge...etc) are in good condition. Why they are on this list? who is right?

michael... That IS the bay bridge, not the Golden Gate... See the Tip of the transamerica building? You can't see the transamerica building from GG Bridge.......

Last week I read that the Pentagon "lost" 19 billion dollars designated for Iraq reconstruction. Yesterday I heard that it would cost 19 billion dollars to fix all the bridges that need to be fixed in the U.S.

How about the government starting a
"rainy day savings fund" to enable us to
build bridges before they break down.

"The New Jersey Route-21 Bridge over the I-80 corridor is the busiest" Later it says I-280...Which is it?

I take the road every day and 21 goes UNDER not OVER both Interstates... actually 21 does not go under I-80, actually it doesnt cross I-80 at all it turns into 20 first. Route 20 goes under I-80. Where 21 goes under I-280 it's not a bridge... its a city street in Newark. I wonder how much research they did?

Mary, i thought that usually turned into slush funds or pork projects...

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that all the money allowcated for repair of the infrastructure is going directly or indirectly into the pockets of our politicians and their freinds. Remember Bush introducing the guest as the have and have mores. It's going to be that way until the American public recognizes the problem and stands up against the government. Let's start by putting the right people in jail.

Whoever works as a photo editor here at ABC news is a total stud. Also the slideshows are ridiculously amazing.
holler.

son.

That is REAL SCARY stuff! I wonder if mine is safe.

Tim raises an interesting point. Yes, the war in Iraq is awesome for the bottom line of Corporate Interests (track down where all that money goes, you will see the war is a for-profit venture); however, it is my sincere belief that making sure people dont plunge 60 feet into one of the world's largest rivers is more important than fabricating an excuse for the creation of chaos so that "order" may be imposed without question.