US shuns some big public works projects (the 'Bridge to Nowhere' syndrome)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/2/0 | David Porter and Michael Rubinkam - ap

[NormsRevenge]

NEWARK, N.J. – New Jersey's governor wants to kill a $9 billion-plus train tunnel to New York City because of runaway costs. Six thousand miles away, Hawaii's outgoing governor is having second thoughts about a proposed $5.5 billion rail line in Honolulu.

In many of the 48 states in between, infrastructure projects are languishing on the drawing board, awaiting the right mix of creative financing, political arm-twisting and timing to move forward. And a struggling economy and a surge of political candidates opposed to big spending could make it a long wait.

Has the nation that built the Hoover Dam, brought electricity to the rural South and engineered the interstate highway system lost its appetite for big public works projects? At a time when other countries are pouring money into steel and concrete, is the U.S. unwilling to think long-term?

"My sense is things have changed," said Andrew Goetz, a University of Denver professor and an expert on transportation policy. "People now tend to see any project as a waste of money, and that's just wrong."

[BipolarBob]

I want my high speed rail to Hawaii from continental US. Not the first shovelful of dirt has been expended on this. And Obama keeps talking about infrastructure rebuilding . . . .

[cripplecreek]

There’s just no money for it right now. Besides, until we learn to build efficiently again, we may as well give it up.

[Rashputin]

From the article, "The American Society of Civil Engineers calculates that the U.S. would need to spend an additional $1.1 trillion over the next five years to restore roads, bridges, dams, levees and other infrastructure to good condition. In its latest report card, the engineering society gave the nation's public works a "D" grade."

Well now, I'm just so glad that in order to stimulate we spent more than that $1.1 trillion but focused on important things like the arts. I'd hate to think that funding something shabby like the upkeep of what we already have would take precedence over helping some struggling young artist create a special container to fill with urine and drop a crucifix into as a way to express themselves.

Regards

[cripplecreek]

3 years to build with no construction during winter 5 miles long at a cost adjusted to today of about $200 million.



8 years to build with year round construction, 1,900 feet long at a cost of almost $250 million.



Houston, we have a problem.

[hinckley buzzard]

"America's crumbling infrastructure" is a fraud on a scale exceeded only by Mann-made global warming. It is a glaring attempt to purloin large sums of money from the be-leaguered taxpayer.

Other than the Minneapolis bridge incident(caused by faulty engineering, no doubt perpetrated by an ASCE member), what infrastructure has "crumbled" lately? When a water main blows, we fix it. When a road needs repair, we repair it. When a grid shorts out, we start it up again.

It's called "maintenance" and is an ongoing cost of doing business in any business with capital investment. "Preventive maintenance" is better, but you can blame corrupt politicians for shortcomings there.

[okie01]

"Preventive maintenance" is better, but you can blame corrupt politicians for shortcomings there.

Politicians don't get credit for "preventive maintenance" or "repairs". That's how come we get new bridges when repairing the old one would work just fine.

No ceremonial shovels for maintenance work, no ribbons to cut for repairs...