AP: Alaska Outlines Bridges' Spending Plan

[Eugene]

Alaska Outlines Bridges' Spending Plan


Friday December 16, 2005 6:01 AM

By RACHEL D'ORO

Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska's governor outlined a plan Thursday to spend almost $200 million
on two bridge projects, including one dubbed the "Bridge to Nowhere" that triggered sharp criticism
across the nation.

Congress recently dropped its funding provisos for the bridges in Ketchikan and Anchorage, but let
the state keep the money and left it up to state officials to figure out how to spend it.

Gov. Frank Murkowski in a budget proposal Thursday said he wants to use $91 million for the
Ketchikan project in the fiscal year beginning in July.

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Angry critics have said the $223 million earmarked for the project would be better spent on
hurricane rebuilding efforts. Total cost estimates for the project have ranged as high as
$315 million.

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Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5483429,00.html