"Bridges to Nowhere" is a cute, meaningless sound bite

myself | 16 Nov 2005 | redpoll

[redpoll]

I've had it with the phrase "Bridges to Nowhere." Someone has to speak up for Alaskans.

I've lived in Ketchikan and the Mat-Su valley, two of the places next to "nowhere." Ketchikan is a thin strip of roadway on a mountain cliff next to the ocean. The bridge would connect Ketchikan to the island next door, which has many square miles of flat land that could be developed for the benefit of the community. The Knik Arm bridge connects Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, with the Mat-Su valley, Alaska's fastest growing community. Calling the Knik Arm bridge a bridge to "nowhere" is either stupidity or willful disregard of the facts.

Do these places deserve more roads? Look at a map of Alaska. Look at the towns. Now look at the roads connecting them. Most of the state has no roads at all. The village where I'm typing this is 280 miles from the nearest road. As a result, a trip to Wal-Mart costs me $500 on a small plane to Fairbanks. A gallon of milk costs $12 at the local grocery store. Gas is running at $4.20 a gallon. A road between my village and Fairbanks would radically reduce the cost of living, as well as help connect us to the rest of the economy of North America. Of course, building the road would mean a road to "nowhere."

The critics of the bridges have their arguments backwards. Gravina Island, located next to Ketchikan, has 50 residents because the only way to get there right now is by boat. Since there is no infrastructure, there are no residents. You need to build the infrastructure first to get the residents. The Knik Arm bridge will connect a relatively unpopulated section of the Mat-Su valley to Anchorage; it will also turn a 60-minute commute from Wasilla into a 20-minute drive. You don't often find commuters "nowhere."

There is a long tradition in this country of building infrastructure with government funding to boost local economies. The Cumberland Road went "nowhere" at first. The railroads in the 19th century went through vast expanses of "nowhere." The Golden Gate bridge connected San Francisco to "nowhere," the undeveloped sections of Marin County. The Mackinac Straits bridge went from lower Michigan to "nowhere." A lot of the interstate highway system goes "nowhere."

Sure, there are boondoggles, from the C and O Canal to the poorly built dikes around New Orleans. On the other hand, there's Hoover Dam and the George Washington Bridge. A good argument could be made that one of the things that government does well is build infrastructure; certainly the founders had that in mind when one of the specific duties of government was the construction of "post roads" and other infrastructure to help commerce.

It would help Ketchikan to have a bridge connecting that city to Gravina Island. It would help Southeast to have a road connecting most of the towns there, too. It would help Alaska to have roads connecting Nome and Bethel and Barrow to Fairbanks, too. (The Knik Arm bridge would cut one hour off the trip between Anchorage and Fairbanks.)

Of course, if nothing is done, no roads are build, no bridges allowed to connect our communities with the rest of the state, most of the state will remain "nowhere." Villages will languish in poverty. Economies will have nowhere to grow. Notice that the first thing that they had to do when oil was developed at Prudhoe Bay was build a road. The road went "nowhere" until the trucks rolled up the road, built the pipeline, and put in the oil derricks.

These are not "bridges to nowhere." They're a needed part of the development of the state. We could argue about cost and design, certainly, but the need for more roads, bridges, and infrastructure here is obvious.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

So the fact that one idiotic boondoggle was once funded justifies funding another one now? I'm against BOTH you know.

I didn't say it justifies anything did I? I thought it odd that a guy was using a New Orleans project to show how it should be done. The only thing dumber would have been someone living next to that nightmare dig in Boston.

[kingu]

It is good that you brought up the Golden Gate Bridge; it gives every answer Alaska needs to develop this project. The region should gather together, like they did in the greater bay area, and finance the bridge themselves.

The federal investment at the time was granting permission to cross the harbor entrance and the building on federal land. I'm sure that Congress would be more than willing to grant that support.

Indeed, one great investor in the bridge could be the Alaska minerals trust fund (though I fail to recall the proper name of it.)

But if you're talking about federal funds to build a bridge of dubious need without heavy local investment - that is indeed a bridge that is going nowhere.

[flashbunny]

it was $658 million in 2003.


If this was such a great and needed bridge, Alaska could have built it and recoup the costs.

Instead, it's such a great idea the rest of the country must pay for it.

[fish hawk]

Several years ago the government went up there to one of the villages and build some homes for the Indians. They included stoves, fridges, washer and dryers too. The only thing wrong is that the village had no electricity or phones. Our tax dollars in the hands of bureaucrats is money down the drain.

[thackney]

no one in this great nation is speaking about the US Navy north slope oil reserve

We do more than talk, we are drilling it.

It is now called National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)

The entire area, including Native Lands and the immediate (3 mile) offshore is expected to be over 10 billion barrels oil and over 60 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Here is some updates to the current development and planning.

BLM - NPRA

I am working on projects in this area.

[tongass kid]

Thanks thackney for the info. The MSM does not seam to be interested in this oil and gas.

[Kozak]

No, I'm talking about the 30 billion in CASH reserves the state of Alaska is sitting on, while sticking its hand in the pockets of the rest of us.

[Kozak]

Alaska gets about 1.89 cents in goodies for every dollar it sends to the federal treasury. #2 in pork to tax ratio.

[AmishDude]

Stevens should offer to pull the Bridge to Nowhere funding in exchange for allowing ANWR drilling.

[Kozak]

By your logic this will pay for itself by " opening prime real estate to development". It thats the case, Alaska should sell bonds, then reap the goodies if development occurs. If it REALLY is such a good deal, investors would jump on it.

[thackney]

Alaska gets about 1.89 cents in goodies for every dollar it sends to the federal treasury.

Only if you don't count every dollar we send. That is true only if you look at Gas Tax. Try adding Resource Leases, Royalties and Taxes. Oil, Gas, Mining and Commercial Fishing all send dollars from Alaska but biased reporting does not want to include those.

[tophat9000]

By your logic this will pay for itself by " opening prime real estate to development". It thats the case, Alaska should sell bonds, then reap the goodies if development occurs. If it REALLY is such a good deal, investors would jump on it.

True but then the same standard should be applied to any project with Federal funds...

If it's such a good idea then let the local and states gov. sell bonds to fund... it

... like the rebuild of NO or the Gulf Coast or Bostons "Big Dig" and any and all other Fed. funded project

The whole point being ... is the AK. "Bridges to Nowhere" in the total package of Fed. funded project the ultimate "king of pork" or is it just AK., from a DC political rep. perspective, a very small weak far away state that is being used as a scapegoat by the DC political heavy weight states to deflect there own pork barrels greed

The press and the DC pol. have painted the AK. "Bridges to Nowhere" as being both to and from Nowhere..no one on one side waiting to to go across

The poster paints a different picture, that in fact there is traffic on one side, it is not "Nowhere to Nowhere" but "Nowhere to Somewhere" and if you build it they will come and it will soon be "Somewhere to Somewhere"

What the truth?..don't know... but so far this post is the first info from a AK.citizen living near the area of the AK. "Bridges to Nowhere" and not from the MSM or DC Pol....so let him have his say and try to learn the facts and how the AK. "Bridges to Nowhere" really fits in the overall DC PurePork or SmartInvestment funding ratio

One other quick note: On what AK get from DC vs what it gives to DC...it DC thats stopping AK from opening up it oil and other natural resources in AK...AK has the riches to pay for things like this but the rest of the country want to keep the state a giant (and poor) Caribou park... personal if I lived in AK. I might have a bug up my butt too with DC demigods about AK being a Pork parasite on the rest of the country

[ctdonath2]

The village where I'm typing this is 280 miles from the nearest road. As a result, a trip to Wal-Mart costs me $500 on a small plane to Fairbanks. A gallon of milk costs $12 at the local grocery store. Gas is running at $4.20 a gallon. A road between my village and Fairbanks would radically reduce the cost of living, as well as help connect us to the rest of the economy of North America.

And that's the result of your choice of where to live.

You want my help (and that by forcibly confiscating money from my pocket thru taxes)? I offer a compromise: I'll cough up the $23,000 for your fair share of the bridge cost, and you can cough up $23,000 for my down payment on a house ... better yet, why don't we just keep our hands out of each others' pockets, each pay for his own wants, and generally leave each other the heck alone.

[ctdonath2]

we come out dead last when it come to federal spending on ports, bridges, and harbors.

Maybe because that's because there's few sane reasons for using that coastline for ports, bridges and harbors even if fully developed.

Let the Alaskans develop their land and resources (and keep the revenue) and there would no need for any federal spending here.

What, seriously, is stopping you? a few drops of ink scrawled on paper by complete strangers 5000 miles away?

[TChris]

You chose to live in a remote part of the country. In a budget crunch, why should the rest of America pay to let you live in a remote village?

Grow up. If you want a bridge to connect you to Anchorage, get Alaska to pay for it. It isn't New York's job to pay for your infrastructure. I still pay tolls on my bridges and highways.

Well put.

[ctdonath2]

A handout is not what they are looking for, rather, a handup.

Ah, I understand. How about a ticket to Seattle? relatively inexpensive, and gets one to a financially dynamic area.

Sometimes the solution to the problem of surviving somewhere is "don't be there - get out".

[cynicom]

Ever wonder how this country got its interstate road system???? Ever wonder WHO paid for it??? Of course you never use it, right?

[Chena]

I'm actually embarrassed here. I know about the NPRA but for some reason did not make the connection to the question about the "US Navy" north slope oil reserve.

Thanks for that information, thackney. I'll check it out! :)

[thackney]

Let the Alaskans develop their land and resources (and keep the revenue) and there would no need for any federal spending here.

What, seriously, is stopping you?

Glad you asked, Federal Ownership of the land and their unwillingness to develop it. Ever hear of ANWR? We are trying to send $2.4 billion to the US treasure before any oil is even produced, just from lease sales. Later oil & gas production will send even more.

Yet these so called republicans will not let that happen:

Jeb Bradley (NH-1st Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-5456 Fax: 202-225-5822
(Chief of Staff Debra Vanderbeek)
http://www.house.gov/bradley/contact.html#email

Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-3665 Fax: 202-225-1891
Web site: http://www.house.gov/boehlert/
Energy LA –Amy Chiang amy.chiang@mail.house.gov

Nancy Johnson (CT-5th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-4476 Fax: 202-225-4488
Environment LA – Stephanie Ashwell -
stephanie.ashwell@mail.house.gov

Christopher Smith (NJ)
Tel: 202-225-3765 Fax: 202-225-7768
Energy LA – Kristie Rodgers –
kristie.rodgers@mail.house.gov

James Sensenbrenner (WI-5th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-5101 Fax:202-225-3190
Energy LA – Michael Lenn –
Michael.lenn@mail.house.gov

Timothy Johnson (IL-15th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-2371 Fax: 202-226-0791
rep.johnson@mail.house.gov

James Leach (IA-2nd Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-6576 Fax: 202-226-1278,
Energy LA – Naomi Zeff –
naomi.zeff@mail.house.gov

Wayne Gilchrest (MD)
Tel: 202-225-5311 Fax: 202-225-0254,
Energy LA – Edith Thompson –
edith.thompson@mail.house.gov

Sue Kelly (NY-19th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-5441 Fax: 202-225-3289,
Environment LA – Jody Milanese –
jody.milanese@mail.house.gov

Charles Bass (NH)
Tel: 202-225-5206 Fax:202-225-2946,
Energy LA – Tad Furtado –
tad.furtado@mail.house.gov

Bob Inglis (SC-4th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-6030 Fax: 202-226-1177,
Energy LA – Garth Van Meter –
garth.vanmeter@mail.house.gov

David Reichert (WA-8th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-7761 Fax: 202-225-4282,
http://www.house.gov/reichert/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm

Mark Kennedy (MN-6th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-2331 Fax: 202-225-6475
Energy LA – Michael Yost –
michael.yost@mail.house.gov

Christopher Shays (CT-4th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-5541 Fax: 202-225-9629
Energy LA – Dave Natonski –
dave.natonski@mail.house.gov

Michael Ferguson (NJ-7th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-5361 Fax: 202-225-9460
Energy LA – Tom Fussaro –
tom.fussaro@mail.house.gov

Jim Saxton (NJ-3rd Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-4765 Fax: 202-225-0778
Environment LA – Andy Oliver –
andy.oliver@mail.house.gov

Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-8th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-4276 Fax: 202-225-9511
Chief of Staff Michael Conallen –
michael.conallen@mail.house.gov

Rosco Bartlett (MD-6th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-2721 Fax: 202-225-2193,
Energy LA – Mark Aitken –
mark.aitken@mail.house.gov

Mark Kirk (IL-10th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-4835 Fax: 202-225-0837 LD - Jeannette Windon –
jeannette.windon@mail.house.gov

Michael Castle (DE-at large)
Tel: 202-225-4165 Fax: 202-225-2291
Energy LA- Jim Catella –
jim.catella@mail.house.gov

John Schwarz (MI-7th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-6276 Fax: 202-225-6281,
Environment LA – Jared Page –
jared.page@mail.house.gov

Jim Gerlach (PA-6th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-4315 Fax: 202-225-8440,
Energy LA – Bill Tighe –
bill.tighe@mail.house.gov

Tom Davis (VA-11th Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-1492 Fax: 202-225-3071 ,
Energy LA – Bill Womack –
bill.womack@mail.house.gov

Jim Ramstad (MN-3rd Dist.)
Tel: 202-225-2871 Fax: 202-225-6351,
Energy LA – Adam Peterman –
adam.peterman@mail.house.gov

Next we can talk about why the entire National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (land specifically set aside for oil & gas production) is on partially open.,p.

Less than 1% of Alaska is privately owned, the feds own most of it. How productive would your state be if the same limits were imposed?

[MEGoody]

Do these places deserve more roads?

Maybe, but they can use their oil revenues to pay for them (instead of doling out a chunk of that to each Alaskan every year). The size of the population that would be using these bridges doesn't justify the cost to all American taxpayers.