Bridge to Nowhere

 

I listened to Governor Sarah Palin give her acceptance speech for the Republican Vice Presidential candidate and was very impressed. I was watching on GPB TV and at the end of her speech Mark Shields made a comment that she had not told the truth about the Bridge to Nowhere.  This disturbed me and I did some research on the subject.

Mark Shields stated that Sarah did not return the money for the Bridge but keep it. He obviously did not listen closely to her speech, the money mentioned was in the very next sentence and referred to income from oil and gas.

Sara Palin in her speech said:

 “I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere.

If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves. When oil and gas prices went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged - directly to the people of Alaska.”

In the first session of the 109^th Congress H.R.3, earmarked $18,750,000 per fiscal year for the construction of the Ralph M. Bartholomew Veterans’ Memorial Bridge with the total cost estimated in the bill at $100,000,000.

H. R. 3058 later changed the earmark for two bridge projects in Alaska, #406, the Gravina Island bridge to be know as the Ralph M. Bartholomew Veterans’ Memorial Bridge and #2465, the Knik Am bridge to be made available to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for any eligible purpose.

The 2007 estimate for the cost of the bridge was $398 million and was cancelled by the then Governor Sarah Palin. The approximately $36 million in federal funds would be spent on other transportation projects.

It is easy to see why the residents of  Ketchikan want a bridge over the 2500 foot  Tongass Narrows (1500 foot from the Ketchikan-Wrangell Ferry landing) to the International Airport on Gravina Island. The shore line of Ketchikan is very narrow with very little room to expand. Gravina Island on the other hand, has a much wider and gradual sloping shore line and is the reason that the Ketchikan International Airport was built there. The only existing road is from the ferry landing to the terminal. Ketchikan, now well over 8,000 and growing from tourism and fishing has run out of room.

We can thank Ketchikan and their so call Bridge to Nowhere for bringing Sara Palin to the National forefront. Had it not been for the debate over the bridge and Governor Palin halting the work on the bridge, John McCain may have not come to know her. I hope that Ketchikan will eventually get their much needed bridge even if it is a less costly one. Maybe an old fashion draw bridge would be the answer. 

Gravina Island Bridge to nowhere

 

As of 2004, there were 8,044 people, 3,300 households, and 1,997 families residing in the City of Ketchikan. Although it may be a joke, it is a far cry from nowhere. It does boast the largest zip code of 99950.

 

It’s hard to give back money to the government. Even if you would like to once the congress approves a given amount for the states, that money must be used. You can change with congress approval what you want to spend it on but you are stuck with the money. The bottom line is that Governor Palin did stop the project so that future funds would not be wasted on the Bridge to Nowhere.

 

CNN.com:

 

Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark -- or stipulation -- that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate.

On Friday, Leo von Scheben, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said the bridge money could be used to build roads in Alaska.

There is no question we desperately need to construct new roads in this state, including in southeast Alaska, where skyrocketing costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System present an impediment to the state's budget and the region's economy," von Scheben said in a statement.

The governor urged Alaskans not to dwell on the bridge.

"Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here," Palin said. "But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened."

State of Alaska > Governor > News > News Details

Gravina Access Project Redirected

07-192

Gravina Access Project Redirected

September 21, 2007, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today directed the Department of ransportation and Public

Facilities to look for the most fiscally responsible alternative for access to the Ketchikan airport and Gravina Island instead of proceeding any further with the proposed $398 million bridge.

“Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer,” said Governor Palin. “Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it’s clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island,” Governor Palin added. “Much of the public’s attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened.” The Department of Transportation has approximately $36 million in federal funds that will become available for other projects with the shutdown of the Gravina Island bridge project. Governor Palin has directed Commissioner Leo von Scheben to review transportation projects statewide to prepare a list of possible uses for the funds, while the department also looks for a more affordable answer for Gravina Island access. “There is no question we desperately need to construct new roads in this state, including in Southeast Alaska, where skyrocketing costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System present an impediment to the state’s budget and the region’s economy,” said von Scheben. “The original purpose of this project was to improve access to Gravina Island, and we will continue to work with the community to help them attain that goal,” von Scheben said. The commissioner said his department would continue to work with local officials to discuss future plans for development of Gravina Island.

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Printed on 6/17/08 at 8:47:21 AM by 64.253.166.252

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Page 1 of 1

http://gov.state.ak.us/print_news.php?id=623 6/17/2008

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Bridge to Nowhere

In 2006, Ketchikan's Gravina Island Bridge, better known outside the state as the "Bridge to Nowhere", became an issue in the gubernatorial campaign. Palin initially expressed support for the bridge and ran on a "build-the-bridge" platform, arguing that it was essential for local prosperity.^[1] After the bridge became a political issue Congress replaced the earmark for the bridge with an infrastructure grant to Alaska to use at its discretion; Palin's subsequent policy was to continue construction on the road originally intended to link to the bridge while exploring less-expensive transportation between Ketchikan and Gravina Island.^[2][3][4]

Palin made national news when she stopped work on the bridge. Reuters said the move was responsible for "earning her admirers from earmark critics and budget hawks from around the nation. The move also thrust her into the spotlight as a reform-minded newcomer." In an article titled, "Bridge leads McCain to running mate Palin", the Associated Press said canceling the bridge was "the first identifiable link connecting Palin and McCain," soon followed by "whispers of Palin being an ideal GOP running mate".^[5][6]

In 2008, when introduced as McCain's running mate, Palin told the crowd, "I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere" — a line that garnered big applause but upset political leaders in Ketchikan. Palin's campaign coordinator in the city, Republican Mike Elerding, remarked, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money." Democratic Mayor Bob Weinstein also criticized Palin for "using the very term 'bridge to nowhere' that she said was insulting."^[2]

 

 

 

109th CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 3

CONFERENCE REPORT

[TO ACCOMPANY H. R. 3]

 

 

 

‘‘(ii) $18,750,000 per fiscal year for

the construction of a bridge joining the Island

of Gravina to the community of Ketchikan

in Alaska.

 

406 AK Planning, design, and construction of a bridge joining the

Island of Gravina to the Community of Ketchikan ....... $100,000,000

 

SEC. 4410. RALPH M. BARTHOLOMEW VETERANS’ MEMORIAL

BRIDGE.

(a) DESIGNATION.—The bridge joining the Island of

Gravina to the community of Ketchican, Alaska, constructed

pursuant to section 144(g)(1)(E) of title 23,

United States Code, is designated as the ‘‘Ralph M. Bartholomew

Veterans’ Memorial Bridge’’.

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in law, map, regulation,

document, paper, or other record of the United

States to the bridge referred to in subsection (a) shall be

deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Ralph M. Bartholomew

Veterans’ Memorial Bridge’’.

 

 

 

 

 

109th CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 3058

CONFERENCE REPORT

[TO ACCOMPANY H. R. 3058]

 

SEC. 186. Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, any amounts made available pursuant to Public Law

109–59 for the Gravina Island bridge and the Knik Arm

bridge shall be made available to the Alaska Department

of Transportation and Public Facilities for any purpose

eligible under section 133(b) of title 23, United States

Code: Provided, That in allocating funds for the equity

bonus program under section 105 of such title, the Secretary

shall make the calculations required under that section

as if this section had not been enacted: Provided further,

That the descriptions for High Priority Projects

#406, the Gravina Island bridge, and #2465, the Knik

Arm bridge, in section 1702 of Public Law 109–59 are

hereby deleted and in their place is inserted ‘‘the Alaska

Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’’.

 

 

http://congress.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r109:S25OC5-0011:

SAVING OUR TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS -- (Senate - October 25, 2005)

Mr. INHOFE.0

   There is a mentality in Washington, DC, that if a decision isn't made in Washington, it is not a good decision. The controversial Ketchikan to Gravina Island bridge in Alaska has become a rallying point about boondoggles, and maybe it is a boondoggle, but the people in Alaska didn't think so. They have 100 projects. All States do it differently. But in Alaska, they list 100 projects that are the projects they want to have someday. That particular bridge is ranked in the top 4 of those 100. I think also that we have to recognize that we in Washington do not really know what is the best thing for them.

   The other thing that is very important is that most of the money, had this amendment passed, is in accordance with the formula. So if we directed them not to build their bridge, that money could still be spent in Alaska on other projects. We would just be saying that you have to spend the dollars in a way that we in Washington say is best for you.

1. ^ "Palin's maverick trail goes from city hall to gov's mansion", CNN (2008-09-02). Retrieved on 2008-09-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Kizzia, Tom (2008-08-31). "Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' does not note flip-flop", Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-08-31. 
3. ^ "Where they stand", Anchorage Daily News (2006-10-22). Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
4. ^ Rosen, Yereth (September 1, 2008). "Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans", Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-09-02. 
5. ^ name='bridge-mccain-palin'>Quinn, Steve (August 29, 2008). "Bridge leads McCain to running mate Palin", Associated Press. Retrieved on 2008-09-02. 
6. ^ Kirkpatrick, David; Larry Rohter (September 1, 2008). "Opposing Alaska bridge endeared Palin to McCain", International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-09-02.