Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes Calls On Congress To Help Replace I-95 Bridge In Stamford
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Rep. Jim Himes is calling for Congress to step up its efforts to fund infrastructure improvements nationwide, including replacing a crumbling bridge in Stamford.
Himes and other officials recently took a close-up look at the I-95 bridge over Metro-North Railroad tracks.
"If you look up and you see these huge concrete beams that literally have chunks of concrete falling out of them, exposing metal rebar -- and that rebar you can sort of tell is rusted," Himes told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.
The senator said Congress has been funding repairs for the bridge and other spans nationwide in piecemeal fashion.
"It is high time for the Congress to come up with a long-term financing plan for that bridge and, of course, for the rest of the nation's infrastructure, which sadly is eroding," he said.
Himes noted the bridge is on the list of the top 10 most-traveled structurally deficient bridges in Connecticut. Replacing it could cost of tens of millions of dollars.
The senator said he doesn't want to see another tragedy like the 1983 collapse of the I-95 bridge over the Mianus River in Greenwich. Three people were killed in that incident.