Continuing his mission to invest in West Virginia’s transportation infrastructure, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) helped to pass H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Inspection and Reconstruction Act, which creates tougher new standards for bridge safety and authorizes $1 billion though 2009 to repair structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges across the Nation.

“Man can only build so many great walls and pyramids that will last through the ages,” said Rahall.  “Bridges have life spans.  In 1967, the same year our Silver Bridge collapsed, the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis was competed; last year, it too collapsed.  Today, the House took action to reverse the river of red ink that has left our Nation’s highway bridges in a sad state of disrepair.” 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 1,152 of West Virginia’s 3,378 federal-aid highway bridges have been deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, highlighting the serious need for investment in bridge infrastructure and repair.

H.R. 3999 will improve bridge safety and invest in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges nationwide.  Specifically, the bill authorizes $1 billion—including $10,248,411 for the State of West Virginia—in new funding to fix the Nation’s worst structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway system.  These funds are non-transferrable and may only be distributed according to the Highway Bridge Program formula, rather than by Congressional or Administration earmark.

Additionally, the bill requires the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a risk-based approach to safety so that states may focus attention on bridges in need of rehabilitation and replacement.  In order to receive federal assistance, states will be required to create a five-year performance plan for highway bridge inspection, rehabilitation, and replacement specifically for federal-aid highway bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. 

“Unsafe bridges pose a serious threat to the safety and security of West Virginia’s families.  As Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I will work to ensure that our Nation’s critical infrastructure needs are met, so that disasters like the ones in Silver Spring and Minneapolis won’t happen again,” said Rahall.