Most of the dozens of Texas bridges scheduled for repairs using federal stimulus money have passed inspections with good marks, according to government transportation records.
An analysis by The Associated Press showed 77 bridges in 12 counties will be repaired or improved using stimulus money. Just 30 of them are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete -- terms that don't mean bridges are dangerous but refer instead to whether they are eligible for federal transportation money for repairs.
Texas has about 50,000 bridges, the most of any state. Inspectors consider about 9,800 of them deficient or obsolete.
State transportation officials said under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, preferences were given to projects that were ready to go and would maximize employment. Extensive bridge repairs require years of planning, essentially making long-term bridge projects ineligible for stimulus money.
A bad idea implemented badly...
Stimulus Bucks for Bridges That Don't Need Work
Most stimulus-targeted bridges in Texas are OK
By JEFF CARLTON
Most of the dozens of Texas bridges scheduled for repairs using federal stimulus money have passed inspections with good marks, according to government transportation records.
An analysis by The Associated Press showed 77 bridges in 12 counties will be repaired or improved using stimulus money. Just 30 of them are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete -- terms that don't mean bridges are dangerous but refer instead to whether they are eligible for federal transportation money for repairs.
Texas has about 50,000 bridges, the most of any state. Inspectors consider about 9,800 of them deficient or obsolete.
State transportation officials said under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, preferences were given to projects that were ready to go and would maximize employment. Extensive bridge repairs require years of planning, essentially making long-term bridge projects ineligible for stimulus money.
- Stephen M. Smith