Orleans, to Alaska Native people and to the Nation for their Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. [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. Mr. ASHDOWN: No. objected to the bridge on their editorial pages. Ketchikan looks like a densely populated little strip. It spans a deep gorge overlooking the lovely Garry beach, one of the prettiest in the Outer Hebrides. H.R. I have a feeling this might have some legs in it still. state-by-state allocation formula. Then-Gov. Campaign spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Palin would not have allowed the road project to go forward under normal circumstances. [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). From Alaska's 'bridge to nowhere' to Pyongyang's Hotel of Doom, via a 1bn arts centre with a dodgy roof, here are the world's most high-profile wastes of capital . [54] The motion lost and the funding was kept. The bridge would have used two high spans to connect the two big islands, as well as Pennock Island, in the channel between the two. As a side note, you might notice that many of the rivers in the Wrangell-St. Elias region seem to end with the sound na Chitina river, Kuskulana river, Nazina river, Tana river, etc, are a few Ive mentioned on this blog before. Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. If youre looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! The road was never finished. You can add on to the loop by taking other trails that connect and making it longer. Photos published . In the meantime, Bridge to Nowhere works for me. Funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere" was continued as of March 2, 2011, in the passing of H.R. Assuming the Rumors say that it took less than 8 days to build, and the first train ran across its length on January 28, 1911. (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina While discussing the Gravina Island Bridge during an ABC News interview that aired on September 12, 2008, Charles Gibson made the following comment: "but it's now pretty clearly documented. 662. the House leadership exactly what they think of this childish Citation Barak D. Richman, The King of Rockingham County and the Original Bridge to Nowhere Contracts Stories 306-336 (2006) Miles Glacier Bridge, Alaska, damaged by a 1964 earthquake (photograph by Jet Lowe) Birmingham, . Boudreau also spoke to the McCainPalin campaign spokesperson Meghan Stapleton, who defended the road: "The governor could not change that earmark. 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. "[36] Newsweek, commenting on Palin's "astonishing pivot", remarked: "Now she talks as if she always opposed the funding."[42]. , Your email address will not be published. in the state's newspapers, and the papers' editors have also The project also had a history of federal appropriations showing support there as well, it said. Look at the highway bill that had 3,000 pork barrel projects on it including bridges to nowhere in Alaska. Members of the Alaskan congressional delegation . I agree and consent to receiveemails from Visit California and its partners with special offers and exclusive content and that I am at least 18 years old, Its all form and no function at this architectural marvel. 8,000) by a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate and higher . GRAVINA ISLAND, ALASKA . [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. fact would be a considerable benefit to Alaska. 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 . Anchorage Daily News, Diane Mucha of Eagle River wrote, "Of SIEGEL: That Parade magazine cover was published in November 2005. So, we're going to have to make some tough choices. Mr. ASHDOWN: The senator is a friend of taxpayers, but that's an incorrect statement. Construction of bridges was started at 1939 but at 1950 was by communist regime the construction of highway stopped. She changed her mind, he said, when "she saw that Alaska was being perceived as taking from the country and not giving". All rights reserved. It charges $6 per adult, with free same-day return, and $7 per automobile also with same day return as of April 2021.[9]. Engineers planned to build a direct route from the San Gabriel Valley to Wrightwood, but they finished this mid-point bridge near Azusa long before they built its connecting byways. No, I dont have pictures of any of those folks, I dont even have any photos of the Wasilla City Hall that would probably sell. Senator's numbers are right, Alaska's Department of Transportation McCain himself also weighed in on the Gravina Island Bridge. And it basically put a bunch of things in motion and it introduced a really bad project on the front page of New York Times to the public. Most importantly, pushing back would show the nation that 1. Senator told a closed-door meeting of conservatives that the plan Palin's campaign coordinator in the city, Republican Mike Elerding, remarked, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money." for the hurricane relief efforts. SIEGEL: Called by its critics, The Bridge to Nowhere, that was April 10th. News, Dave Person wrote, "Thinking about the immense ROBERT SIEGEL, host: 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 . It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. The Ketchikan Daily News noted that, of the gubernatorial candidates, "Only Palin is consistent in support all of the projects". 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. The controversy began with the 2006 National Appropriations Bill, an omnibus spending bill covering transportation, housing, and urban development for the following year. Bridge to Nowhere Photo. would gain $148 million in money it could spend on the state's Read Abbie Boudreau's "backstory" blog on "Road to nowhere". H.R. In 1938, a flood washed out the partly completed road to the south, leaving the 120-foot-high structure stranded. Less publicized is that, before the bridge project was cancelled, an approach road about three miles long was built to connect the airport with . This is looking from Ketchikan across the Tongass Narrows to Gravina Island, the destination of the bridge. Im 62 years old, and now just finding out about pet projects, especially a bridge to no where..Im truly in shock.i watch Alaska Frontier n Homestead, and I love the Alaskan way, if only I knew sooner, about pet projects, and Im sure others feel same way, IV would have voiced my opinion sooner, God Bless Alaskans..and Alaska ?? 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 . She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter, and loves to see and experience new things! This makes it a great family hike because little legs will have no problem keeping up with you. And so, the governor had no options." "We have nothing to show for it.". "There's no one on this road," she said. was simply impractical. Foundation. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Ketchikan is Alaska's entry port for northbound cruise ships that bring more than 1 million visitors yearly. The California State Route 39 highway was supposed to connect the city of Los Angeles with rural communities in the San Gabriel . some of its pork, they fear, so might they. The borough shifted its support from the bridge to the ferry when it realized the bridge was never going to happen, Bockhorst said. Dubbed the "Bridge to Nowhere," the bridge in Alaska would connect the town of Ketchikan (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers . A number of alternative bridge routes were considered. 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]. JUNEAU, Alaska Some called it a bridge to the future. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His advertising and comments that (before September 21, 2006) contradicted Governor Sarah Palin's support of the bridge drew the attention of the media[46] when he chose Palin as his running mate, opening the ticket to charges of hypocrisy. At a public forum, Palin held up a pro-bridge T-shirt designed by a Ketchikan artist, Mary Ida Henrikson. 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Palin's Chief of Staff, Billy Moening, has been praised by many Republican strategists for recommending Palin change her stance on the bridge. And yes, the cruise ship issue is a huge money costing factor as well as far as how big the bridge would have to be. As anyone running for statewide office in Alaska, to oppose a project like this would have been a political suicide. Fiscally responsible Members of "I mean, it's pretty here." And in fact, John McCain had picked up on the Bridge to Nowhere more than a year before that. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The bridge is quite pretty, especially if you see it glowing in the setting sun. 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. And it redirected it to Alaska but it wasn't earmarked legally to that one project. But Alaska still got the money. Meadow on one side, meadow on the other. Good luck getting some of your photos licensed/sold during the next few months! Your first glimpse of the bridge is astonishingits much larger and majestic than youd expectbut the weirdness doesnt stop here. Getting here requires some work. But Weinstein, a Democrat, said Palin instead spent $26 million to build a road "that will not go to a bridge.". Par . disaster relief, Alaska's congressional delegation has dug in its 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. bill to transfer the $223 million that Congress had previously 23 Juin juin 23, 2022. pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. Palin could have stopped construction of this road," said Weinstein, who wore his "Nowhere, Alaska" T-shirt to an interview with CNN. "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. The decision in September 2004 was actually for two bridges, connecting Pennock Island in the middle, and is known as Alternative F1. [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. In American politics, Alaska is famous for wasted money on a "bridge to nowhere" in the early 2000s. But she didn't attempt to void the already signed construction contracts for the approach road. One very large bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, where the city's airport is. Kids on an outing in the forest come up against a mysterious hermit who lives on the other side of a bridge, and he is definitely not happy to see them. CNN Special Investigations Unit. Perhaps thats reason enough for some funding, restore the west end of the bridge, and the Gilahina Trestle can be known as Alaskas Bridge to Somwhere namely, the other side of the Gilahina River. Gov. Nice to actually see where my tax dollars were supposed to be spent (hope you enjoyed them even if you didnt get the bridge ). Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. It features wide shoulders and sweeping curves to handle the large volume of traffic the road was expected to see one day. 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. In response to an inquiry of whether Palin could have stopped construction, Stapleton told Boudreau that Palin had "no viable alternative" because Congress had already granted the earmark and the contract for the road was signed before Palin took office. Even as the White House buzzes with meetings and as Cabinet secretaries troop up to Capitol Hill . Bridge to Nowhere. If Alaska loses "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.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. by the House of Representatives, and finally cancelled in 2015. Alaskas Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere The Gilahina Trestle fades into winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Perhaps the Port and the City team up and construct a bridge near Harbor Square. irresponsibility of many in Congress toward the money entrusted to Mr. KEITH ASHDOWN (Chief Investigator, Taxpayers for Common Sense): We spent several months trying to figure out, you know, how could we make this sexy, so to speak, for the lower 48 states and for the news media. The Gravina Island Highway was to become part of what's officially known as the Gravina Access Project to better connect the city with Ketchikan International Airport. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. Not all the people in that community even were asking for a $400 million or $300 million bridge. Alaska officially abandoned Friday a controversial $400 million public works project mockingly called the 'bridge to nowhere' that became a symbol of pork barrel spending. 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". I never did anything with this photo, once the funding was lost andthe project fell out of the news,the image had little value. Bridge was reassembled at it's present site. Its since fallen into some disrepair, as is evident from this image. You may get to see a few daredevils take the plunge. 546 reviews of Bridge to Nowhere "This hike reigns supreme as my favorite day hike in SoCal. Built in 1911 as part of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway (nicknamed Cant Run and Never Will), the Gilahina Trestle was not quite 900 long, and nearly 100 high. 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 . Defunding the bridge, he said, Great scenery, plenty of interesting details, and a clear, well-marked path. Taking the ferry from Ketchikan, AK to the airport which is on Gravina Island AKA "nowhere."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravina_Island_Bridgehttp://www.boro. The bridge was projected to cost $398 million. All rights reserved. What did you think? She killed the bridge and saved taxpayers money. [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. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. Collect, curate and comment on your files. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. All rights reserved. 662 passed both houses of Congress and became Public Law 112-5. ", David Raskin of "The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge.". It's a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. Perhaps To get to the trailhead: From the 210 freeway in Azusa, take exit 40 north on Route 39. In stump speeches, Alaska Gov. Weight Limit is 10 tons. Coburn (R-OK) will offer an amendment to the Senate's appropriation Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. What some people might not realize is that Bridge to Nowhere was actually part of a major infrastructure project. There are so many great ways to enjoy this hike. [13], On October 21, 2005, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) offered an amendment to remove funds for the Gravina Island and Knik Arm bridges, and divert the funds to rebuild a bridge over Lake Pontchartrain that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. SIEGEL: Ultimately though, if the earmark was changed, it no longer was dedicating this $223 million to the bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island. The National Park Service is all about funding for construction projects, so the Gilahina Trestle will probably be the recipient of some cash. Bridge Cordova Alaska | Miles Glacier Bridge (Million Dollar Bridge), Cordova, Alaska. And in the last few years, the Alaska Republican has been a poster boy for congressional spending critics. The hike is within Denali National Park, which is a designated wilderness. "The governor was left no viable alternative," Stapleton said. Ketchikan's Democratic Mayor Bob Weinstein also criticized Palin for using the term bridge to nowhere, which she had said was insulting when she was in favor of the bridge. Ronald Utt is the Herbert and Joyce Morgan Senior Research Fellow. Have you ever hiked the bridge to nowhere in Alaska? Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users "Bridge to Nowhere", "Alaska: End Sought For 'Bridge To Nowhere', "Two 'Bridges to Nowhere' Tumble Down in Congress", House Vote #159 (Mar 2, 2011) On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H R 662 Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, "Alaska 'bridge to nowhere' plan is no more as state chooses ferry for Ketchikan", "Ketchikan Gravina Island Access Project", "Airport Ferry - Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK", "Ketchikan airport and ferry statistics for December 2006", "Gravina Access Project, Record of Decision, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Ketchikan, Alaska. Last fall, after House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) earmarked $223 . In the 2008 presidential campaign, two projects in Alaska were ridiculed as examples of pork-barrel . It was good that this project was killed by Governor Palin, but it's not correct that it saved any money. On Friday, Alaska decided the bridge really was going nowhere, officially abandoning the project in Ketchikan that became a national symbol of federal pork-barrel spending.