Post-Bulletin: Walz amendment to go into bridge bill

The Post Bulletin reports in Federal bridge bill would send $7.3 million to Minnesota:

The House this week is to take up a bill targeting $1 billion for the repair and rehabilitation of the nation's problem bridges, including more than $7.3 million for Minnesota. . . .

. . .Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, a member of the House Transportation Committee, is set to offer an amendment inspired by the closing of the Minnesota Highway 43 bridge over the Mississippi River at Winona, his spokeswoman said. The bridge re-opened to truck traffic on Monday; bicycle and pedestrian access is still banned.

Walz's amendment would require the federal Transportation Department, within 15 days of the closing of a federal-aid highway bridge due to a critical finding, to report on the expected economic and regional transportation effects and recommend solutions. . . .

The paper reports that the amendment is expected to not ruffled any feathers:

The amendment is expected to be noncontroversial, she said, along with the full bill, which was crafted by the transportation committee's chairman, Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, D-Chisholm. Troy Young, spokesman for Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, said he supports the bill.

Comments

[Jeff Rosenberg]

Great! That's at least a good downpayment on fixing up our roads and bridges here in MN.