Four county bridges on critical list
An alarming number of Michigan?s 10,831 bridges ? 3,055, or 28 percent ? are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to a statewide analysis released by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA).
Presque Isle County has four bridges on the list, including: 638 Highway over the Black River south of Onaway and North Allis Highway over the Rainy River. According to superintendent/manager Jerry Smigelski, the 638 Highway bridge has been approved for a complete reconstruction in 2012. The engineer?s estimate is for a cost of about $800,000.
The other bridges are across Shubert highway over Clinton Creek near Long Lake and 638 Highway over the Little Trout River, between M-65 and U.S.-23.
The findings of the report come in the wake of recent road studies that showed 26 percent ? or 28,700 of the state?s 110,000 combined miles of state and local roads ? have deteriorated to the point where they are classified in ?poor? condition. The number of poor miles in Michigan is roughly equivalent to seven round trips between Detroit and Los Angeles.
?Across Michigan we have sadly reached the point where our road and bridge system is no longer sustainable,? said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA. ?When the percentage of roads and bridges in tough shape climbs to a level this high, policymakers have little choice but to repair and replace the failing ones rather than maintain the others before they fail as well.?
Because of declining gas consumption due in part to more fuel-efficient vehicles, gas tax revenues have plummeted by more than $100 million since 1997 ? the last time the state?s gasoline tax was increased. Gas tax revenues have fallen steadily each year since 2002. At the same time, revenues from vehicle registration fees that also helps pay
To underscore the seriousness of the situation, consider that in September ? following months of contentious debate ? Michigan lawmakers finally came up with a way to scrape together $84 million in state money to secure $475 million in federal matching funds for roads and bridges.
Some lawmakers are even calling upon Congress to end state matching fund requirements altogether, which would allow the state to invest even less in an already-failing road and bridge system.
?Disinvesting in roads and bridges when Michigan is desperately trying to climb out of a deep economic hole is short-sighted public policy,? said Nystrom. ?While it?s easy to point fingers and blame road agencies for the poor bridges, the reality is that they?ve been under-funded for decades.?