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Klobuchar Bill to Strengthen America's Bridges Clears Legislative Hurdle

Law to Repair Nation's Bridges, Avoid Another Tragic Collapse Passes Committee

September 18, 2008

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s fight to ensure that another tragedy like the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis never happens again took a giant step forward in the Senate.  Klobuchar’s bridge safety legislation cleared a major legislative hurdle as it was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.  The Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, a bill Senator Klobuchar introduced with Senator Durbin (D-IL), would help repair or replace many of the 1,579 structurally deficient bridges in Minnesota, as well as thousands of bridges in disrepair throughout the United States. 

“Americans shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of the bridges and roads they use every day,” said Klobuchar.  “We’re not going to effectively fix the nation’s bridges unless we also fix the problems with the Highway Bridge Program.  When the average age of a bridge in this country is 43 years and 25 percent of all American bridges are in need of serious repair or replacement, it’s time to act.” 

A GAO report released last week found that the Highway Bridge Program has not succeeded in reducing the nation’s number of deficient bridges.  In particular, the report said the program lacked focus and, as a result, the $4 billion provided to states last year was not necessarily used for their intended purpose.
In the last five years, the state of Minnesota has spent almost half of its Highway Bridge Program funding on other priorities. 

The legislation is a companion bill to Congressman Jim Oberstar’s bill that passed the House of Representatives in late July by a wide bipartisan margin by vote of 367 to 55.

“Bridges in America should not fall down.  The tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge underscored the need for a renewed commitment to infrastructure funding locally and nationally,” said Klobuchar. “While we have come together to rebuild this vital lifeline, our work to re-invest in our nation's infrastructure remains unfinished. Infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy – it creates new jobs and keeps businesses and residents moving.  This bill is a critical step to strengthen our commitment to infrastructure investment and require thorough inspections, to ensure we have the safe, reliable infrastructure our country deserves.”

Nationally, the bill authorizes an additional $1 billion in funding for states to begin addressing the problem of structurally deficient bridges.  Minnesota's share of that funding is $7.3 million in fiscal year 2009. 

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