Story Created:
Jul 31, 2009 at 4:23 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 31, 2009 at 6:26 PM EDT
Tens of thousands of unsafe or decaying bridges carrying 100-million drivers a day have to wait for repairs because states are spending stimulus money on parts that are already in good shape. And that includes Rhode Island, the state with the nation's highest percentage of bad bridges.
So far, plans are to use the money to work on only 7 of the almost 400 bridges that need repair.
Kazem Farhoumand, Chief engineer at RI's Dept. of Transportation breaks down the state's stimulus cash. 137 million dollars was handed out by the federal government and the DOT is using 20 percent on its crumbling bridges, more than the state average.
"We did not want to spend all of our money just on one particular purpose," said Farhoumand. "Keep in mind, one of the reasons that the funds were available were to keep people working and to put more people to work. We started looking at projects that are 'shovel ready.'"
Those shovel ready projects could include landscaping, sidewalk repair, even paving.
An ABC6 investigation revealed the DOT was not inspecting its bridges as often as federal law requires, that's every 2 years. Some spans went 3,4,or 5 years without a final report. Kazouman says that practice has stopped and plans are already underway for a new Sakonnet River Bridge and a stretch over Route 95 in Pawtucket.
"We've been faced to make difficult decisions. We've been making them, and we're trying to stretch our dollars," said Farhoumand.
Sunday, Aug 2 at 7:09 PM greg wrote ...
did.nt the gov and dot say our bridges wear save a year ago?
27206869Saturday, Aug 1 at 7:24 AM jack wrote ...
There is no money left the senate spent it on lunches and parties
27157186Friday, Jul 31 at 5:42 PM R H warwick ri wrote ...
This what you call out of control Government if we dont get a hold of this now we are all in big trouble the clock is ticking
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