Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has come forward to defend the dire state of America’s crumbling bridges, following a jaw-dropping exposé by Scripps News.
This astonishing report uncovered a whopping 14,000 bridges across our great nation trapped in a state of disrepair.
Pete Buttigieg dropped a bombshell in an exclusive interview with Scripps News, that should send shivers down the spines of every American.
He addressed the monstrous backlog of broken bridges, revealing that the chances of getting these aging structures patched up anytime soon are about as slim as a one-dollar bill.
Decades of Neglect: What Will Pete Buttigieg Do?
Buttigieg did not hold back, blaming the snail-paced repairs squarely on decades of government neglect in funding infrastructure, a devastating legacy leading up to the Biden administration.
“Congress after Congress, administration after administration, we didn’t see the kind of major investment that was really needed,” Buttigieg declared, his words echoing the grim findings of Scripps News. Their in-depth investigation uncovered a shocking 14,000 bridges, serving as vital arteries for 46 million vehicles a day, languishing in a pitiful state of disrepair for over a miserable decade, as confirmed by the Federal Highway Administration.
Buttigieg sought to soothe the nation’s frayed nerves, stating, “The important thing is right now we are moving it in the right direction so that instead of getting worse, it’s getting better.”
In a bid to rescue America’s infrastructure from the abyss, the Biden administration has backed up the Brinks truck with billions of dollars, funnelling funding into bridge projects through landmark legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and pandemic relief aid.
However, don’t uncork the champagne bottles just yet.
Funds are flowing in a convoluted labyrinth, with federal, state, and local agencies calling the shots on which bridges will see a much-needed facelift. The Department of Transportation did announce that over 6,400 bridges have already seen some attention, but that still leaves a colossal number of bridges in the cold, with no immediate financial lifeline.
The dreadful list of bridges languishing in fair or poor condition had been growing like a mushroom on a rainy day.
The real question remains: Will the Biden administration’s Herculean efforts manage to put the brakes on this disastrous trend?
20 Years to Clear the Bridge Backlog?
Buttigieg declared that the nation has barely scratched the surface of what he calls an “infrastructure decade,” with a significant focus on bridge reconstruction.
“We’re taking historically large steps, but the work of reversing probably 40, 50 years of degradation or underinvestment is going to be more than a couple of years’ work,” Buttigieg sagely admitted.
A somber report from the Congressional Research Service suggests that it might take a gut-wrenching 20 years to clear the backlog of these derelict bridges, but only if Congress keeps the purse strings wide open.
Sadly, in the midst of this bridge crisis, Republicans, skeptical of the price tag, have been a thorn in the Biden administration’s side, casting doubt on the feasibility of these grand plans.
Pittsburgh’s Plea for Help
Pittsburgh, a city marred by the tragedy of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in January 2022, stands as a stark reminder of what can happen when a bridge is left to rot. The disaster left ten people injured, and the National Transportation Safety Board smelled a rat. Years of unchecked corrosion were likely the culprits behind the calamity.
And shockingly, even a year and a half after this harrowing incident, the brave investigators from Scripps News found other bridges in Pittsburgh crumbling like cookies dipped in milk at the slightest touch.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, a loyal ally of President Biden, pleaded for more cash from Washington to ensure bridges in his city remain safe and sound. “Funding is a major issue,” Gainey lamented. “I’m so fortunate that President Biden has focused on a bipartisan infrastructure bill, but the reality is we need more.”
When asked about Gainey’s frustrations, Buttigieg put on a brave face, defending the pace of bridge work. “What we have right now is the largest investment in roads and bridges since the Eisenhower administration,” he argued, adding, “And it’s a level of funding that is, frankly, testing how much the American economy can actually absorb, making sure we have the raw materials for this, making sure that we have the workforce ready to do this.”
Pete Buttigieg also boldly stood by President Biden’s promise to fix every single ailing bridge in the nation. “That’s the vision,” he proclaimed. “The good news is we’re underway on it now, and yes, there’s a long way to go.”
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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