Re: Hopes Dim in Minneapolis for Survivors

On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 18:21:54 -0700, "Barbara Lake" <bglake@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


"Bets" <betsyj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:npn4b3pj7lchpka71fbbke1b3guavcsa3a@xxxxxxxxxx
On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:13:16 GMT, cg <cgrams007@{removethis}yahoo.com>
wrote:



So you believe this is going to be limited to one bridge in one state?
You go do a little reading and you may change your mind.

I never said that. I was speaking only to the I-35W bridge referenced
in the subject line of this thread. My state has had one bridge
collapse and two bridges sink. Believe me I know of problems in other
states. Fortunately all three were closed to traffic and all were due
to either poor design, weather or negligent repair work, not politics.

The Feds only provide matching funds for interstates. The states must
provide the funds to match them to receive them. I do agree fingers
can be pointed in many directions. Even at the electorate who vote
down tax increases for maintaining infrastructure. In the case of
I-35W it was the governor.

Bets,

It isn't just this one governor or this one state. I found a Christian
Science Monitor story titled "Bridge collapse spotlights America's deferred
maintenance" that indicates not enough is being spent on infrastructure
throughout the U.S. It makes for intensely interesting reading.

http://www.csmonitor.com:80/2007/0803/p01s05-usgn.html?s=hns

Barbara

Good article Barb, but I've read most of the same things in other
articles. I know there is no simple fix political or otherwise. I
know the State of Washington had addressed two serious infrastructure
problems we have in this state. Even with gas prices at all time
highs our legislature, our governor and our electorate have taken
steps to cure the problems. It has meant 14 cent a gallon increases
in gasoline taxes and the incovenience of having the problem viaduct
and the problem bridge shut down for inspections and maintenance
several times a year. The ultimate resolution will take several
years, but at least we've started the ball rolling.

There are so many deep seated reasons for infrastructure failing
through out the country, it would be difficult to delve into them all
in this forum. I regret the horror and loss of life of the I-35W
bridge, but hopefully it is a wake up call.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Railroad bridge collapses for the second time in three years, spilling toxic chemicals -- me
    ... See what I mean about our national infrastructure? ... Friday on an old railroad bridge that has had problems before, ... the derailment that is to blame for the partial bridge collapse. ... billion in infrastructure investment. ...
    (alt.politics)
  • Re: [RFC PATCH 00/17] virtual-bus
    ... We are trying to create a high performance IO infrastructure. ... events in the venet ABI. ... support is LINK_UP and LINK_DOWN. ... brctl setfd $bridge 0 ...
    (Linux-Kernel)
  • Re: re the Dead From the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Victims of Conservative Ideology?
    ... No, they are the victims of a government who likes to create new spending initiatvies, and not willing to take care of the problems they created by funding old initiatives, like building bridges, then not spending enough money making sure that they continue to be safe.... ... infrastructure, once the pride of the developed world, is falling ... But the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that the bridge "was ... Society of Civil Engineers, 160,570 bridges, or just over one- ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: OT: Economic slump - sign of the times?
    ... or by the I35W bridge and not realize this stuff needs attention NOW? ... If the stimulus bill fails to address the infrastructure needs, ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: UPDATE #2: Utility repair crews turned back
    ... to withstand average weather events. ... state authorities should "encourage" the utilities to invest in ... maintain properly the utility pole infrastructure. ... That bridge goes across Barnegat Bay, ...
    (alt.home.repair)