Sara Denhart, Madison Courier Kentucky News Desk
The debate over the Madison-Milton Bridge is not about whether the community needs a new bridge - it's about how Kentucky will fund the replacement bridge in five years.
Each year, the Commonwealth of Kentucky receives federal funding from the United States Department of Transportation's Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, which is also known as SAFETEA-LU. Last year, the Federal Highway Administration provided about $4.3 billion for the bridge programs, divided among the 50 states by a percentage share. No state's share is less than 15 percent, according to the public law.
In 2007, Kentucky received $58.8 million in federal funding for bridge projects across the state. The money must be used by Sept. 30, 2010, and the federal government's share of the Madison-Milton Bridge's cost is 80 percent because a federal highway runs through the middle of the bridge.
"This doesn't take a Congressional action," said Andrea Clifford, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 public information officer. "It is then Kentucky's prerogative, under Federal Highway Administration guidelines, on how to apply those funds."
The federal government also has $100 million set aside for bridge projects that have been designated by Congress. Those projects include $12.5 million per fiscal year for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif.; $18.75 million for the construction of a bridge joining the Island of Gravina to the community of Ketchikan in Alaska; $12.5 million for the construction of a replacement bridge over the Hoover Dam in Nevada; $12.5 million for the construction of a bridge over the Mississippi River to connect St. Louis, Mo., to the state of Illinois; $12.5 million for the replacement and reconstruction of state-maintained bridges in Oklahoma; $4.5 million for the replacement of the Missisquoi Bay Bridge in Vermont; $8.75 million for the Interstate 74 bridge from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Moline, Ill., and $10 million for the replacement and reconstruction of the state-maintained bridges in Oregon.
A total of $21.6 billion is authorized for the program through 2009, so states can improve the condition of eligible highway bridges over the waterway, topographical barriers or other highways and railroads.
However, the American Society of Civil Engineers says repairing all 70,000 of the nation's bridges that are rated as structurally deficient will require the government to spend at least $9.4 billion each year for 20 years.
"Upon completion of the design of the project, a construction cost estimate will be prepared and submitted to the legislature for review," Clifford said about the Madison-Milton Bridge. "At that time, options available for financing construction of the project will be considered. Currently, it is projected that insufficient funds are allocated in the current six year plan to complete construction of the project."
If the Madison-Milton Bridge is not listed in the federal government's designated bridge projects, and Kentucky does not have the funding right now to replace the functionally-obsolete and structurally-deficient bridge, the federal and state government will need to step in to help build the bridge by their own discretion.
"Baron (Hill) will most certainly do everything he can to secure funding for the replacement bridge, including working with members across the state line, such as Congressman Geoff Davis," said Katie Moreau, press secretary for Congressman Baron Hill, D-Indiana. "The more members pulling for funding, the better."
"The Milton-Madison Bridge is an important transportation asset to both Kentucky and Indiana. Since arriving in Congress, I have worked with officials in both states to ensure that the replacement of the bridge remains a top priority," said Congressman Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky. "I am committed to working with local, state and federal officials to ensure that the replacement of the Milton-Madison Bridge does not face needless delays. We need to keep the project moving forward so that we can keep industry and commerce in Kentucky and Indiana growing."
Kentucky has 11 steel-deck truss bridges out of the 756 bridges nationally.
The Madison-Milton Bridge, which was built nearly 80 years ago, is a steel-truss bridge with a total length of 3,181 feet and has two, 10-foot wide travel lanes with no shoulders.
The closest Ohio River bridges to the Madison-Milton Bridge are the Kennedy Bridge in Louisville, which is 46 miles downstream, and the Markland Locks and Dam Bridge in Vevay, Ind., which is 26 miles upstream.
The original cost to build the Madison-Milton Bridge in 1929 was $1.36 million, and the bridge was a toll bridge until 1949.
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