When children are neglected, their health and future development are compromised. When infrastructure is neglected, similar problems ensue. While the precise cause of the recently collapsed interstate highway bridge in Minnesota remains unclear, it seems likely that a significant factor was neglected or inadequate maintenance of the aging infrastructure. The New York Times concurs:
Engineers See Dangers in Aging Infrastructure
A steam pipe explodes near Grand Central Terminal, a levee fails and floods New Orleans, a bridge collapses in Minneapolis.
These disasters are an indication that this country is not investing enough in keeping its vital infrastructure in good repair, engineering experts warn.
“Governments do not want to pay for maintenance because it is not sexy,� said John Ochsendorf, a structural engineer and an associate professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He said the bulk of the nation’s highway system was built in the 1950s and 1960s and is ageing. Referring to the collapse in Minneapolis, he said “This type of event could become more common.�
“We have a major infrastructure problem in this country,� said Maureen L. McAvey, an executive vice president with the Urban Land Institute, which recently published a report on global infrastructure issues. “The civil engineers have estimated that we have a $1.7 trillion shortfall in this country alone�
But other factors come into play, as in 1982, when a bridge inspector looked at the Mianus River Bridge in Greenwich, Conn., and did not see the metal fatigue in a pin that would break nine months later, collapsing three lanes of Interstate 95 and killing three people.
In 1987, a New York Thruway bridge near Amsterdam, N.Y., also had a clean bill of health, but inspectors had never gone underwater into the Schoharie Creek to look at the bridge’s footings, where flood waters had scoured the concrete base. When the footings slipped, the bridge fell. Ten died.
“The American Society of Civil Engineers issues annual rankings of the state of the nation’s infrastructure and most of the grades are C and D,� said Michael J. O’Rourke, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. [full text]
Kmareka.com 
Here’s some political logic:
“… 764 bridges, says Kazem Farhoumand, deputy chief engineer for the Rhode Island DOT. Of those bridges, 176 are listed as ‘structurally deficient.’ The bridge that collapsed in Minnesota also had this designation. ‘Structuraly deficient does not mean that the bridge is unsafe to travel on,” said Farhoumand. 23 percent of Rhode Island bridges are labeled deficient.”
full story – copy/paste:
http://www.projo.com/news/content/Bridge_Safety_08-03-07_1S6K0CH.36ff8ea.html#
We pay the highest TAXES in the Nation (7th, Cranston is higher that that) and rank worst in: Bridges, Education, Sex Offender laws. Sounds like the Politicians want folks to move away and find greener grass…as there surely is elsewhere, and less illegal aliens. Maybe if we hadn’t spent $200K last year on illegals we would have more budget funding for the most high-profile bridge on the structurally deficient list which is the Jamestown-Verrazzano. This is of grave concern but, nothing will be done until some tragedy.
Suzanne, Thanks for your commentary. Our state desperately needs advocates like you to watch the way money is spent. I would argue that the money spent on illegal aliens is a drop in the bucket when compared with other kinds of poor-prioritized spending, but regardless, citizen watchdogs like yourself are a precious commodity.
It is not just bridges and highways, take a look at Cranston’s flooding problems of late and how that relates to the poor conditions of our sewage and drainage systems.
Echidne of the Snakes has a wonderful post ‘Preventing Disasters’. it’s about the political cost of raising taxes to take care of needed repairs, and the political glory you can grab by stepping in after a disaster happens. we have to be grownups here, or our kids will inherit a huge tax bill on top of their college loans and war debt.
I’m sure that some of the flooding problems are due to improper maintenance. Some of it, however, is due to simple geography. Flat, low-lying areas in proximity to water are called “flood plains” for a reason. Like the location of the concrete plant.
On the other hand, there are clusters of houses built around what are normally small streams. But if you’re within 50 feet of one of these, flooding is only a matter of time. Contractors aren’t always scrupulous about building on wetlands, real estate agents aren’t always quick to point out potential problems, and prospective buyers aren’t paying attention to these sorts of issues.
In the same way, bridge and highway maintenance is just something we want to take for granted. Sorry, people. ninjanurse is right: we have to be grown-ups about this and fix the roof, check the plumbing, and all of that other stuff. A vacation is more fun, but neglect the roof too long and…unpleasant things happen.
Bit of a mixed metaphor there. Sorry.
A lot of these things were built back in the 50s and 60s; back when middle class wages were increasing, when the wealthiest paid their share, and the fed and state gov’ts had money to deal with these things. Skimping on infrastructure is yet one more result of Reaganomics.
When the incomes of the middle class are increasing–like they have not been in 30 years–there is money for the necessities. Couple rising middle class earnings with 39% top marginal tax rates, there is money for a lot of things that seem impossible now. Like education and health care.