Today's article talks about the need to strategize more effectively in order to address the deteriorating state of our transportation infrastructure. The National Bridge Inventory found that 7,795 bridges across the country have been classified as both "fracture critical" and "structurally deficient".
Here is how those terms are defined:
Fracture Critical - the bridge or part of it could collapse if a single vital component, such as one load-bearing girder, fails.
Structurally deficient - at least one major component has deteriorated and the bridge needs repairs to remain in service and will eventually need major rehabilitation work to address the deficiency."
So if a bridge is "Fracture Critical", what can be done? In the case of Structurally Deficiient, it seems that repairs are needed without a doubt.
I agree that something has to be done, especially considering that revenue from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, the system is becoming unsustainable.
Solution-based Approaches
- Do We Need Every New Road? Perhaps not every new road project needs to be built. State officials should be looking at a better balance among new roads, maintaining roads and bridges and other transportation options.
- Get Real: Allow for a more realistic budget to address repairs. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker cut $51 million from the state highway rehabilitation program, which funds highway and interstate repairs, including bridge work, over the next two fiscal years. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, considering that about 45 bridges in Wisconsin — including two in Milwaukee — are in "danger categories" that indicate the structures have designs that make them more vulnerable to failure and are deteriorating
- Sustainable Revenue: Create a system with a sustainable flow of revenue should be getting a higher priority from legislators.
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