Governor Rendell, National Transportation Leaders Release Bridge Report

Press Release

Governor Rendell, National Transportation Leaders Release Bridge Report

Governor Continues Leading Role by Calling Attention to National Infrastructure Issues

Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined leaders from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in releasing its new national bridge report, "Bridging the Gap, Holding Together the Nation's Bridges."

"Standing here beneath Interstate 95 helps to bring home the point of the importance of taking care of highways and bridges," Governor Rendell said while standing beneath the I-95 viaduct in North Philadelphia with AASHTO President Peter Rahn, who is director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, and AASHTO Vice President Allen D. Biehler, P.E., PennDOT secretary.

"In March, a cracked support pillar forced the three-day closure of this interstate, disrupted more than 180,000 drivers a day and sent shudders through the economy," Governor Rendell said. "We received calls from as far away as Florida about the impact of the emergency closure."

PennDOT worked with its contractors to complete emergency repairs and quickly reopen the interstate. Over the past 10 years, PennDOT has invested $325 million in improvements to the 51-mile highway, but much of the expressway in Philadelphia is built on viaduct and needs billions of dollars in repairs; much of that money has yet to be identified.

"This one interstate faces billions of dollars in needed maintenance in the coming years if we are to avoid repeated disruptions," the Governor said. "The nation needs more than $1 trillion of infrastructure investment if we are to remain competitive with other emerging economic powerhouses. Washington simply can no longer stand still and not address infrastructure funding."

The AASHTO report outlines steps Pennsylvania and other states have taken since the Aug. 1, 2007, collapse of the I-35 West Bridge in Minneapolis, in which 13 people were killed and 140 others injured. The report also describes how states are dealing with aging bridges, reviews new technologies that have advanced bridge inspections, and it reviews the life of a bridge and how it can be extended.

Since Governor Rendell took office, Pennsylvania has nearly tripled investment in bridge contracts. Earlier this month, the Governor signed his Rebuild Pennsylvania initiative, which calls for $350 million in accelerated bridge work in this fiscal year. PennDOT has committed to beginning repairs on 411 of the state's 6,034 structurally deficient bridges.

Governor Rendell this month began his tenure as chairman of the National Governor's Association. His "Chair's Initiative" will focus on strengthening infrastructure investment. In January, Governor Rendell created the Building America's Future Coalition with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"Our point today about putting the country on a solid foundation is not about gaining political advantage or using statistics for scare tactics," Governor Rendell said. "The release of this report and our ongoing campaign on behalf of realistic transportation investment is all about ensuring public safety and rebuilding our economy. We simply can't wait. We need solutions, not rhetoric."

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