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Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | In Congress | The I-35W bridge collapse
Another $195 million for bridge clears one hurdle, faces another
Funding for the I-35W bridge passed another hurdle in Congress on Thursday night as House and Senate negotiators approved a $50.9 billion transportation bill, which includes $195 million in emergency relief funds for Minnesota.
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Minnesota bridges rated: An interactive map of bridges that are "structurally deficient," "functionally obsolete" or have gusset plates like those on the I-35W bridge.
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WASHINGTON - Funding for the I-35W bridge passed another hurdle in Congress on Thursday night as House and Senate negotiators approved a $50.9 billion transportation bill, which includes $195 million in emergency relief funds for Minnesota.
Both the House and Senate intend full votes on the measure next week, but President Bush is standing by his promise to veto the bill, said White House Spokesman Alex Connant.
Lawmakers already are gearing up for another override, their first passed Thursday overturning Bush's veto on a water resources bill.
"I am very pleased that the conference committee approved these badly needed funds," said Rep. Jim Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee. "While much more is needed, this is an important first step in rehabilitating our nation's deteriorating infrastructure."
The federal government has already given Minnesota $178.5 million toward the bridge replacement. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., inserted the additional $195 million in bridge money into the Senate bill. Klobuchar said, "It is my hope that these funds not only help the rebuilding process, but also help ensure state dollars are available for critical transportation projects across Minnesota."
The two had also secured a waiver on the cap on federal emergency fund dollars immediately following the collapse, allowing the Department of Transportation to exceed its regular $100 million spending limit on any one project.
Coleman said, "As we stood at the site of this terrible tragedy, we promised not just to rebuild the bridge, but to work together and use the full resources of the federal government to cut through any red tape."
The new influx of cash, if approved, would bring the total amount of bridge funding to $373.5 million. The total cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $397 million.
Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat, said the funds would enable Twin Cities residents to once again have a "safe, strong and vibrant" transportation network.
The bill, which includes housing money, surpasses Bush's budget by $3 billion. Along with the money for the I-35W bridge, it also includes $1 billion for bridge inspection and repair nationwide.
NINA PETERSEN-PERLMAN, AP
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