Question: What does this bridge do for the benefit of new drilling and the oil industry?
Maybe there is an underlying reason for this.
I know... Pork.
Answer: None.
There is a connection, however, to all the money that Alaska sends to the Treasury. You've heard of the Permanent fund that issues checks to residents every year? That's only half of the tax that is collected - the other half gets sent to Uncle Sam. Alaskans can follow what happens to our half (There is enough money to buy every single sports franchise in the U.S.), at times we wonder what happens to the federal half. And yes, we feel entitled to some pork too.
Interesting sidenote: Years ago,in order to sweeten the deal and buy Congresscritters votes to develop ANWR, Alaskan reps. have proposed a 90/10 US/AK split of the taxes