Report Shows More Michigan Bridges Need Repair

DETROIT (WWJ) - A new report shows that more than 13 percent of Michigan's bridges, (that's over 1,400) are structurally deficient and should be repaired or replaced, but there isn't enough federal money to do the job.

The report, called "The Fix We're In For: The State of Michigan's Bridges," was compiled by a group called Transportation For America.

Without changes in federal support, the study concludes it will cost each Michigan resident $226 dollars to address the problem. And it's expected to get worse, as many of the state's bridges approach their 50-year life expectancy.

WWJ's Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick says Governor Rick Snyder may not do anything about it:

Snyder says he would like to use some of the federal matching dollars for the bridge project between Detroit and Windsor, to repair potholes and do more road work.

Governor Snyder has not backed anything that looks like a gas tax increase, in fact the only ones talking about this are the ones promoting this study which says the bridges are falling down and they will continue to fall down and they will continue to fall down, and it will get worse before it gets better.

But there is no mood in Lansing to raise revenue (taxes) at this time.