One in four American bridges in need of repair
by Vanessa Brunner, PIC Current Contributor
It seems like nothing in the news today isn’t about the cost of oil in the United States. Why? Because whether we like it or not, we’ve become a country that’s completely dependent on the stuff. When it costs more, price rises, the price of everything else rises. In this case, a recent study shows that our nation’s bridges are in danger as a result of oil costs.
Courtesy of Ben+Sam on Flickr Creative Commons
According to a recent report from a national safety organization, one in four of the nation’s 600,000 bridges is in need of repair. The report, performed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, was released just days before the August 1st anniversary of the collapse of an interstate bridge in Minnesota that killed 13 and injured 144.
To fix our bridges, the study calculated the cost of repair at $140 billion if we begin work immediately. The price is expected to rise significantly if we wait.
The problems with our bridges can be linked to age, more traffic, higher construction costs, and lack of funds for maintenance.
However, the fix is hampered by oil prices. The rising cost of fuel has influenced the price of numerous products, including steel, asphalt, and concrete. This makes it harder to fund and star construction.
Many politicians, including Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, want the federal government to pay for this project, since state and local governments currently provide 75% of the nation’s transportation funds. He has suggested getting funds from the existing gas tax, a tax on alternative fuels, tolls on highways that are currently free, or encouraging private investment (such as his proposed lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike).
While many organizations want to avoid a cost to the average American, most funding is likely to come out of pockets of Americans, either through fees or taxes.
Regardless of what the source of money is, the report makes it clear that an overall repair of our transportation system is vital, and a pledge from both state governments and the federal government will be necessary to achieve this.
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