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Bridging the Gap
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We drive over them every day, but we never notice how much they're aging.
Lawmakers say state bridges are crumbling and the need to fix them is urgent.
They're asking for more money to repair the state's highway infrastructure and it could ultimately cost taxpayers more.
On Sunday, state representative Joe Rice flanked by town mayors, used a bridge in disrepair as a backdrop to express the urgent need to fix 122 of the state's most deteriorated bridges.
"This is a problem and we have to do something about it," said Rice as he stood next to a pillar with crumbling cement held up by thin strips of metal at I-25 and Santa Fe.
Rice warned of bridge neglect citing the Minnesota Bridge collapse last year and recent deaths of two Crowley County firemen who died when a wooden bridge collapsed on them responding to a fire.
"I am not being an alarmist when I say that one of these days a family like yours is going to be driving under one of these bridges when a hunk of concrete falls off or when this pillar gives way," said Rice.
On Friday, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 244 called the "Transportation Infrastructure Prevention Act."
--The money would put at least 100 million dollars into repairing state infrastructure in its first year, up to $300 million dollars in its third year.
--The money would come from a safety bridge fee, which takes money from registration fees and rental car fees.
--The increased fee would cost $25 for each car per household. Older models and more expensive cars could end up paying more.
“I think we already pay too much for our cars,” said Sally Adkins, as she stood outside of a Safeway in Parker. “With gas costs going up along with inflation, why would we want to pay more fees?”
But some county officials reiterate that the extra money is necessary.
"The federal government keeps allowing less and less money going into transportation," said Kevin O' Malley, the commissioner for Clear Creek County. “That's what the problem is.”
Rice also says it's a small price for families to pay.
"They're paying less in taxes on a percentage basis than they were in taxes in 1992," said Rice.
The bill goes to today's senate committee session.
Despite some opposition, Rice says he expects it ultimately to pass with endorsements from CDOT and Governor Ritter.
