Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has been on the media several times in the past 24 hours repeating something that he hopes will save him against critics who are already pointing out that he vetoed key transportation and infrastructure legislation. The mantra goes something like this: “The bridge passed inspections in 2005 and 2006.” First of all, I am by no means a civil engineer or bridge expert, but my 2007 inspection of the bridge on my television screen (this is the Bill Frist diagnostic method) indicates that it is failing its current inspection, being that much of it is in the Mississippi River, along with scores of automobiles and a number of people who divers are still attempting to “recover”.
Second, it reminds me of a bit that Mitch Hedberg does. Something to the effect of:
I rent a lot of cars, but I don’t always know everything about them. So a lot of times, I drive for like ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn’t say a lot for me, but it really doesn’t say a lot for the emergency brake.
That the bridge collapsed in spite of allegedly passing inspections in 2005 and 2006 does not say much for the bridge, but it really doesn’t say a lot for the bridge inspections. Of course, the next logical question to be asking is this: If this bridge collapsed after passing inspections, what other “Passed Inspection” bridges are out there ready to collapse into the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, the Missouri River, the Columbia River, the Colorado River, Snake River, etc?
As has been mentioned several times in the media, the I-35W Mississippi River bridge was deemed “Structurally Deficient” by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. So how many other bridges in the United States fit into that category? In 2006, the number was that 73,764 bridges were considered Structurally Deficient. According to the Department of Transportation, “structurally deficient” means that the bridge has elements that need corrective action. The following table breaks it down by state:
| RANK | STATE | # BRIDGES | # STRUC. DEF. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OK | 23,460 | 6,299 |
| 2 | PA | 22,327 | 5,582 |
| 3 | IA | 24,825 | 5,152 |
| 4 | MO | 24,024 | 4,595 |
| 5 | MS | 16,952 | 3,170 |
| 6 | KS | 25,440 | 3,038 |
| 7 | CA | 23,625 | 2,994 |
| 8 | OH | 27,946 | 2,884 |
| 9 | IL | 25,943 | 2,447 |
| 10 | NE | 15,452 | 2,413 |
| 11 | NC | 17,666 | 2,256 |
| 12 | TX | 49,518 | 2,219 |
| 13 | NY | 17,335 | 2,110 |
| 14 | AL | 15,879 | 2,102 |
| 15 | IN | 18,364 | 2,066 |
| 16 | LA | 13,347 | 1,869 |
| 17 | MI | 10,887 | 1,746 |
| 18 | KY | 13,637 | 1,362 |
| 19 | WI | 13,770 | 1,335 |
| 20 | TN | 19,803 | 1,324 |
| 21 | SC | 9,238 | 1,275 |
| 22 | VA | 13,357 | 1,197 |
| 23 | SD | 5,945 | 1,186 |
| 24 | MN | 13,008 | 1,135 |
| 25 | GA | 14,523 | 1,113 |
| 26 | WV | 6,956 | 1,075 |
| 27 | AR | 12,502 | 1,068 |
| 28 | ND | 4,482 | 776 |
| 29 | NJ | 6,420 | 760 |
| 30 | OR | 7,234 | 645 |
| 31 | MA | 4,947 | 586 |
| 32 | CO | 8,311 | 575 |
| 33 | MT | 5,002 | 500 |
| 34 | VT | 2,710 | 436 |
| 35 | MD | 5,059 | 410 |
| 36 | NM | 3,848 | 401 |
| 37 | WA | 7,548 | 381 |
| 38 | WY | 3,027 | 381 |
| 39 | CT | 4,166 | 351 |
| 40 | ME | 2,380 | 343 |
| 41 | ID | 4,062 | 334 |
| 42 | NH | 2,359 | 317 |
| 43 | FL | 11,553 | 305 |
| 44 | PR | 2,133 | 246 |
| 45 | UT | 2,827 | 239 |
| 46 | RI | 753 | 191 |
| 47 | AZ | 7,248 | 161 |
| 48 | HI | 1,110 | 156 |
| 49 | AK | 1,210 | 151 |
| 50 | NV | 1,630 | 50 |
| 51 | DE | 849 | 35 |
| 52 | DC | 245 | 22 |
.
In addition to the bridges rated structurally deficient, 80,226 bridges in the United States are considered “Functionally Obsolete”, which means that they have elements such as lanes or shoulders which are too narrow for today’s traffic.
So where’s all the bridge construction money? You know where.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
August 2, 2007 at 11:29 pm
A new bridge in Iraq, most excellent! I’ll bet the people in Minneapolis are thrilled. Now if they just had some water (http://tinyurl.com/3dpce3).
August 18, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Alleyoop.com, the basketball page for thinking fans…
Thank you for your post!…
August 18, 2007 at 11:16 pm
AlexaRank…
I want see AlexaRank of your site and buy links. How I do this?…
August 20, 2007 at 7:59 am
karlinskorner…
Useful, thank you!…
August 21, 2007 at 3:17 am
harp seal blanket…
Where I see gallery?…
August 21, 2007 at 9:41 am
bebo horny lad…
Wellcome to Bebo online сommunity, allowing you to share photos and blogs…
August 23, 2007 at 6:25 am
Yahweh’s New Covenant Assembly…
Useful, thank you!…
August 23, 2007 at 7:46 am
accumet.com…
Thank you for your post!…
September 5, 2007 at 6:29 am
buy phentermine…
How much does it cost to deploy a banner on your blog?…
September 11, 2007 at 9:21 am
Links…
How much does it cost links on your blog (Blogroll)?…
September 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
buy tramadol cod…
por qué mi sitio es la gente de tu blog?…
September 14, 2007 at 4:51 pm
garden teaching whaley…
How add your blog to bookmarks?…
September 18, 2007 at 5:54 am
levitra online…
Wieviel kostet es Verbindungen auf deinem blog (Blogroll)?…
September 18, 2007 at 4:17 pm
country of the blind…
A National Leader in Quality Office Furniture?…
September 19, 2007 at 1:44 pm
cam picture voyeur…
The Free Project…
September 20, 2007 at 11:34 am
levitra…
Wellcom to new social network…
September 20, 2007 at 11:41 am
discount levitra…
Wellcom to new social network…
September 20, 2007 at 11:45 am
cheap levitra…
Wellcom to new social network…
September 20, 2007 at 11:46 am
cheap phentermine…
Wellcom to new social network…
September 25, 2007 at 3:44 am
Download error…
Non trasferisco dal vostro luogo…
September 25, 2007 at 3:17 pm
levitra prescription…
Wellcom to new celebrities social network…
September 26, 2007 at 5:37 am
Blog Themes…
When download this blog themes?…
September 26, 2007 at 12:06 pm
hydrocodone…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 12:13 pm
generic levitra viagra…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 12:14 pm
c o d phentermine diet pill…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 12:16 pm
cheap phentermine overnight shipping…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 12:20 pm
buy phentermine…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 12:22 pm
diet phentermine pill sale…
Wellcom to ratatui cinemas…
September 26, 2007 at 6:59 pm
buy phentermine on line…
Hi ratatui, how are you?…
September 26, 2007 at 7:01 pm
levitra online…
Hi ratatui, how are you?…
September 26, 2007 at 7:04 pm
baldwin amp company insurance…
Hi ratatui, how are you?…
September 26, 2007 at 7:04 pm
akers and arney insurance…
Hi ratatui, how are you?…
September 26, 2007 at 7:06 pm
phentermine…
Hi ratatui, how are you?…
September 27, 2007 at 3:48 am
phentermine online…
Dr Ruddi consultation in your blog free?…
September 28, 2007 at 11:30 am
cheap alprazolam…
Hiegik, where ratatui?…
September 28, 2007 at 11:31 am
adipex…
Hiegik, where ratatui?…
September 28, 2007 at 11:36 am
buy ambien…
Hiegik, where ratatui?…
September 28, 2007 at 11:39 am
rivotril online…
Hiegik, where ratatui?…
September 29, 2007 at 8:26 am
buy phentermine without doctor consent…
Ratatui, aida v tubzik?…
September 29, 2007 at 8:31 am
buy phentermine without rx…
Ratatui, aida v tubzik?…
September 29, 2007 at 8:38 am
buy us phentermine…
Ratatui, aida v tubzik?…
September 29, 2007 at 8:43 am
buying phentermine legally…
Ratatui, aida v tubzik?…
September 29, 2007 at 8:44 am
canada phentermine…
Ratatui, aida v tubzik?…
September 29, 2007 at 6:05 pm
30mg phentermine no doctor approval…
A hde pyatachok?…
September 29, 2007 at 6:07 pm
30mg phentermine online no script…
A hde pyatachok?…
October 1, 2007 at 4:57 pm
ativan…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 4:59 pm
37 mg phentermine…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 4:59 pm
discount carisoprodol…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 5:00 pm
37.5 90 phentermine pill…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 5:02 pm
37.5 amide phentermine…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 5:06 pm
37.5 buying online phentermine…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 5:06 pm
37.5 cheap mg phentermine…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 1, 2007 at 5:12 pm
carisoprodol online…
Hei, yua tuta…
October 2, 2007 at 5:36 am
FREE immediately after registration…
More than 300.000 ..?…
October 2, 2007 at 11:35 am
cheap home computer desk…
Privet pyatachok, how are you?…
October 2, 2007 at 11:37 am
ebony fucking…
Privet pyatachok, how are you?…
October 3, 2007 at 12:22 pm
free disturbed tabs…
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?…
October 3, 2007 at 12:26 pm
dolphins…
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?…
October 3, 2007 at 12:30 pm
erotic stories…
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?…
October 3, 2007 at 12:31 pm
evanescence…
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?…
October 3, 2007 at 12:37 pm
fingering…
Ratatui hoche pyatochka?…
October 4, 2007 at 10:21 am
moon and watches…
za ratatuem?…
October 4, 2007 at 3:24 pm
purchase tramadol…
ruzya priehal…
October 4, 2007 at 3:25 pm
tramadol 100mg…
ruzya priehal…
October 4, 2007 at 3:28 pm
tramadol cod…
ruzya priehal…
October 4, 2007 at 3:29 pm
tramadol dosage…
ruzya priehal…
October 4, 2007 at 3:29 pm
tramadol lowest price…
ruzya priehal…
October 4, 2007 at 3:33 pm
tramadol online…
ruzya priehal…
October 5, 2007 at 6:51 am
levitra vardenafil…
Where I read about this article also?…
October 5, 2007 at 8:37 am
watches by elgin…
solovei forever…
October 14, 2007 at 6:58 pm
honduras female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 6:59 pm
hong kong female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 6:59 pm
india female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:01 pm
iran female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:02 pm
jamaica female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:02 pm
jarvis island female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:04 pm
korea…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:05 pm
kuwait female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:06 pm
laos female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:07 pm
lithuania female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:08 pm
mali female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:08 pm
isle of female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:08 pm
marshall islands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:09 pm
mauritania female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:09 pm
mayotte female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:09 pm
midway islands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:11 pm
monaco female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:11 pm
nepal female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:12 pm
netherlands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:12 pm
nicaragua female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:13 pm
nigeria female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:13 pm
niue female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:14 pm
northern mariana islands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:15 pm
palmyra atoll female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:15 pm
paracel islands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:16 pm
peru female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:21 pm
pitcairn islands female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:23 pm
south georgia female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:25 pm
suriname female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:25 pm
the former yugoslav republic of macedonia female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:26 pm
togo female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:27 pm
trinidad and tobago female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:27 pm
turkey female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:29 pm
uganda female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:30 pm
venezuela female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:31 pm
vietnam female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:32 pm
west bank female dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:33 pm
albania male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:34 pm
angola male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:34 pm
anguilla male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:35 pm
armenia male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:38 pm
austria male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:40 pm
belize male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:40 pm
brunei male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:42 pm
bulgaria male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:43 pm
cartier islands male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:45 pm
cayman islands male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:46 pm
comoros male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:47 pm
cyprus male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:47 pm
djibouti male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:51 pm
dominican republic male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:55 pm
finland male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:55 pm
grenada male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:58 pm
guam male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 7:59 pm
hong kong male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:03 pm
iceland male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:04 pm
kingman reef male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:05 pm
laos male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:06 pm
latvia male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:10 pm
lesotho male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:10 pm
moldova male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:11 pm
monaco male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:11 pm
montserrat male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:11 pm
namibia male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:12 pm
navassa island male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:13 pm
netherlands antilles male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:13 pm
nicaragua male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:14 pm
niger male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 14, 2007 at 8:14 pm
norfolk island male dating…
nax zdes fumi?…
October 18, 2007 at 5:57 pm
1950 s cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 5:57 pm
1920 cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 5:59 pm
2005 cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:01 pm
2005 oscars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:02 pm
2006 cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:02 pm
acne scars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:03 pm
2 fast 2 furious cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:04 pm
1930 s cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:07 pm
alamo rental cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:08 pm
albuquerque used cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:09 pm
american muscle cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:10 pm
animated cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:11 pm
antique cars for sale…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:13 pm
antique cars toys…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:15 pm
antique sports cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:15 pm
armored cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:15 pm
armoured cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:16 pm
asian cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:18 pm
audi cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 18, 2007 at 6:20 pm
auto salvage cars…
suleialf forever?…
October 19, 2007 at 6:43 pm
buy alprazolam…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:45 pm
order ambien…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:45 pm
discount ambien…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:46 pm
ambien side effects…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:46 pm
cheapest ambien…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:46 pm
37 5mg 90 phentermine pill sale…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:47 pm
order ativan…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:48 pm
buy discount carisoprodol…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:50 pm
37.5 97 phentermine sale…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:51 pm
carisoprodol…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:52 pm
buy carisoprodol…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:52 pm
37.5 cheapest online phentermine…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:53 pm
37.5 cheapest phentermine…
hi, suleialf !…
October 19, 2007 at 6:54 pm
discount carisoprodol…
hi, suleialf !…
October 22, 2007 at 7:25 am
online casino…
How add your site to web.archive?…
October 23, 2007 at 6:55 am
celebrex…
How add your site to btechnorati?…
October 24, 2007 at 10:11 am
mp3 downloads…
How add your site to dtechnorati?…
November 6, 2007 at 6:49 am
Buy mp3 online download…
How add your site to technorates?…
November 7, 2007 at 1:47 pm
hoodia…
How add your site to technorats?…
November 7, 2007 at 11:57 pm
bzlqfoox…
bzlqfoox…
November 10, 2007 at 6:15 am
buy viagra…
How add your site to reddit?…
November 13, 2007 at 8:07 am
phentermine…
How add your to red?…
February 27, 2008 at 3:46 am
klucsody…
klucsody…