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Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The earmark for the infamous Alaska bridge, referred to as the "bridge to nowhere" allocated $223 million dollars to build a bridge from Ketchikan, Alaska, to a tiny island. iReport.com: Are you in a battleground state? That's where the bridge was supposed to pick up." Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. SIEGEL: That Parade magazine cover was published in November 2005. ", David Raskin of 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 . The bridge was projected to cost $398 million. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Meandering through a forest, and along a gorgeous river, this hike offers it all. Thanks Kristen I would love to visit Florida someday! Now, thanks to recent news events, this image just may havea life after all. Mr. ASHDOWN: That's right. 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.". Watch where road ends . Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein calls the road, which was paid for by federal tax dollars, a waste of money that could have been used to fix his city's roads and sidewalks. Post-Convention Check-In With The Political Junkie. The bridge is 1,550 feet (470 m) long across the Copper River. its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark or stipulation that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate. Many of the earmarks, he claimed, are Find the perfect Bridge to nowhere alaska stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. [53], In 2011 (after Palin had left office), there was continued funding for the project in H.R. Gov. [29][30][31] Palin stated: Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer. But the deal had been signed just before she took office in December 2006, Stapleton said. The Luten Bridge Co. offers a window into a southern community's struggles with a divided social order, the introduction of wealth into local politics, and a changing economy. Perhaps the Port and the City team up and construct a bridge near Harbor Square. [15] On November 16, 2005, Congress stripped the specific earmark allocation of federal funds for the two bridges in the final edition of the omnibus spending bill, without changing the amount of money allocated for use by Alaska. The "Bridge to Nowhere" still rankles in Ketchikan a decade after congressional opponents of earmarks used it to go after money for the bridge to nearby Gravina Island and the city's airport, but . Follow it to find a gorge railroad bridge, where occasionally you may even see the Alaska Railroad pass overhead! 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 . But she didn't attempt to void the already signed construction contracts for the approach road. irresponsibility of many in Congress toward the money entrusted to Every flight into Gravina Island requires a 15-minute ferry ride to reach the more densely populated Revillagigedo Island. As anyone running for statewide office in Alaska, to oppose a project like this would have been a political suicide. willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for "[47], Many media groups in the U.S. noted that Palin changed her position regarding the bridges, and concluded that she exaggerated her claim that she stopped the proposals from going through. "The governor was left no viable alternative," Stapleton said. Market data provided by Factset. "We went through political hot water tons of it and not just nationally but internationally," Ketchikan-Gateway Borough Mayor Joe Williams said. [50][51], CNN reporter Abbie Boudreau took a helicopter over the road. For the first eight years after its completion in 1921, it was the tallest bridge in the United States. its discretion for road projects. [19], In October 2006, when asked, "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges? It features wide shoulders and sweeping curves to handle the large volume of traffic the road was expected to see one day. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. The borough shifted its support from the bridge to the ferry when it realized the bridge was never going to happen, Bockhorst said. A true bridge to nowhere. The Gravina Island bridge project is an embarrassment to the people Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos [38][39][40][41] Howard Kurtz called this a "whopper", writing: "She endorsed the remote project while running for governor in 2006, claimed to be an opponent only after Congress killed its funding the next year and has used the $223 million provided for it for other state ventures. House and Senate Republican negotiators take legislative wrecking ball to two Alaskan 'bridges to nowhere' that have become national symbols of spending excess and political albatross; federal . September 2006: Palin, campaigning for governor in Ketchikan, holds up a pro-bridge T-shirt proclaiming, "Nowhere Alaska 99901," referring to the primary zip code of Ketchikan. September 16, 2022 by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon. If youre visiting Denali National Park, youll want to read all about these15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didnt Know About Denali National Park. We have beautiful beaches with white sugar sand That would make for some gorgeous photos. Bridge was reassembled at it's present site. Perhaps Have any photos of the people Palin fired? She said there wasn't enough money to . The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. , Your email address will not be published. It is already doing that, even if nothing has yet been built there, said DOT environmental planner John Barnett. It spans the deep gorge - overlooking the lovely Garry beach - one of the prettiest in the Outer Hebrides. In fact, rumor has it this bridge was a model for San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Republican U.S. House candidates Sarah Palin (on screen) and Nick . The hike is within Denali National Park, which is a designated wilderness. It reaches 296 feet above Hurricane Creek for a full span of 918 feetthe longest and tallest bridge on the Alaska Railroad. [7], According to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the project's goal was to "provide better service to the airport and allow for development of large tracts of land on the island". its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. Bridge to Nowhere. Well this helps put a face to the name. Get more stories delivered right to your email. KETCHIKAN, Alaska (CNN) -- The "Bridge to Nowhere" may have been shelved. [55], In 2015, after consideration of several lower-cost options, the Gravina Island Bridge project was finally cancelled, an improved ferry service being selected instead of constructing the bridge.[7]. 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. In stump speeches, Alaska Gov. In the years 1965-1975 was carried construction of a water reservoir Svihov and both bridges were flooded almost to the level . for the hurricane relief efforts. 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. A spokeswoman for Young said the congressman would have no comment. . battlefield park jackson, ms . money for the bridges to nowhere and Congress will apply the money The road was part of the $398 million project to link Ketchikan and its airport on Gravina Island known as the "Bridge to Nowhere," and an earmark inserted by Alaska's congressional delegation had . Sarah Palin said Friday the project was $329 million short of full funding. "Maybe the 200,000 people who cross that bridge every day would have been safer than spending $233 million of your tax dollars on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it.". You guys do an amazing job! It was good that this project was killed by Governor Palin, but it's not correct that it saved any money. the Senator seems to view $75 million in taxpayers' dollars as a some of its pork, they fear, so might they. is Herbert and Joyce Morgan Senior Research Fellow in the Thomas A. pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. "The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge.". But the "Road to Nowhere" is alive and well. The legend on the shirt was "Nowhere Alaska 99901", referencing the buzzword of "Bridge to Nowhere" and the primary ZIP code of Ketchikan. Weight Limit is 10 tons. Click for larger version. "There's no one on this road," she said. SIEGEL: Was there any moment in Governor Palin's handling of this appropriation that can be construed as her saying thanks, but no thanks? But the three-mile access road that was built on the island is ready for residents to take a drive to nowhere. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who hollered earliest and loudest about Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere," says that he spoke with Gov. state-by-state allocation formula. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. I never did anything with this photo, once the funding was lost andthe project fell out of the news,the image had little value. [12] The west span of the bridge was designed to have a vertical clearance of 120 feet (37m), and the east span of the bridge was to have a vertical clearance of 200 feet (61m). "Leadership staffer suggested that retribution could be levied for Market data provided by Factset. Yeah the downtown area is a pretty dense, but there are a couple roads leading out of town to some less populated and much more scenic areas. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 662 passed both houses of Congress and became Public Law 112-5. Here is a link to the map and story about the other nowhere bridge (the one to Sen Murkowski and shortcut to Wasilla) Alaska Congressmen Attempt to Earmark 'Bridge to Nowhere' For Personal Profiteering. 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. would direct at most $75 million to Louisiana, with the remaining Ketchikan's airport is the second largest in Southeast Alaska, after Juneau International Airport, and handled over 200,000 passengers a year or 550 per day, while the ferry shuttled 350,000 people in the same time period (as of December2006[update]).[11]. Share. McCain himself also weighed in on the Gravina Island Bridge. "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. Alaska's Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere - The Gilahina Trestle fades into winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. It seems like a small gap for such an expensive bridge, but this is the same channel the cruise ships use toenter town, so I imagine it would have had to be a very tall bridge. If youre looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! Sarah Palin came into office after having ousted Murkowski in the 2006 primary, she stopped the bridge project, saying it had lost congressional support. "There is no question we desperately need to construct new roads in this state, including in southeast Alaska, where skyrocketing costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System present an impediment to the state's budget and the region's economy," von Scheben said in a statement. ", In the Ketchikan This infamous bridge, from . [48] According to the Los Angeles Times, for instance, while seeking votes for her governorship race, Palin told Ketchikan residents that she backed the "bridge to nowhere"; as governor, she spent the money elsewhere and moved ahead with a $26-million road to the nonexistent bridge. The trail crosses the river so often that you quickly abandon all hope of dry feet. 3058 (109th): Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, -- GovTrack.us", "Stevens Vehemently Opposes Coburn Amendment to Eliminate Alaska Bridges", "Stevens says he'll quit if bridge funds diverted", "For a Senate Foe of Pork Barrel Spending, Two Bridges Too Far", "Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' doesn't note flip-flop", "Palin criticized during gubernatorial campaign for her support of Gravina Island Bridge", "Palin voiced initial support for the proposed Gravina Island bridge during campaign", "Palin defends the bridge project, asks people to band together", "Palin Criticized during gubernatorial campaign for her support of Gravina Island Bridge", "Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans", "DOT 'leaning' toward ferries; cites bridge cost", "Palin was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it", "Congress earmark alteration for Alaska prompts Governor Palin's new state budget without bridge", "Lawmakers deal with voter anger over 'pork', "Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere", "Palin changed her mind for public expediency", "Alaska abandons controversial Ketchikan bridge project", "Record Contradicts Palin's 'Bridge' Claims", "Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere", "Account of a Bridge's Death Slightly Exaggerated", "As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They're Undone", "McCain Blasts Palin's "Bridge to Nowhere", "McCain Blamed Bridge collapse on Bridge to Nowhere", "McCain connected 35W bridge collapse to Palin's pork", "Excerpts: Charlie Gibson Interviews GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin", "Press picks over litter of lies on the Palin trail US Election", "Sarah Palin said yes, thanks, to a road to nowhere in Alaska", "Bailout Negotiations Continue; FBI Targets Wall Street Firms", "Palin Defends Construction of 'Road to Nowhere', H.R.662 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, "Gravina Access Project, Environmental Impact Statement, Figure 2.10, Alternative F1, Bridges (200' East and 120' West), Between Tongass Avenue and Airport, via Pennock Island: Alignment". She killed the bridge and saved taxpayers money. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.