WASHINGTON – A measure
approved by Congress that will give states the authority to use more federal
funds on local bridge improvement projects, is now on the way to the President’s
desk for his signature.
More than one-third of New York’s bridges are in need of repair
with 50 percent of the bridges in the state being locally owned. Current
federal policy limits the amount of federal transportation funds that
states can use to repair those bridges.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s proposal to allow more federal funds
to be used on local bridges, has been included in the Final Federal Transportation
Authorization Bill.
In Columbia County, there are 243 bridges, 47 of which are listed as structurally
deficient and 56 listed as functionally obsolete.
In Greene County, there are 227 bridges, 26 of which are structurally
deficient and 47 are functionally obsolete.
In Dutchess County, there are 333 bridges with 47 listed as structurally
deficient and 108 functionally obsolete.
In Orange County, there are 455 bridges with 66 structurally deficient
and 115 functionally obsolete.
Putnam County has 104 bridges with 13 listed as structurally deficient
and 36 functionally obsolete.
Rockland County has 243 bridges with 22 structurally deficient and 105
functionally obsolete.
Sullivan County has 358 bridges with 38 structurally deficient and 54
functionally obsolete.
Ulster County has 387 bridges with 69 structurally deficient and 90 functionally
obsolete.
In Westchester, there are 769 bridges with 58 structurally deficient and
385 functionally obsolete.
