That had to be spent on the Gravina road and nothing else. [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 article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. They have a bunch of snow out at McCarthy already, like a foot and a half or so I think. The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. Members of the Alaskan congressional delegation, particularly Representative Don Young and Senator Ted Stevens, were the bridge's biggest advocates in Congress, and helped push for federal funding. This is also the site of Southern Californias only commercial bungee-jumping operation, run by Bungee America. 1. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Even as the White House buzzes with meetings and as Cabinet secretaries troop up to Capitol Hill . When DOT last month selected a ferry as its preliminary "preferred alternative" for the project, the bridge cost estimate had climbed to $450 million. recognizing that the citizens of Alaska, including many in Read Abbie Boudreau's "backstory" blog on "Road to nowhere". "Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here," Palin said. 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. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. "Gov. The town seven blocks wide and eight miles long has little room to grow. [3][16][17] The Coburn Amendment was defeated with a heavy bipartisan majority, with 15 senators in favor of the amendment and 82 senators in opposition. Tag #VISITCALIFORNIA on Instagram to have your trip featured on our page. Every day, another news organization affirms that Sarah Palin was for it before she was against it. Yeah that section is actually pretty badly collapsing on the right its all tilted and askew. The Ketchikan Daily News noted that, of the gubernatorial candidates, "Only Palin is consistent in support all of the projects". Located on a hiking trail in Denali National Park, this easy trail takes you along the river to a bridge right in the middle of nowhere. Origin of bridge unknown. battlefield park jackson, ms . Dubbed the "bridge to nowhere," it would have connected the small city of Ketchikan to its airport on nearby Gravina island, and it secured a $223 million earmark in 2005. DOT says that the highway will still be useful to reach land on Gravina Island even without the bridge. 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. JUNEAU -- The name "Bridge to Nowhere" still rankles in Ketchikan 10 years after congressional opponents of earmarks used it to attack federal money for the bridge to nearby Gravina Island and the city's airport. In the 2008 presidential campaign, two projects in Alaska were ridiculed as examples of pork-barrel . In stump speeches, Alaska Gov. Gov. Theres no Mickey Ds, but theres a good spot to camp, and delicious, crystal clear water in the Gilahina River. In August 2007, Alaska's Department of Transportation stated that it was "leaning" toward alternative ferry options, citing bridge costs and the reluctance of Governor Palin to pay the state's match to the appropriated federal funds. It is built of . Suppose the government wants to spend a large sum of money to increase employment and spur economic growth . I might be missing out on some business opportunities. Market data provided by Factset. But it still hopes to acquire more land there for future development, he said. Bridge to Nowhere. Republican U.S. House candidates Sarah Palin (on screen) and Nick . Sarah Palin has touted her eventual decision to abandon the Gravina Island bridge, which she initially supported. Located on a hiking trail in Denali National Park, this easy trail takes you along the river to a bridge right in the middle of nowhere. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. If youre visiting Denali National Park, youll want to read all about these15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didnt Know About Denali National Park. Others called it the bridge to nowhere. Par . However, residents continue to seek funding for the Ketchikan-Gravina span. The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist. 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. 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. [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. BH Photo #131225 Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. Ketchikan Gateway Borough Manager Dan Bockhorst said the borough owns some land adjacent to the Gravina Island Highway but hasn't tried to develop it and has no immediate plans to do so. The bridge has them by the taxpayers. H.R. It was good that this project was killed by Governor Palin, but it's not correct that it saved any money. Make sure a trip to Denali is in your near future! the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. Guest Blogging: Bridges to Nowhere and Beyond Arguably his most controversial move came in 2005, when he pushed to get more than $200m (107m) of federal earmarked to build Alaska's "bridge to nowhere", a project that was ultimately dropped . Most importantly, pushing back would show the nation that measure," BNA reported. The next year, they changed the language. Clifford Winston Sunday, April 13, 2014. You were wearing a T-shirt in the 2006 campaign, showed your support for the bridge to nowhere." (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million, by 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. would direct at most $75 million to Louisiana, with the remaining 8,000) by a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate and higher . A local newscast about Sarah Palin's history on the infamous pork project. "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. 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. The island is connected to the city by a ferry that runs to the airport, well past the point where the bridge was to have been built. The trail crosses the river so often that you quickly abandon all hope of dry feet. But some of that money was still spent building a road to nowhere. 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. PALIN: I'm not going to stand in the way of progress, that our congressional delegation, in the position of strength that they have right now, they're making those efforts for the state of Alaska to build up our infrastructure. Improved access was to have come from the controversial bridge, but with bridge plans officially abandoned recently, the state is now looking to better ferry service to improve access to the airport and help open Gravina Island to development. Dubbed the "Bridge to Or if your idea of fun is plunging off the side of a bridge, a bungee cord attached to catch your fall, then you could be up there too. Back in 2005, Young and Sen. Stevens tried to get $223 million for the bridge. Let us know in the comments below! Was it beautiful? the Senator seems to view $75 million in taxpayers' dollars as a course, Alaska should and, hopefully, will volunteer to reject the Nice to actually see where my tax dollars were supposed to be spent (hope you enjoyed them even if you didnt get the bridge ). The 3.2-mile-long partially paved "road to nowhere" meanders from a small international airport on Gravina Island, home . [53], In 2011 (after Palin had left office), there was continued funding for the project in H.R. She changed her mind, he said, when "she saw that Alaska was being perceived as taking from the country and not giving". I can just imagine something like the French Viaduct, but with a toll of $30.00 each way. Follow it to find a gorge railroad bridge, where occasionally you may even see the Alaska Railroad pass overhead! their august institution of democracy still maintains the moral Spanning the Gila River, the McPhaul Bridge was built in 1929 and is just shy of 800 feet in length. If youre looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! approved for a bridge in Ketchikan, Alaska, to fund reconstruction The legend on the shirt was "Nowhere Alaska 99901", referencing the buzzword of "Bridge to Nowhere" and the primary ZIP code of Ketchikan. , Your email address will not be published. The bridge was built in 1929 in the name of Henry Harrison McPhaul, a notable resident of Yuma. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 546 reviews of Bridge to Nowhere "This hike reigns supreme as my favorite day hike in SoCal. With the Bridge to Nowhere a national laughingstock, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., in October 2005 proposed an amendment that would have redirected $125-million in funding for the Alaska bridge . Last summer while I was in Ketchikan, I hiked upthe hill above town to get a better perspective of the destinationfor the Bridge to Nowhere. Palin's campaign coordinator in the city, Republican Mike Elerding, remarked, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money." JUNEAU, Alaska Some called it a bridge to the future. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. That's progress. 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. [27], Although Palin was originally a main proponent of the bridge, McCainPalin television advertisements claimed that Palin "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere". All About Sarah Palin Alaska U.S. Presidential Election, iReport.com: Are you in a battleground state? 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And one night, had a couple beers in me, and I got a little more creative and I came up with the term Bridge to Nowhere. I suppose I should point out that the Bridge is not technically Alaskas famed Bridge to Nowhere, but the nomenclature seems to fit rightly enough. In addition to the road itself, another $11 million was spent building a 700-foot-long tunnel under the Ketchikan airport runway to get to the Gravina Island Highway from the airport terminal. At Not all the people in that community even were asking for a $400 million or $300 million bridge. It's a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. Stevens spokesman Aaron Saunders said Friday the senator was interested in how the state ultimately used the money. 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 . its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. Palin interrupted Gibson and insisted, "I was wearing a T-shirt with the zip code of the community that was asking for that bridge. In November 2006, Sarah Palin is elected and from what we can tell, she was supporting it. 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. disaster in the Gulf States, it occurred to me that the most heels, and many of the delegation's colleagues, including all of Today, Senator Tom The road was never finished. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. So the tipping point, according to McCain was a year before Palin ran in Alaska supporting the bridge. Sarah Palin came into office after having ousted Murkowski in the 2006 primary, she stopped the bridge project, saying it had lost congressional support. 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. A bridge to nowhere. The California State Route 39 highway was supposed to connect the city of Los Angeles with rural communities in the San Gabriel . The governor urged Alaskans not to dwell on the bridge. CNN Special Investigations Unit. 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.". 10 Bridge To Nowhere Was Built In 1936 As Part Of The California State Route 39 Highway Project. It started in 2002, he says, when he got a tip about a huge pork barrel project. And I think it coalesced a lot of things that he had seen into, you know, one word. SIEGEL: That's Keith Ashdown of Taxpayers for Common Sense talking with us about the Bridge to Nowhere, a term that he is credited with coining for the notorious Alaska earmark. 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011[4][5][6] Just last month, presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said pet projects could have played a role in a Minnesota bridge collapse that killed 13 people earlier this year. [35], On August 29, 2008, when introduced as Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate, Governor Palin told the crowd: "I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere" a line that garnered big applause but upset political leaders in Ketchikan. Behind the Bridge to Nowhere Ketchikan Alaska As We See It - Through Photographs Fiction Condition: Very Good From a smoke free / Pet free environment If there is a problem with your item once you receive it. Love Alaska? [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]. DOT's Woodrow said that because the official "purpose and need" statement of the Gravina Access Project was not just to improve access to the airport but also to open developable land on Gravina Island, it is unlikely federal transportation officials will demand repayment. Share. Foundation. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A number of alternative bridge routes were considered. The 86 mile Nome-Taylor gravel highway ends at this one-lane bridge spanning the Kougarok River. 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. Bridge to Nowhere. It features wide shoulders and sweeping curves to handle the large volume of traffic the road was expected to see one day. SIEGEL: You must have felt like you just completed a touchdown pass, you're thinking Mr. ASHDOWN: Yeah, I thought it was done. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. Art Weiner wrote, "In a collective act of passion, the people of Typically the flow is only a foot or two deeprefreshing on a warm daybut it can swell to impassable after big storms. 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. SIEGEL: Was there any moment in Governor Palin's handling of this appropriation that can be construed as her saying thanks, but no thanks? 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. Tell me about that. You supported that bridge before you opposed it. [3] its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images But the "Road to Nowhere" is alive and well. The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on one island in southeastern Alaska, to its airport on another nearby island. And in fact, John McCain had picked up on the Bridge to Nowhere more than a year before that. It has also become an embarrassment to the It is already doing that, even if nothing has yet been built there, said DOT environmental planner John Barnett. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Bridge to Nowhere Gilahina Trestle, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Gilahina Trestle is now listed on the National Historic Register, which means itll probably come in for some funding to repair/restore it. [19], In October 2006, when asked, "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges? Now, thanks to recent news events, this image just may havea life after all. Thanks Kristen I would love to visit Florida someday! [50][51], CNN reporter Abbie Boudreau took a helicopter over the road. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "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. 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 . of Alaska Sarah Palin holds a T-shirt with the zip code for Ketchikan, Alaska, on it at a gubernatorial campaign forum in September 2006. RMAJN58E - Florida Keys Old Overseas Highway Bridge Bridge to Nowhere old 7-mile bridge with missing section RM 2G88E11 - Dunbar, United Kingdom. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [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. There are so many great ways to enjoy this hike. Ketchikan, Alaska is infamous for the now-abandoned plan to expensively bridge the strait between the city and its international airport on Gravina Island, dubbed (IMO, unfairly) a "bridge to nowhere". for the hurricane relief efforts. But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. Members of the Alaskan congressional delegation . [18], In September 2006, during her campaign for Governor, Sarah Palin visited Ketchikan to express her support for the Gravina Island Bridge project. [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. This is the sort of challenge that fiscally But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. Keith Ashdown, the chief investigator for the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, is credited with naming the bridge. Hopefully it works out for you Ron. The Adults-Only Island In Alaska Where You Can Enjoy Some Much-Needed Peace And Quiet, This Enchanting And Historic Town In Alaska Is The Perfect Trip Destination, Denali Park Road To Mountain Vista Is Now Open Heres What You Need To Know, 4 Must-Visit Flea Markets In Alaska Where Youll Find Awesome Stuff, Follow The River On This Simple 2 Mile Hike Through The Mountains In Alaska, Follow This Abandoned Railroad Trail For One Of The Most Unique Hikes In Alaska, This Abandoned Railway Hike In Alaska Is A Historic Treasure, The Easy, Scenic Horseshoe Lake Trail In Alaska Is A Trail The Whole Family Will Enjoy. Getting here requires some work. "Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges around the country," McCain told a group of people in a town-hall style meeting in Ankeny, Iowa. Mr. ASHDOWN: No. Copyright 2008 NPR. The project gained infamy in 2005 as a waste of taxpayer dollars and the funds earmarked for it were withheld. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. According to Alaskan state officials, the road project went ahead because the money came from the federal government, and would otherwise have had to be returned. They called the state's decision premature, saying it came without warning. Youll come along the river about halfway through your hike, and its a good place to take a quick rest if you need one. We're talking, of course, about the famed plan to build a nearly $400 million bridge to connect the tiny Alaska city of Ketchikan to Gravina, an island with just a few dozen residents and an airport. A proposed Alaska bridge that became a symbol of wasteful federal spending on politicians' pet projects has officially been scrapped a decade after the idea was first floated, state officials said on Friday. Sarah is speaking in Anchorage on Saturday, but I would rather be in Denali thats where Im heading! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Senator Coburn's amendment to defund the bridge, one prominent When she was running for governor in 2006, Palin said she was insulted by the term "bridge to nowhere," according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, and Mike Elerding, a Republican . Well this helps put a face to the name. Have the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, a $233 million bridge to an island with 50 people on it, or a $1,000 tax credit for every child in America?" [14] In his speech on the Senate floor, Stevens threatened to quit Congress if the funds were removed from his state. "I mean, it's pretty here." 662. The bridge to nowhere - sometimes called Garry Bridge lies beyond the Tolsta Village and is on the route of what was to be Lord Leverhulme's new route to Ness. In opposing Free or royalty-free photos and images. You know, wearing shirts that said I'm from nowhere Alaska to saying, we have to support our congressional delegation, their efforts to bring money back to our state. When I watched him campaign in South Carolina almost a year ago, it was the centerpiece of his speech. Much of the publics attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. The train bridge may be the most famous and scenic bridge in Alaska, subject of many iconic photographs. SIEGEL: One reason this is so important to the GOP is that as late as 2006, Palin was taking a very Alaskan view of the bridge project. present, a ferry service runs to the island, but some in the town [28] A month later, in September 2007, Palin formally canceled the project. Share your stories. I never did anything with this photo, once the funding was lost and the project fell out of the news, the image had little value . Your email address will not be published. Defunding the bridge, he said, According to USA Today, the bridge was to have been nearly as long as the Golden Gate Bridge, which is 1.7mi (2.7km) long, and "higher than the Brooklyn Bridge". Sarah Palin let the "Road to Nowhere . The critics called the road spending wasteful for the same reason. How can we help to get that bridge to no where? [36][37] These claims have been widely questioned or described as misleading in several newspapers across the political spectrum. And so, the governor had no options." In 2005, legislation backed by Stevens to build a so-called "bridge to nowhere" became a . Mr. ASHDOWN: That's right. was simply impractical. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! September 16, 2022 by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon. 3058 [109th]'s first version passed the U.S. Senate with 93 votes for, 1 against. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Gov. Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., find themselves tarred by the same brush dipped in the muck of the I think part of the cost also included some pretty extensive roads that would need to be built. But the "Road to Nowhere" is alive and well. Miles Glacier Bridge is a four-span through truss bridge located in the U.S. state of Alaska. SIEGEL: Senator McCain has been assailing the Bridge to Nowhere as the epitome of what's wrong with Washington ever since the spring of 2004. Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska became the object of strong media criticism when he strongly opposed diverting the Gravina and Knik Arm Bridge funds to help in the disaster aid. Thanks for the Ketchikan perspective. U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, championed the project through Congress two years ago, securing more than $200 million for the bridge between Revillagigedo and Gravina islands. 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. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Less publicized is that, before the bridge project was cancelled, an approach road about three miles long was built to connect the airport with . Bridge to Nowhere. You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. You guys do an amazing job! Palin could have stopped construction of this road," said Weinstein, who wore his "Nowhere, Alaska" T-shirt to an interview with CNN. While the move closes a chapter that has brought the state reams of ridicule, it also leaves open wounds in a community that fought for decades to get federal help.

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