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‘Deficient’ bridges in Peoria area point to substantial repair needs
The Chillicothe Times-Bulletin ^ | March 29, 2019 | Chris Kaergard

Posted on 04/09/2019 1:15:39 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

An average of 26,300 vehicles per day drive across the small bridge on Main Street in East Peoria that crosses over Farm Creek. Those six lanes of traffic cross one of 166 bridges in the Tri-County Area that are “structurally deficient,” according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A bridge is considered structurally deficient if one of its main components is in poor condition and repairs are needed. Components include the deck, the part of the bridge people drive on; the superstructure, which supports the deck; or the substructure, the foundation of the bridge.

Even if a bridge is classified as structurally deficient, it does not mean it is unsafe, said Jessie Decker, an IDOT spokeswoman.

“IDOT has a thorough inspection program and verifies all bridges have the necessary strength to safely carry traffic,” she said in an email. “Although uncommon, a bridge will be closed if necessary to ensure the safety of the traveling public.”

Typical issues that come up during inspections of bridges can include the corrosion of steel and cracking and deterioration of concrete, according to Decker.

Omer Osman, acting secretary for IDOT, told the House Appropriations-Capital Committee at a recent hearing that $13 billion to $15 billion is needed for maintenance on the state’s roads and bridges. Of this money, $5 billion to $6 billion would go to bridges.

“Our infrastructure continues to deteriorate faster than we can keep up with it,” Osman said at the hearing.

About 8.6 percent of the bridges in Illinois are classified as structurally deficient. In Peoria County it’s nearly 25 percent. Tazewell County has about 15 percent of bridges with the label, and it’s 11 percent in Woodford County.

(Excerpt) Read more at chillicothetimesbulletin.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: bridges; capitalbill; construction; idot; illinois; infrastructure; legislation; peoria; repairs; springfield; transportation

1 posted on 04/09/2019 1:15:39 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“Our infrastructure continues to deteriorate faster than we can keep up with it,”

Speaks to the whole, sorry state of the state of IL.

2 posted on 04/09/2019 1:54:18 AM PDT by pt17
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Money used to support sanctuary cities


3 posted on 04/09/2019 2:18:29 AM PDT by ronnie raygun (nic dip.com)
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To: ronnie raygun

We can’t have starving immigration attorneys.


4 posted on 04/09/2019 2:35:44 AM PDT by Does so (Is Central America Emptying Its Jails?)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Nearby, in McLean County, Bloomington would require many years’ worth of $9 million dollar road budgets just to get to an overall road quality of “fair.”
5 posted on 04/09/2019 3:18:12 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Oh, and for many years, the Bloomington road budget has been between $1 and $3 million.

At least Bloomington is a “Not In My Town” city and only hates conservatives.

6 posted on 04/09/2019 3:20:17 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

No problem. Just raise taxes.


7 posted on 04/09/2019 5:09:05 AM PDT by lurk
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To: lurk

Don’t need no stinkin bridges but we do need more multi million dollar rest areas.


8 posted on 04/09/2019 5:40:14 AM PDT by oldasrocks (Heavily Medicated for your Protection.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

So, how much of fuel taxes have been diverted from road maintenance to general funds?

Sorry, IL can rot.


9 posted on 04/09/2019 6:21:28 AM PDT by Little Ray (Freedom Before Security!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Democrats have had decades to deal with these issues, and they’ve bought up land to put it off limits to development, built 100 million dollar high schools, and wasted it on diversity training at every level of society.

They lied about taking money to fix roads and bridges and wasted it on environmentalism and social engineering.

Do not give them more money on the promise they’d finally fix what they never do repair.


10 posted on 04/09/2019 6:36:30 AM PDT by tbw2
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Sounds like Peoria missed the Obama Shovel-Ready Express.


11 posted on 04/09/2019 6:54:55 AM PDT by moovova
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

From the day those bridges were designed and before building was begun, fees and taxes were put in place to pay for them and maintain them. Same for every major infrastructure piece in this country.

And those fees and taxes continued. They just never got spent on maintaining.

Where’d the money go.

Who stole it.


12 posted on 04/09/2019 7:00:20 AM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: Grimmy

I heard whispers that the I80 bridge over the Des Plaines river was unsafe. Then, a few days ago, I saw an electronic advertising sign that said “Cross the bridge at your own risk” a couple of miles to the west of the bridge. Who knows what the truth is, but I’m sure it is Trump’s fault.


13 posted on 04/09/2019 7:26:21 AM PDT by Ann de IL
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