Patrick: 27 Mass. bridges similar in design to Minn. bridge

[Ian David]

BOSTON -- Massachusetts has 27 steel truss bridges similar in design to the one that collapsed in Minnesota, but none is considered in danger of collapsing, Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday.

The governor said after the collapse, which killed at least four people, he asked state transportation officials to review bridge inspection records to make sure there weren't any missed items of alarm.

<snip>

He also said the accident buttressed his call for a robust program of transportation infrastructure investment, part of which will be included in a capital plan he is developing.

<snip>

All told, Massachusetts has 506 "structurally deficient" bridges, the same ranking as the collapsed I-35W span over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The designation means a bridge is nearing the end of its useful life span.

More:
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO58960/

Der Mittenfuhrer Romney has left us $17 BILLION dollars behind schedule in maintaining our infrastructure.

[Fearless]

1. Naturally

Romney will then blame Patrick for mismanagement.

[yy4me]

2. For years we have all shuddered as we drove over the Tobin

Bridge. (For you old timers, Mystic River Bridge) It is always in a state of repair but looks like it will fall down any minute. Today's Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/03/588_mass_bridges_deficient/

Almost 600 bridges, there will never be enough money to fix them.
Thanks to **** and his war, all the funds from or for all states for things like healthcare, infrastructure repair, education, ad infinitem...gone.

What a sorry mess we are in.

[cleveramerican]

3. Infrastructure maintenance is too easy to put off

every time a budget gets tight long term maintenance on bridges and public buildings is the first thing thrown overboard because no one notices it missing until something like the recent disaster happens. Even this will only bring it to the fore for a few weeks. Then it'll be back to the normal policy of putting it off until some future time that never comes.

[Kat45]

4. I was saying the exact same thing earlier today