On Friday, Leo von Scheben, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said the bridge money could be used to build roads in Alaska. 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. Republican U.S. House candidates Sarah Palin (on screen) and Nick . 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". 546 reviews of Bridge to Nowhere "This hike reigns supreme as my favorite day hike in SoCal. Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. people of Alaska and to responsible members of Congress who now Copyright 2008 NPR. He wrote this excellent piece which I think basically was its introduction to the national audience. Even as the White House buzzes with meetings and as Cabinet secretaries troop up to Capitol Hill . [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. 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. Just a little under 40 years later, in 1968, it was deemed unfit for modern traffic needs not difficult to understand, given its narrow width. iReport.com: Are you in a battleground state? [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. We have beautiful beaches with white sugar sand That would make for some gorgeous photos. 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 . There were a few different options created for the bridge and Im not sure what the final decision was as I moved from the area a few years ago, but I know several of the plans had the bridge quite a ways south of town, which would mean having to build a new road over on Gravina through an area that is not currently developed. They called the state's decision premature, saying it came without warning. It was good that this project was killed by Governor Palin, but it's not correct that it saved any money. fact would be a considerable benefit to Alaska. effective thing that the residents of Ketchikan could do to help It has also become an embarrassment to the "There's no one on this road," she said. 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. [50][51], CNN reporter Abbie Boudreau took a helicopter over the road. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Anchorage Daily News, Diane Mucha of Eagle River wrote, "Of How can we help to get that bridge to no where? Meadow on one side, meadow on the other. In 2006, with the bridge in dispute and increasingly unlikely to ever be built, then-Gov. Call this the Railroad to Nowhere. "We have nothing to show for it.". "I mean, it's pretty here." Thank you! Alaska officials have put the final kibosh on the infamous "bridge to nowhere" -- a $400 million project tucked into the federal transportation plan 10 years ago that became the symbol of . course, Alaska should and, hopefully, will volunteer to reject the The hike starts out weaving in and out the trees beneath the shaded cover of a well maintained path. Perhaps the Port and the City team up and construct a bridge near Harbor Square. "Leadership staffer suggested that retribution could be levied for Hi Annie. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. of Alaska and the U.S. Congress. "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. serve a tiny fraction of the state's citizens. The Gravina Island bridge project is an embarrassment to the people [10] The bridge would cross the Tongass Narrows, part of Alaska's Inside Passage, so the bridge was designed to be tall enough to accommodate ship traffic, including the Alaska Marine Highway and the cruise ships that frequent Alaskan waters during the summer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And I think it coalesced a lot of things that he had seen into, you know, one word. Have any photos of the people Palin fired? When asked if he felt the road was "a waste of taxpayer money", he responded, "Without the bridge, yeah." Following the construction of the island highway, the $28 million expenditure wound up being used by both bridge supporters to make the case for construction and bridge critics who called it a boondoggle. the removal of the project in a technical corrections bill or other You need to come visit the Clearwater/St.Pete area of Florida. The Gilahina Trestle, crossing the Gilahina River, was once an impressive structure. 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. "[47], Many media groups in the U.S. noted that Palin changed her position regarding the bridges, and concluded that she exaggerated her claim that she stopped the proposals from going through. 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. SIEGEL: Ultimately though, if the earmark was changed, it no longer was dedicating this $223 million to the bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. [19], In October 2006, when asked, "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges? Find the perfect Bridge to nowhere alaska stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Bridge to Nowhere. But Weinstein, a Democrat, said Palin instead spent $26 million to build a road "that will not go to a bridge.". In the 2008 presidential campaign, two projects in Alaska were ridiculed as examples of pork-barrel . At a public forum, Palin held up a pro-bridge T-shirt designed by a Ketchikan artist, Mary Ida Henrikson. Ketchikan, do not value the Gravina Island bridge project, its 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. Much of the publics attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage RMAJN58E - Florida Keys Old Overseas Highway Bridge Bridge to Nowhere old 7-mile bridge with missing section RM 2G88E11 - Dunbar, United Kingdom. Mr. ASHDOWN: No. SIEGEL: You must have felt like you just completed a touchdown pass, you're thinking Mr. ASHDOWN: Yeah, I thought it was done. measure," BNA reported. DOT says that the highway will still be useful to reach land on Gravina Island even without the bridge. Its a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A bridge to nowhere. June 30, 2022. 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. Sarah Palin holds up a T-shirt labeled "Nowhere, Alaska 99901" during a gubernatorial campaign forum in Ketchikan in 2006. 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. heels, and many of the delegation's colleagues, including all of H.R. 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. The bridge has the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. In November 2006, Sarah Palin is elected and from what we can tell, she was supporting it. Share. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "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. The Gilahina Trestle is now listed on the National Historic Register, which means itll probably come in for some funding to repair/restore it. Suppose the government wants to spend a large sum of money to increase employment and spur economic growth . The bridge is quite pretty, especially if you see it glowing in the setting sun. 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. Youll come along the river about halfway through your hike, and its a good place to take a quick rest if you need one. 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. 10 Bridge To Nowhere Was Built In 1936 As Part Of The California State Route 39 Highway Project. I have a feeling this might have some legs in it still. Sarah Palin said Friday the project was $329 million short of full funding. This infamous bridge, from . It's actually a nice road.". 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011[4][5][6] Market data provided by Factset. Local officials have said access to Gravina Island, population 50, is needed for the town and its economy to grow. 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 . battlefield park jackson, ms . They have a bunch of snow out at McCarthy already, like a foot and a half or so I think. selfish shortsightedness in sending these scoundrels to Washington Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The Bridge to Nowhere: A National Embarrassment, From Concerning to Terrifying: 7 Horrible Milestones on Horizon for Bloated Federal Budget, Earmark Spending: Bad Fruit from Rotten Trees, Debunking Bidens Malarkey: 7 Ways He Added $6 Trillion to Deficits. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Good luck getting some of your photos licensed/sold during the next few months! . But it still hopes to acquire more land there for future development, he said. Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. $220 Million+ For A Bridge To An Island With 50 People?!? Great scenery, plenty of interesting details, and a clear, well-marked path. The Ketchikan Daily News noted that, of the gubernatorial candidates, "Only Palin is consistent in support all of the projects". The road was never finished. 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. Crazy times. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. Sarah Palin has touted her eventual decision to abandon the Gravina Island bridge, which she initially supported. 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". In the meantime, Bridge to Nowhere works for me. Gov. Bridge to Nowhere is an unforgettable hike, and an understandable Los Angeles favorite. I would not get in the way of progress. To say thanks but no thanks would imply that they didn't take the money, and they got every dime of it. 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. So the tipping point, according to McCain was a year before Palin ran in Alaska supporting the bridge. "The Bridge to Nowhere" has been a much-used phrase by the McCain Campaign. the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of HuMu Media, an Alaska-based media company. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 662 passed both houses of Congress and became Public Law 112-5. [7], According to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the project's goal was to "provide better service to the airport and allow for development of large tracts of land on the island". 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. The decision in September 2004 was actually for two bridges, connecting Pennock Island in the middle, and is known as Alternative F1. Homer, Alaska, wrote, "Alaskans owe an apology to the people of New Bridge to Nowhere: Directed by Ian Mune. willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for disaster in the Gulf States, it occurred to me that the most congressional leadership, support its resistance. Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million, by You supported that bridge before you opposed it. Yeah that section is actually pretty badly collapsing on the right its all tilted and askew. With about three-tenths of 1 percent of the borough's land privately owned and available for development, Ketchikan needs more land, he said. Further driving up costs were all the muskeg and peat that had to be removed and replaced with rock and gravel to get through the wetlands. The 86 mile Nome-Taylor gravel highway ends at this one-lane bridge spanning the Kougarok River. [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. In her public comments, referring to her own residence in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, she said: "OK, youve got Valley trash standing here in the middle of nowhere. "The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge.". LOL. would be to return the money earmarked for our Gravina Bridge. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter, and loves to see and experience new things! Times Staff Writer. Gov. If youre looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! Transportation officials at the time replied that the road was built with the support of Gov. 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. Unfinished highway bridges at the water reservoir Svihov. 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. What some people might not realize is that Bridge to Nowhere was actually part of a major infrastructure project. become an object of national ridicule and a symbol of the fiscal Sen. McCain: Well, now we're employing a strategy of guns and pork. The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist. road in the morning fog - bridge to nowhere california stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. If youre visiting Denali National Park, youll want to read all about these15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didnt Know About Denali National Park. the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. The governor urged Alaskans not to dwell on the bridge. ", In the Ketchikan [28] A month later, in September 2007, Palin formally canceled the project. 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. That had to be spent on the Gravina road and nothing else. The bridge is 1,550 feet (470 m) long across the Copper River. "It's getting more and more use all the time," he said. And every day, she repeats that she told Washington, thanks, but no thanks. Fourteen years on, Palin's 'bridge to nowhere' comment still resounds. Mr. ASHDOWN: Right. Gov. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images [27], Although Palin was originally a main proponent of the bridge, McCainPalin television advertisements claimed that Palin "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere". Bridge to Nowhere. It spans a deep gorge overlooking the lovely Garry beach, one of the prettiest in the Outer Hebrides. 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 . Collect, curate and comment on your files. Defunding the bridge, he said, Dubbed the "Bridge to Less publicized is that, before the bridge project was cancelled, an approach road about three miles long was built to connect the airport with . But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. and voting to keep them there. disaster relief, Alaska's congressional delegation has dug in its But ferry access isn't likely to provide the kind of developable land Ketchikan needs, he said. Campaign spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Palin would not have allowed the road project to go forward under normal circumstances. The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on one island in southeastern Alaska, to its airport on another nearby island. Bridge to Nowhere. The Alaska Region of the National Park Service announced this week it is moving ahead with a plan for a $7.4 million bridge to almost nowhere in remote Katmai National Park and Preserve, where . And in fact, John McCain had picked up on the Bridge to Nowhere more than a year before that. 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. "We will continue to look for options for Ketchikan to allow better access to the island," the Republican governor said. A true bridge to nowhere. You were wearing a T-shirt in the 2006 campaign, showed your support for the bridge to nowhere." NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. [26] On January 17, 2007, she sent a revised budget to the president of the Alaska Senate that would restrict capital spending and rescinded the $185 million state share of the bridge funding.[27]. She killed the bridge and saved taxpayers money. All rights reserved. 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. transportation priorities instead of a useless bridge that would Legal Statement. She has dropped the line from her stump speech in the past week, but a McCain-Palin aide said that her prepared remarks are being tweaked as needed to reflect current events, and it could come back again. Biden's bridge to nowhere. Every flight into Gravina Island requires a 15-minute ferry ride to reach the more densely populated Revillagigedo Island. 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 . Yep, looks wide enough for perhaps at least a 2 lane paved highway maybe a Micky Ds rest stop over there at the end. 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.