Posted on 07/20/2015 10:12:52 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Construction on the new Interstate 74 Bridge is supposed to be done by 2020, but money – and time – is running out.
On Saturday, July 11th, 2015, Representative Cheri Bustos visited the Quad Cities to meet with local leaders about federal funding.
Right now, Congress is trying to pass a highway bill to fix and fund our area’s infrastructure. However, if they don’t find a solution by July 31st, 2015, federal funding for those projects – like the I-74 Bridge – will end. Monday, July 13th, 2015, a spokesman for Bustos said that if federal funding for the project doesn’t come through, the new bridge project will not continue because Illinois and Iowa don’t have enough money to come up with the rest of it.
“[The I-74 Bridge is still] in the planning stages, but not having a long-term highway bill puts that to a halt,” said Congresswoman Bustos Saturday. “What’s going on in the state of Illinois puts that to a halt. You don’t move things forward without a proper funding mechanism.”
The Senate is expected to discuss a highway funding bill the new work week on Monday. Meanwhile, House Republicans are working on a package to extend funding through the end of the year, but Congressional Democrats – like Rep. Bustos – say that’s only a short-term solution and a long-term one is needed to plan for the future.
This is the Illinois-Iowa border.
Didn’t porklulus almost trillion dollar spending bill fix this problem...?
What are they doing with all the gasoline taxes collected? I always thought it was for keeping the highways in good condition.
Have they not considered toll bridges?.................
It’s for keeping the politician’s in-laws in good condition, silly....................
Love it!
“Have they not considered toll bridges?.................”
What? You want yet another tax imposed on the people?
Hint: “toll” = “tax”! They simply call it “toll” to fool the people.
I already pay road use taxes. You want me to pay double-road-use-taxes?
State politicians spent it traveling, wineing, and dining at major tourist attractions around the world to see how they build bridges at those locations.
The money for maintaining that bridge & other projects probably went up in smoke trying to keep Obamacare alive. How do we know how much otherwise allocated funds are diverted to crap like Obamacare,green projects,funding for illegals,etc.? I’m thinking that the funds for necessary things are there,unless they get sidetracked....which is probably the case.
“Con is the opposite of pro. Therefore, Congress is the opposite of progress.” — Gallagher “
Will rogers said that probably before Gallagher was born
It’s a common method used to pay for new infrastructure, like bridges. It’s been in use since Roman Times.
There is a bridge here in the Panhandle of Florida that connects Santa Rosa County US 98 to Pensacola. It’s a main artery route. The current bridge is nearing its end of useful life. One of the methods discussed for paying for the new bridge is a toll. That sent merchants and drivers alike up in arms because it’s a main artery for tourism and employment alike. The new bridge will have to be according to the new standards that are in place, like ADA access, Bike path access, etc, which means it must be wider, longer and have a smaller angle to accommodate people in wheelchairs and on bicycles. The old bridge is 3 miles long, and that’s what everyone calls it ‘Three Mile Bridge’. The new bridge may be Four Mile or even Five Mile Bridge!.
I don’t see how they will pay for this bridge, and another on in my county that is in the same shape.
The one in my county would have to bypass the entire downtown area of Ft. Walton Beach just to pass the standards and of course the downtown merchants don’t like it either (Someone might miss a chance at getting a tattoo or a BOGO Tee shirt).......
I DON'T think the current political bluffing will much interfere with its completion. Rather Bustos, a typical liberal Rat, albeit better looking than average reflecting her prior occupation as a TV anchorette, is playing the common liberal scare card implying that the most needed and wanted funding (and in this case reasonably constitutional—it literally IS for interstate commerce) will be cancelled when there's loads of illegitimate pork elsewhere in the bill that needs cutting. I'd prefer the bridge be funded by establishing a Compact between IA and IL with some method of local revenues, preferably not traffic slowing tolls. But given the existence of the Intrastate Highway system it is at least as legit as any other Federal expenditure on that.
[What are they doing with all the gasoline taxes collected? I always thought it was for keeping the highways in good condition.]
Things like the 1.5 mile trolley in Charlotte N.C for $37 million.
I hate that bridge. Will take I280 around if possible.
It needs replaced, but it has been such a boondoggle (live everything in the QC) I am have tempted to say just blow the bridge.
“You don’t move things forward without a proper funding mechanism.”
We need elected officials to tell us this?
Yes, I know that “tolls” have been around for a very long time.
A rose by any other name is still a rose. ;-)
I grew up in northwest Davenport in the '60s & '70s. On the rare occasion that I ever had to go to Illinois, that was my second-to-last choice (ahead of the Centennial toll bridge). I'd head for the Government Bridge and hope the drawspan wasn't open.
But, I still chuckle at how they keep trying to convince anyone there really IS such a thing as the Quad (or Tri or Quint) Cities. The Mississippi River isn't just another border on a map. Except for an event now and then, there are few good reasons to cross it. (And, if you must cross it twice a day to get to and from your job, you must have a helluva job and home.)
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