SIEGEL: Today, Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Republican of South Carolina, writes an op-ed page piece in the Wall Street Journal, which he says, yeah, she was for it but then after she realized the problem with earmarks, Governor Palin was against it. But some of that money was still spent building a road to nowhere. Citation Barak D. Richman, The King of Rockingham County and the Original Bridge to Nowhere Contracts Stories 306-336 (2006) We have beautiful beaches with white sugar sand That would make for some gorgeous photos. JUNEAU -- The name "Bridge to Nowhere" still rankles in Ketchikan 10 years after congressional opponents of earmarks used it to attack federal money for the bridge to nearby Gravina Island and the city's airport. Times Staff Writer. Origin of bridge unknown. But Palin, now the Republican vice presidential candidate, let the access road go ahead because the contract to build it had been signed, a campaign aide said. Sen. McCain: Well, now we're employing a strategy of guns and pork. A trail proceeds from their to the mining area at Taylor, Alaska. In advertisements, McCain labeled the bridge as wasteful spending,[43] and in an August 2007 town hall speech recorded on video[44] and quoted again on April 30, 2008,[45] he blamed the Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse on the Gravina Island Bridge. 2005-11-17 04:00:00 PDT Washington-- Fiscal conservatives in Congress won a rare victory Wednesday when lawmakers scuttled plans to spend $230 million to help build "the bridge to nowhere," a span . "The Bridge to Nowhere" has been a much-used phrase by the McCain Campaign. The one section to the left looks like it is about to fall down already. ANCHORAGE The bridge to nowhere is still trying to get somewhere. Hi Annie. 8,000) by a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate and higher . The decision to build the road before the bridge was blasted in 2010 by the Legislature's audit division, which said it was "not in the public's best interest given the lack of congressional financial support for the bridges and the significant increase in estimated cost.". And she actively was an advocate for it. They have a bunch of snow out at McCarthy already, like a foot and a half or so I think. Legal Statement. And he contacted me and he said he wanted to do a story on it. Getting here requires some work. In American politics, Alaska is famous for wasted money on a "bridge to nowhere" in the early 2000s. Dubbed the "bridge to nowhere," it would have connected the small city of Ketchikan to its airport on nearby Gravina island, and it secured a $223 million earmark in 2005. Mr. ASHDOWN: No. state-by-state allocation formula. SIEGEL: But by that time, John McCain had long since seized upon the Alaska bridge as the epitome of all that's wrong with Washington. One very large bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, where the city's airport is. [19], In October 2006, when asked, "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges? 662 passed both houses of Congress and became Public Law 112-5. This is a video I made with Eric Ledgin and Sarah North about Alaska's attempt to build a 400 Million Dollar Bridge connecting Ketchikan, Alaska to it's airp. Thank you, Teresa Haney, Your email address will not be published. Every day, another news organization affirms that Sarah Palin was for it before she was against it. is Herbert and Joyce Morgan Senior Research Fellow in the Thomas A. We may borrow that metaphor to contemplate whether the recent U.S.-China dialogue in Anchorage was a bridge to nowhere or will be a catalytic moment to construct a . Senator JOHN McCAIN (Republican, Arizona; Presidential Nominee): The tipping point, my friends, was the $233-million bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it, the so-called Bridge to Nowhere. Weight Limit is 10 tons. Ketchikan, Alaska is infamous for the now-abandoned plan to expensively bridge the strait between the city and its international airport on Gravina Island, dubbed (IMO, unfairly) a "bridge to nowhere". Gov. It's a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. One House 3058 [109th]'s first version passed the U.S. Senate with 93 votes for, 1 against. Please contact us through messages. Your first glimpse of the bridge is astonishingits much larger and majestic than youd expectbut the weirdness doesnt stop here. At Find the perfect Bridge to nowhere alaska stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Images taken 8-19-07. In the years 1965-1975 was carried construction of a water reservoir Svihov and both bridges were flooded almost to the level . In fact, rumor has it this bridge was a model for San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Youll come along the river about halfway through your hike, and its a good place to take a quick rest if you need one. The California State Route 39 highway was supposed to connect the city of Los Angeles with rural communities in the San Gabriel . Nowhere," the bridge in Alaska would connect the town of Ketchikan Sarah Palin has touted her eventual decision to abandon the Gravina Island bridge, which she initially supported. battlefield park jackson, ms . Yeah that section is actually pretty badly collapsing on the right its all tilted and askew. It was good that this project was killed by Governor Palin, but it's not correct that it saved any money. defenders have been forced to resort to threats. Accuracy and availability may vary. [54] The motion lost and the funding was kept. Further driving up costs were all the muskeg and peat that had to be removed and replaced with rock and gravel to get through the wetlands. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The project also had a history of federal appropriations showing support there as well, it said. Alaskas Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere The Gilahina Trestle fades into winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. SIEGEL: 2004, April 10th, 2004 an article appears in the New York Times in which you're quoted. [53], In 2011 (after Palin had left office), there was continued funding for the project in H.R. Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. What some people might not realize is that Bridge to Nowhere was actually part of a major infrastructure project. The Gravina Island Bridge, commonly referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere", was a proposed bridge to replace the ferry that currently connects the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, United States, with Gravina Island, an island that contains the Ketchikan International Airport as well as 50 residents. News, Dave Person wrote, "Thinking about the immense Rumors say that it took less than 8 days to build, and the first train ran across its length on January 28, 1911. Meadow on one side, meadow on the other. Ron Niebrugge September 9, 2008 Alaska, Photos, Travel 13 Comments. for the hurricane relief efforts. Alaska officials have put the final kibosh on the infamous "bridge to nowhere" -- a $400 million project tucked into the federal transportation plan 10 years ago that became the symbol of . [14] In his speech on the Senate floor, Stevens threatened to quit Congress if the funds were removed from his state. And in fact, John McCain had picked up on the Bridge to Nowhere more than a year before that. "It kind of just curves around then it just stops. be used for infrastructure reconstruction in the hurricane-affected But Weinstein, a Democrat, said Palin instead spent $26 million to build a road "that will not go to a bridge.". the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. All rights reserved. The project gained infamy in 2005 as a waste of taxpayer dollars and the funds earmarked for it were withheld. Gov. (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina Typically the flow is only a foot or two deeprefreshing on a warm daybut it can swell to impassable after big storms. The Gilahina Trestle is now listed on the National Historic Register, which means itll probably come in for some funding to repair/restore it. disaster relief, Alaska's congressional delegation has dug in its Murphy, who works on the island. In August 2007, Alaska's Department of Transportation stated that it was "leaning" toward alternative ferry options, citing bridge costs and the reluctance of Governor Palin to pay the state's match to the appropriated federal funds. Coburn (R-OK) will offer an amendment to the Senate's appropriation Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. DOT officials at the time said that if they didn't then continue with the bridge, they might be required to pay back to the federal government the $28 million it spent on the road. money for the bridges to nowhere and Congress will apply the money The next year, they changed the language. Biden's bridge to nowhere. Sarah Palin said Friday the project was $329 million short of full funding. complain about its wait (15 to 30 minutes) and fee ($6 per car). [28] A month later, in September 2007, Palin formally canceled the project. some of its pork, they fear, so might they. Senator's numbers are right, Alaska's Department of Transportation In 2006, with the bridge in dispute and increasingly unlikely to ever be built, then-Gov. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. measure," BNA reported. Read Abbie Boudreau's "backstory" blog on "Road to nowhere". The bridge has Thanks Kristen I would love to visit Florida someday! Never mind that highway bill. The bridge has a height of 50ft and a width of 100 feet. Even at $223 million, the earmarks for the bridge that was supposed to connect Ketchikan to Gravina Island, Alaska, population roughly 50, has had remarkably durable legs as a campaign issue. [26] On January 17, 2007, she sent a revised budget to the president of the Alaska Senate that would restrict capital spending and rescinded the $185 million state share of the bridge funding.[27]. would be to return the money earmarked for our Gravina Bridge. The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. Last summer while I was in Ketchikan, I hiked up the hill above town to get a better perspective of the destination for the "Bridge to Nowhere". But the three-mile access road that was built on the island is ready for residents to take a drive to nowhere. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! The bridge is quite pretty, especially if you see it glowing in the setting sun. But ferry access isn't likely to provide the kind of developable land Ketchikan needs, he said. bill to transfer the $223 million that Congress had previously would direct at most $75 million to Louisiana, with the remaining You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. In her public comments, referring to her own residence in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, she said: "OK, youve got Valley trash standing here in the middle of nowhere. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. [19] Because "no one seems to use" this road, it has been called the "road to nowhere" by CNN, many local Alaskans, and several other media sources. , Your email address will not be published. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. The proposed $400 million span that would have connected the coastal city of Ketchikan to its airport on Gravina Island died after it became a symbol of congressional excess. Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and its clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. Theres plenty of wildlife nearby, so pack bear spray, and stay vigilant along the trail. It's actually a nice road.". Market data provided by Factset. Members of the Alaskan congressional delegation, particularly Representative Don Young and Senator Ted Stevens, were the bridge's biggest advocates in Congress, and helped push for federal funding. JUNEAU, Alaska Some called it a bridge to the future. Sarah Palin came into office after having ousted Murkowski in the 2006 primary, she stopped the bridge project, saying it had lost congressional support. Behind the Bridge to Nowhere Ketchikan Alaska As We See It - Through Photographs Fiction Condition: Very Good From a smoke free / Pet free environment If there is a problem with your item once you receive it. Every flight into Gravina Island requires a 15-minute ferry ride to reach the more densely populated Revillagigedo Island. FHWA-AK-EIS-03-01-F, DOT&PF Project 67698, Federal Project ACHP-0922(5)", "H.R. Available for both RF and RM licensing. authority to be trusted with hard-earned tax dollars. In the Your email address will not be published. Palin could have stopped construction of this road," said Weinstein, who wore his "Nowhere, Alaska" T-shirt to an interview with CNN. recognizing that the citizens of Alaska, including many in For the first two weeks of her campaign, Palin routinely told audiences in her stump speech that she told Congress "thanks, but no thanks" for the bridge, which was backed by the leaders of Alaska's congressional delegation. its discretion for road projects. H.R. and voting to keep them there. objected to the bridge on their editorial pages. To get to the trailhead: From the 210 freeway in Azusa, take exit 40 north on Route 39. This infamous bridge, from . I think were going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project" in response to an insult expressed by the state Senate president, Ben Stevens. She killed the bridge and saved taxpayers money. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. 2023 Getty Images. "It'd be nice to see them put something over here now they have a road: park, picnic benches, something to get people out here," said P.J. Congress should be eager to zero out its funding. Sarah Palin as the controversy was unfolding and she told him . Have the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, a $233 million bridge to an island with 50 people on it, or a $1,000 tax credit for every child in America?" 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gravina_Island_Bridge&oldid=1101616620, Buildings and structures in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Political controversies in the United States, Transportation in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2006, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 July 2022, at 23:56. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. 07/10/2012 04:43 AM EDT. ", David Raskin of willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for Earmarking foes and fiscal . Mr. ASHDOWN: That's right. Bridge to Nowhere. Or if your idea of fun is plunging off the side of a bridge, a bungee cord attached to catch your fall, then you could be up there too. Click for larger version. [8], A ferry runs to the island every 30 minutes, and every 15 minutes during the MaySeptember peak tourist season. Orleans, to Alaska Native people and to the Nation for their I told the Congress, thanks, but no thanks on that Bridge to Nowhere. Mr. ASHDOWN: Right. Construction of bridges was started at 1939 but at 1950 was by communist regime the construction of highway stopped. It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. transportation priorities instead of a useless bridge that would Today, Senator Tom It was paid for by some of the $223 million in federal funding that sparked ridicule among opponents of congressional "pork-barrel" spending. Tell me about that. way of three separate earmarks in the recent highway bill. The Gilahina Trestle is now listed on the National Historic Register, which means it'll probably come in for some . Yeah, this was taken last week. Ketchikan is Alaska's entry port for northbound cruise ships that bring more than 1 million visitors yearly. SIEGEL: Was there any moment in Governor Palin's handling of this appropriation that can be construed as her saying thanks, but no thanks? the Senator seems to view $75 million in taxpayers' dollars as a [49], After canceling the bridge, Palin's administration spent more than $25 million to build the Gravina Island Highway, which would have connected with the proposed bridge. Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? Mr. ASHDOWN: Tim Egan, he's a New York Times reporter who's an expert on Alaska, all things Alaska, and he'd read our write-up on the bridge. Located on a hiking trail in Denali National Park, this easy trail takes you along the river to a bridge right in the middle of nowhere. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. (Creative Commons photo by Bob Weinstein) Ketchikan . Funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere" was continued as of March 2, 2011, in the passing of H.R. You guys do an amazing job! 1. In stump speeches, Alaska Gov. She has dropped the line from her stump speech in the past week, but a McCain-Palin aide said that her prepared remarks are being tweaked as needed to reflect current events, and it could come back again.